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
15 May | Petit Caveau, Century City It may carry the “petit” qualifier, but don't be misled: this restaurant in the Colosseum office park of Century City (rapidly becoming home to many corporate HQ's) is a ...more
11 May | Azure, Twelve Apostles Hotel, Cape Town The fact that a new chef has been at the helm here at Azure for some time, together with a few favourable reports, encouraged a return to this very elegant, very over-the...more
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!"
Family Unfriendly and Racial Stereotyping | By Adrian | Sunday, 13 May 2012
I took my wife and 18 month son to the Butcher Shop for Mother’s Day lunch. My son is a fussy eater, so I took a Woolworths kiddies meal along so that he could have it for lunch. When I asked the manager (Daryl) at the Butcher Shop to warm it in their microwave, he gave us this attitude, interrogating me about who the meal was for and why we were not buying the kiddies meal from their menu.
This was about 2.30pm and my son was hungry, and Daryl argues with me and tells me I have to ask him for permission to warm my sons food/ feed my son the Woolies meal. I was asking him to warm the meal! He seemed to want me to ask permission to feed my son. After an argument he did get the meal warmed, but this had completely ruined the experience for my wife and me and we left. So much for a family friendly environment.
I guess if you are still bottle feeding your baby it won't allow be allowed either unless you buy milk from the menu. I suspect Daryl was applying a racial stereotype to us i.e. cheap Indian looking to save a buck. He also commented he had never seen us before and did not know who we were. That’s easy Daryl, we were paying customers.
We have been there many times in the past but no longer. Since when does a restaurant have the right to tell you that you must ask for permission to feed your kids?
Great Indian bet! | By Craig | Sunday, 13 May 2012
Located in what was the Singing Fig then Faff, Thava is a great improvement on both its predecessors.
Decor is, well, quirky. They have not done much to the decor left by previous tenants, so one finds Greek statues, exposed Spanish style beams and wrought iron work.
Service is friendly and attentive.
Food is as good as you will find Indian food in Jhb, with great South Indian options - Masala Dosa etc.
Value is v good/
Twitter 
Facebook