Port Elizabeth's restaurant scene is centred on the Boardwalk Casino and Entertainment complex on Beach Road, which concentrates a dozen or so restaurants in one place overlooking the bay. It's not the most adventurous setup, but the quality is generally solid and the sea views compensate. The waterfront also has a craft market on weekends where you can find street food and local snacks.
Beyond the Boardwalk, the best eating is found in the suburbs to the north and in Greenacres. The city has a decent Indian community — the Eastern Cape has had an Indian population since the 1860s — and there are good curry houses if you look for them. Pork and seafood are the local strengths: the Algoa Bay catches cob (mulloway), kabeljou, and squid, and most restaurants with any self-respect have fresh fish on the board daily. Don't expect Cape Town prices or Cape Town buzz; PE is a working city and the restaurants reflect that — generous portions, honest cooking, no nonsense.