In the middle of the hussle and bussle of Thesen Island is a rare bakery, confectionery, breakfast, lunch and coffee shop named IL DE PAN. Named one of RSA’s top 100 places to eat, there is no doubt why they are ridiculously busy everyday, except Monday ofcourse because they are closed. The menu is interesting but unchangeable, the owners stick to their guns here, you order from menu – that’s it.
Fresh bread loaves are made and sold everyday, people que intime before the loaves are all sold out, yes the bread is that good, made in all styles and sizes. They sell many other items at the front of desk too, like choc chip biscuits, cook books, homemade jars of delictables, aprons, carrier cotton bags, you name it… most of which is their own brand. In Summer there is an ice-cream trailer outside their shop, under the tree, for the discerning ice-cream fan.
Il de pan is beautifully decorated and the food is consistently good. I have never had a bad meal and enjoy all the items off the menu, especially their warm chicken salad for lunch and poached eggs for breakfast. Something else to enjoy is the homemade lemonade served by the glass, refreshing!
When Il de pan is closed for 2 weeks in May or June, the Island is very quiet and the hussle and bussle disappears with the owners, but on their return, they find all their local patrons back as usual, ordering exactly what they did 2 weeks before, it is a clear indication that the locals cannot get enough of Il de pan’s offerings and also the special vibe you feel when you sit under the large tree and order a coffee, meal or bread and enjoy a chat with the owners.