Great calamari and other favourites at Pirates, Plumstead
An Italian classic, lasagna, at Ritrovo, Pretoria
The delectable mezze of Anatoli's, Cape Town
The sweeping views at De Kloof, Pretoria
The culinary artistry of Tokara, Stellenbosch
The beautiful creations of Aubergine, Cape Town
Makaron in Stellenbosch - design meets cuisine
The inviting warmth of Lucit, Pretoria
The sweeping views at De Kloof, Pretoria
Chef Bertus Basson of Overture, Stellenbosch
Graham Beck's Gorgeous for bubbles and bites
Exciting modern cuisine at The Greenhouse, Constantia
Precise plates of flavour at La Colombe, Constantia
Stylish interior and great food at 9th Ave Bistro, Durban
22 May | Dias Tavern, Cape Town The "other" Portuguese evergreen in Cape Town (review of Vasco coming later this week), Dias Tavern is in a part of town that is slowly seeing a renaissance, but still re...more
18 May | Hemingway's, Centurion Hemingway's is named in honour of Papa Ernest, though its setting in Centurion feels a world away from Key West or Ronda, Spain. Leriba Lodge is a hotel, spa and conferen...more
Stylish Winelands Venue | By Lew | Tuesday, 22 May 2012
The beautiful transformation of La Motte Wine Estate outside Franschhoek is to be admired. Great care and thought has gone into its redevelopment, with ease of access, beautiful landscaping,the addition of an art gallery, interesting gift shop and other facilities, plus the impressive restaurant. One's expectations are high, and the large kitchen brigade and impressive kitchen augers well. We enjoyed excellent friendly service, and the menu, which includes a contemporary take on some historic Cape cuisine. Some works well, other less so. Presentation is impeccable, however the cheese souffle texture left a lot to be desired,and frankly the green surround stripes were nor great, with the rather curious combination of beets and salmon trout. Frikkadelle, which should be succulent, were clogged in an over rich heavy brown sauce, and not greatly enjoyed. Desserts including the apple and mint parfait, were good, and We'll certainly go back, but be more selective and not head for over-sauced items. The La Motte wines were as good as always.
I adore Pomodoro's restaurant. My husband and I have been eating at this restaurant for many years and not once have either of us had a bad meal. The decor and atmosphere are bright, sunny and welcoming. The owners are always there to welcome you and ensure that your dining experience is enjoyable. The staff are always knowledgeable and attentive without being intrusive.
There is clearly someone in the kitchen that knows what they are doing, perfect food every time. I am not a huge eater but always manage two courses in this restaurant. It is advisable to listen to the daily specials as they add an extra selection and always a good choice.
I highly recommend the prawns in tequila and the grilled veal with lemon. The pizzas are fabulous as well, we normally order one at the end of our meal to take home.
FAMILY FEAST AT BREAD AND WINE, FRANSCHHOEK. INSPIRED AND DELICIOUS. | By Sam | Wednesday, 16 May 2012
Bread and Wine at Moresons in Franschhoek isn’t a secret, but hand on heart, this unpretentious and honest restaurant consistently turns out the best food in the Cape (with the exception of Nobu)
And it’s not just me. Being foreigners in Cape Town, we have a continuous stream of house guests. All very nice, but you know the saying ‘house guests are like fish, they go off after three days….’ It’s quite true, so much so that this year we’ve already sent four groups of visitors off to Franschhoek with a list of restaurant bookings clutched in their hot little hands.
Being the bossy know-it-all that I am, the itinerary normally goes like this:
Le Quartier Francais for breakfast (the best breakfast buffet in South Africa, especially their delirium inducing cinnamon sticky buns)
Lunch at Bread and Wine
Supper at Ruebens
That’s it. If they have a bit more time then they go off and explore, but this year the feedback has been the same as it ever was, namely:
Breakfast at Le Quartier Francais – fantastic ‘love those sticky buns’
Lunch at Bread and Wine - ‘absolutely fantastic’, ‘best food of the whole trip’ ’really good service, lovely setting’etc etc.
Supper at Ruebens – disappointing. Nice atmosphere, not amazing food
No suprises there, but it had been a while since we did Bread and Wine, so on Mothers Day we piled the kids and friends into the car and headed off to check out their newly launched ‘Family feast’ winter special.
It’s a perfect way to spend a weekend lunch. Firstly, you arrive and your little darlings get whisked off to a big table to make pizzas and bread while you go and do a wine tasting. This is a good thing, as you’ll know if you’ve ever tried to do a wine tasting with kids swinging around your ankles, all the while feeling somewhat uncomfortable about the alcohol/children combo.
Afterwards, pizzas made, wine tasted, you sit down to eat my favourite kind of lunch. The kids have their pizzas, and you get to taste their bread with a charcuterie platter (and not just any old meat here as Neil Jewel makes all his own so the saucisson, chorizo etc are all outstanding) Then a big Ceasar salad, also immaculate, lots of dressing and cool green cos lettuce. Plus a grown ups Green Goddess pizza with roasted garlic and other goodies. Take my advice and don’t snaffle all of it, save some space, for what happened next was that the sun broke through the clouds and blasted sunlight onto the table, illuminating a bowl of paradise. Leek and pea risotto with sparkling blanc de blancs.
Everyone agreed it was the best risotto ever. Often chefs try and cheat richness in risottos by adding too much butter at the beginning or cream and cheese at the end, neither of which works, just makes for a sickly mound of rice. This was incredible, rich but not cloying, loose but not sloppy, and nutty, not crunchy rice with caramelised leeks, sweet emerald green peas, topped with crispy, salty streaky bacon. We even took the rest home, split into two pots as neither family was willing to let the other take it all. We then tried to persuade them to part with the recipe, but quite rightly, they weren’t having any of it, and sold us Neils cook book instead (which was too expensive, but did contain the elusive risotto recipe)
Risotto was followed by plates of delicious petit-fours, not that we had much space left, and the kids went scrumping in the lemon fields opposite and came back with handfuls of lemons to take home.
All in all a perfect, perfect lunch in a delightful setting, with kind, gentle service and good wines.
The Family Feast is R175 for adults and R55 for kids excluding drinks and it’s worth every penny. Book it now before it fills up with the rest of my houseguests.
mismatch of venue/food | By Ekes | Wednesday, 16 May 2012
Set in a beautiful garden, with views over distant Noordhoek beach, this is a great spot for kids and dogs. The food doesn't match up to the venue, unfortunately: my burger was gristly and plain. Apparently the pizzas are decent. A pity that they went for pub-style food in a setting which could be really special, but it's still worth a try for a beer and a snack.
I was hosting the taxis there and the dinner at Aubergine, Hillcrest Durban, for a crowd that had never been, but lost my wallet with cards and cash en route. One call to owner Chris Black and it was all sorted. Not the most scenic setting, but just so reliable, funky without being too loud and noisy, also relaxed with great service, and food better that I remember. Involved with Aubergine and Bellevue Cafe, this is a host who is modest, caring yet creative, and well worth inclusion on a visit to the city. Look forward to it every time, and my gusts loved it!
Neil Roake enjoys a high profile in Durban and his ventures have had considerable media focus. On arriving at Craft Trattoria, in Glenashley, I was reminded that I had been to this venue before under previous ownership and a different guise. Must confess I had heard lots of positive, and we had an excellent waiter. I was not as overawed by the decor and atmosphere, as I had been given to believe, however though it was busy if not full on a Friday night, noise levels were acceptable. The pizza was OK, although sliced in a rather strange fashion and it was all fine, but must confess it has perhaps been a bit overhyped. A pleasant addition to the area, but wouldn't rush back.
Reliable Durban Venue | By Lew | Tuesday, 15 May 2012
In spite of it being Mother's Day, 8 or so of us, got a table and escaped the Indaba travel show's miserable catering, for a couple of hours, for lunch at Spice in Durban. Russell and Linda previously on the now very tired and tatty Florida Road, and now on much calmer and safer Windermere Road, have a loyal Durban following. Linda expecting their first child was not in the kitchen, but we had an excellent lunch, most opting for curries. Prices of main courses have risen steeply, even by Cape Town standards, but wines are more realistically priced. Whilst not fine dining, this is always an enjoyable visit, owner managed with charming hosts, and an eclectic menu. A very safe bet in the Berea/Morningside area.
Ruined Mothers Day | By Stephanie | Tuesday, 15 May 2012
We booked a table for 6 people to celebrate mothers day this past sunday. The experience was awful. We waited for over an hour for our food. When it arrived, it was stone cold and had to be sent back. The food arrived in drips-and-drabs, with some parties having finished their meals whilst others still waiting for theirs!!! there was no manager's compensation or apologies. we paid the bill with a heavy heart, and will certainly never return.
Poor Customer Service | By Tracy-Ann | Monday, 14 May 2012
On Mother"s Day, my family was forced to leave Ciao Baby Cucina Cedar Square after nearly two hours of waiting for our orders. The manager and his team did not attempt to inform us as to why we had to wait so long, or why other tables were served before us, even though we ordered before them. We left after no effort was made to appease our concerns or even serve us. Instead, the manager told us to "Just go!" He blatantly lied saying that we've only been waiting an hour, after the waiter confirmed that it had been an hour and a half, and that the tables served before us had given their orders after us. They spoilt this day for us and they don't care at all that this is how they will be remembered and talked about. The manager was rude and disrespectful of the fact that there were three generations of mother's at our table and he couldn't say anything better than, "Just go!"
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