As we hit the halfway mark of 2017, the temperatures are low, and colder days and nights give us more reason to enjoy red wine, blazing fires and comforting food. Here are some fabulous Cape Town restaurants to visit this winter.
1. Seelan Restaurant and Bar, V&A Waterfront
Offering a vibrant Mediterranean atmosphere, Seelan Restaurant and Bar in the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town serves up flavourful and indulgent dishes. The staff are very aware that each diner’s experience is important – and the food and service reflect that.
The restaurant is inspired by the dining style of the South of France, and the sweeping views of the harbour add to the modern and sophisticated décor, courtesy of Dennis Banks. Seelan Restaurant and Bar is known for impeccable service, the freshest of ingredients and a winner of a location.
Along with an outstanding winter menu, the restaurant boasts an impressive choice of local and international wines, including sparkling wines and Seelan’s very own house wine, which is made locally.
Whether you choose seafood or a land-based dish, you are in the best of hands when it comes to culinary excellence. The chef does, however, recommend the juicy mussels to start off with and their signature dish of fragrant, succulent prawn curry for the main course. Take your pick from the selection of delicious desserts to finish off a perfect food experience.
2. Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa, Camps Bay
For anyone wanting to fit as much as they can into the short winter hours, the two-course lunch between 12.30pm and 3pm is perfect, as it can be tailored to suit your busy schedule. It includes a glass of wine and a complimentary shuttle service from Camps Bay to the V&A Waterfront for anyone wanting to continue the merriment after lunch.
For a ‘warmer experience’ there are also curry evenings, which take place every night until the end of August between 6pm and 10pm, in The Café Grill. The menu includes a traditional plated starter, family-style main course (three different curries, rice and roti) and a dessert.
Those who prefer to stay away from meat and any animal products will be pleased to know that the hotel has launched a vegan tasting menu. ‘Our new vegan tasting menu is made with the freshest, healthiest seasonal ingredients,’ says executive chef Christo Pretorius. ‘Things like beetroot, butternut, beans and tofu never tasted or looked this good and are exactly what our vegan diners are looking for.’
3. Harbour House
Harbour House, with its three locations to choose from, is a collection of great restaurants with food that will make you want to go back again and again. The views at the Kalk Bay restaurant are unparalleled and offer diners a truly Cape Town experience. The same can be said for the V&A Waterfront and Constantia locations, which give tourists – and locals – just what they need (good food and an incredible view).
Harbour House offers a choice of a two-course and a three-course menu, available from Sunday evenings to Saturday evenings. The courses offer something for every taste, including tempura prawns, duck confit and a dark-chocolate torte.
4. Ocean Basket, Cavendish Square
Families that eat together stay together. We’ve all heard the old expression, but busy lifestyles often make what used to be a daily occurrence much more difficult to achieve. With that in mind, Ocean Basket has come up with a three-course winter extravaganza suitable for the whole family.
For starters, there are two new meze platters and a whole host of innovative starters that can be ordered together to create your own personalised meze feast. Choices include battered mussels, prawn tails, firecracker squid, hummus, Mediterranean-inspired salsa, potato dippers and zucchini fritters.
On the main menu is the new smoked-snoek soup, which is packed with all the health benefits that oily fish brings, and is perfect for winter. The meat is firm and strongly flavoured, giving the soup a rich and hearty taste. The fabulous smoked-snoek fishcake with chips and tilapia with sweet potato are new additions.
There are also two delicious new desserts: a warm baked pear and white-chocolate pudding, and a generous slice of toffee-nut pie.
5. The Grand Africa Café & Beach, Granger Bay
Incorporating a free-spirited beach-café culture, Grand Africa Cafe & Beach in Granger Bay offers a unique experience for all diners. Fit for the worldly traveller and diner, this restaurant is known for good food and even better company, and is a great place to bring your overseas friends. A two-course and a three-course menu are available – depending on how much delicious food you want to enjoy.
Offering fresh seafood and heart-warming dishes, the menu features a great array of options, including a serving of mussels in a fragrant coconut broth. You could choose to follow it with rustic battered fish and chips or more refined potato gnocchi. To finish it off there are various sweet treats, including a poached-pear and almond tart and the classic local favourite, malva pudding.
COVER PHOTO: Courtesy of Seelan Restaurant and Bar
* For prices and information on current winter specials, please contact the relevant restaurant.
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