Wakaberry

Among the many gems that exist on the streets of Stellenbosch breathes one of my favourite guilty pleasures. Bring the massive sweet-tooth that I am, I often find myself drawn to delicious dessert and sweet establishments. This past Friday I found myself on the backend of a double date and my ever present sweet tooth was making me itch for something sweet and delicious. As I’ve often done, I obeyed these cravings and made my way to Wakaberry.

Wakaberry is something I’m not too sure you would have heard of, due to its exclusivity. If you haven’t heard of it, I suggest you do what you can to make yourself better acquainted with what is fast becoming one of my favourite establishments. Wakaberry itself is not a restaurant, it’s not a fast food joint, it’s not a Café, and so what is it? It’s difficult to describe what it is due to it not being one of the standard previously mentioned establishments, so at an attempt to describe exactly what it is, I’m going to go out on a limb and call it a ‘self-service frozen yoghurt and sweet bar’. 

The bar itself is childlike in nature. Everything from the décor and furniture, to the flavours of yoghurt on offer. The whole place is full of bright colours and pictures, you can’t help but feel like a child again. How it works is: you walk into the place and you go find yourself a little plastic bowl which you can pour your yoghurt in to. There are a wide variety of flavours from Mixed berry, and banana to Condensed Milk and Crème Soda. The owners change the flavours regularly keeping the customers guessing, and not allowing the bar to become stale and boring. Once you have chosen your preferred yoghurt and filled your bowl to its brim you make your way over to a selection of sweets which you naturally add to your bowl and enjoy with your frozen yoghurt. The sweets on offer, much like the yoghurt come in a wide variety. Picture every sweet you ever loved as a little kid growing up, now picture every sweet you wished you had while growing up, Wakaberry has them, plus more. The amount of activities going on in that sweet selection would be enough to put a diabetic in a sugary, chocolate coated, sour worm infested heaven. After you’ve scooped all the sweets you need to into your bowl, you make your way over to the weighing scales, weigh your yoghurt and pay accordingly.

Another plus about this wacky establishment is the fact that all the yoghurt is fat free, so although it sounds incredibly unhealthy and somewhat fattening, there is an element of health to it. Apart from being deliciously satisfying on the pallet, what makes this establishment is the; quirky, childlike character which firmly exists within the walls of Wakaberry. If ever you are in Stellenbosch and you are looking for something yummy to eat , make your way down to Wakaberry you won’t be disappointed, and if you are, I may have a bone to pick with you. Regardless of your age, shape, or size Wakaberry will make you feel like a kid again, in a good way. Try it.

BAISA

Being a part of a relationship, one is often obliged to splurge on fancy dinners and romantic dates every once in a while. Over the last few months my never so impressive student account has been just that; unimpressive. However, thanks to some left over birthday money and the welcomed generosity of Grand West Casino I found myself with a little bit of money at the end of the month. What should I do with that money I thought? Save it? Mmm ja ok. Invest it in an overseas holiday? Ja, I could do that. Spend it right away? Yes please, I’ll do that.

As I mentioned earlier, when one is in a relationship you often find yourself in situations you not really used to or comfortable with. I can guarantee you, that if you’ve ever been in any serious kind of relationship you would have, no-doubt at some point found yourself in an incredibly fancy restaurant with incredibly fancy people. If you are more wowed by the price column than the dishes on offer, that’s when you know your bank accounts going to take a bit of a beating. However, be that at as it may be, it was date night and I felt like spoiling the ‘wife’ for a night. I felt like doing something romantic for this special person; however I found myself at a loss for anything original and creative. This was largely due to the fact that all my great romantic dates were used up within the first few months. I eventually decided to do the cheesy cliché thing, and take her on a romantic dinner date. So there I found myself typing “romantic restaurants to eat at in Cape Town”. A number of appealing options popped up, the one that most caught the eye was a restaurant called Baisa in the Waterfront.   

I immediately knew we were in for a treat the second we walked through the doors. The whole atmosphere of the restaurant oozed class. From the attire of the people, to the warm welcoming we received. Every element I could possibly lay my eyes on lead me to believe that my wallet was going to take a beating, but as we sat down my financial worries began to subside. I found myself lost, taken a back, and left in awe at the amazing view I was experiencing. Say what you like about Cape Town, but there really are fewer sites more beautiful than the Waterfront harbour at night, absolutely gorgeous. It’s seemed my impressed emotion was only going to be further aroused, our waitress was - superb. She was very polite and insisted on calling me sir (something I always find quite awkward, especially because she was old enough to be my mother), nonetheless I was impressed and duly felt the effects of the ‘over and beyond’ service I was being treated to.

The menu was one of those where you understood every second option (a sign that you in a restaurant you probably can’t afford). After the waitress read out the many specials that were available, we both panicked and ordered the starter that had something to do with a mushroom and a main that had something to do with a platter. Needless to say both dishes were delicious. The mushroom ‘thingy-majigy’ was full of wonderful flavours and aromas, whilst everything on the seafood platter was cooked to as close to perfect as I believe it could have been. The calamari in particular was superb, an outstanding balance of flavour accompanied by a smooth chewy texture. I am struggling not to salivate on my keyboard as I re-live what truly was an incredible meal.

At many fancy restaurants that I’ve eaten at in the past rely on their fancy image, high prices and elitism. In doing so, they neglect the most important thing, the food itself. It’s crucial that in any restaurant, if you willing to charge the prices you’re charging, and offer the service you’re offering, you better be able to deliver in the kitchen, and perform on my plate. After this night I can honestly say that Baisa ticked all the necessary boxes and its 5 star restaurant title is richly deserved.

Cape Town Fish Market

For the fans of this blog, of which there are many I’m sure (*sarcasm) you would have noticed that I like food, some more than others. My two favourites, which you wouldn’t have to be a rocket scientist to guess are; sushi and steak. Over the last few months I have eaten at, praised and critiqued a number of restaurants in the beautiful city of Cape Town. Some restaurants have been good, others not so much. As human beings we often enjoy complaining about things, and let’s be honest its quite fun. We enjoy a good moan and the occasional rant. Thankfully the restaurants I have eaten at up until now haven’t given me the opportunity to practice human beings favourite pastime, until now. The restaurant I am about to unleash my fury upon is, wait for it; Cape Town Fish Market.

Once again it was a Sunday afternoon, and the extended family and I were off to Grand west for a celebratory birthday lunch. We found ourselves in the bizarre location of Grand West (don’t ask). Eating at Grand west is an experience in itself the setting is actually quite beautiful, particularly where the restaurants are located. It almost feels like you’re in the streets of a beautiful, old-school Italian city. Whilst there were a number of restaurants at our disposal, we decided that Cape Town Fish Market would be our best option as the sushi cravings become infectious among the family. Upon arrival the waitress (who had become aware of the fact that we were there for a birthday lunch) located us on the bow of the boat. This may sound a little strange but the restaurant is in designed in the form of a ship. As cheesy as it may have been, there we sat on the bow of the restaurant/ship eagerly awaiting great food and quality service.

There were a number of things I didn’t like about my lunch experience that day, firstly; our waitress. We had one of those ones who would insist on writing every single meal down word for word, thus slowing our ordering process down and turning our happy, joyful moods into frustrated and annoyed ones. I’m surprised she didn’t ask me to spell my order to her letter for letter. You would swear she was studying for her matric finals the way she was furiously writing away at that note pad. There are a number of people that may feel I should cut this waitress some slack, to those people I say: Jog on. If I go to a well-established restaurant I expect quality service and if not quality service, then at least competency. Just like if you walked in to the office of a lawyer or a doctor you wouldn’t expect a below average service, so why should I when I walk into a restaurant? Since writing this blog my eyes have been firmly widened to the service industry in Cape Town and, frankly, I’m appalled. Our service industry is shocking and restaurants need to put an emphasis on employing quality, well-trained staff that can fly the metaphorical flag high for their respective the restaurant. Service can make or break ones dining experience. Cape Town Fish Market was a shining example as to everything that is wrong with the service industry in Cape Town, shocking.

Despite my impaired perceptions of the service of the restaurant, I found comfort in the cliché; “the proof is in the pudding” and decided that I should put the quality of service, or lack thereof behind me and attempt to enjoy my meal. I ordered a seafood platter with sushi as a starter. If you’re familiar with sushi restaurants you will notice that most of them have a ‘conveyer belt’ kind of system where you can choose and literally take the various sushi options on offer. The options are packaged in little Tupperware style containers. When our sushi was brought to us, the serving staff couldn’t even take the already made sushi and put it on a plate but rather they decide to take the sushi as is, Tupperware container and all, and bring it to me portion for portion. At one stage we must have had about 10 unwanted Tupperware containers on our table, chaos. The sushi clearly wasn’t freshly made and there was little to be desired within those little Tupperware packages. My main meal, the seafood platter, wasn’t bad; I’ve had better, 5 out of 10.

All in all my experience at Cape Town Fish Market that particular afternoon was one I’d rather forget, and had it not been for the great company I was with my experience would have been an absolute disaster. Service, service, service, it needs to start becoming a priority in the restaurants of Cape Town. A good meal can be ruined by poor service, in the same breathe an average meal; can be uplifted by a service that is of a high standard. In the case of Cape Town Fish Market the service was horrible; however would quality service have turned my negative experience into a positive one? No, the foods shit.

The Dogs Bollocks

If I had to tell you that you would eating your meal within the driveway of a loud obnoxious Englishmen in a crime ridden area of town, you’d politely tell me to go jump in a lake somewhere. I don’t blame you; it was my initial reaction when I heard about the Dogs Bollocks.

Don’t be fooled by the somewhat vulgar name, the Dogs Bollocks is one of the most happening restaurants in Cape Town at the moment. Located just off Buitenkant Street, the restaurant in question is slowly becoming a well- known must eat at restaurant. I have described this restaurant to many friends and family members; however it is difficult to describe it without making it sound like some dodgy old man trying to make a quick buck. In this blog I’ll do my best to make this seemingly dodgy restaurant look like the little gem of a place that it truly is.

My first visit of the Dogs Bollock ended up at a Mexican restaurant in town. This may seem bizarre but because of the advertising of the Dogs Bollock, or lack thereof  I drove right past the restaurant and when I eventually found the hidden establishment it was filled to capacity and the famous burgers were already sold out (needless to say it was only 630pm). Having learnt from my first mistake I made sure that the second time around I was better prepared. I left my house at 5 o clock with excitement in my heart and an appetite in my belly. I was greeted with a sense of relief on my arrival as I noticed that the restaurant was fairly quiet and calm. The exterior of the restaurant is far from an oil painting and really isn’t much to look at. Earlier I mentioned eating your meal within someone’s driveway and when I said you’ll be eating out of someone’s driveway, I meant just that. The furniture itself is rustic, patio like in nature and fits the setting of the Dogs Bollocks well. Visually, apart from being incredibly unique there really isn’t much to write home about.

Ordering a burger is another unique experience in itself. At the Dogs Bollocks there are no such thing as servers, there is , however, a chalk board. When you arrive you go over to the chalk board and write down your name and the number of burgers you wish to order. When the chef is ready for you he will shout out your name, at this point you will go up and place your order. The chef could be described rather judgementally as an ‘old geyser’. He is from a town in England called Manchester; his accent is piercing and distinct. He is also an incredibly loud man who’s not shy to make use of the odd profanity here and there. His presence, personality and general attitude can be humorous but more than anything its incredibly intimidating. His audacious style and unique way of running a business is fitting to the different, unique vibe of the Dogs Bollocks.

The burgers themselves are massive in a very ambiguous way. Massive in size, but also in flavour and activity. When I say the burgers are massive they really are one hundred 100%, no two ways about it massive. Imagine a burger the size of your head; I kid you not that is the size of these delicious burgers. Massive in flavour; each bite allows you to experience a truly unique taste sensation. The patty which is homemade is jam packed with enough flavour and activity to leave you salivating for more. The meal experienced at the Dogs Bollocks was hands down the best burger I have ever had the privilege of eating.

What makes a restaurant like the Dogs Bollocks so special is that it is so unique and so different. Personally, I love an underdog story (excuse the pun) and when you walk in or perhaps drive by the Dogs Bollocks your mind would automatically jump to conclusions and your newly formed opinion would be somewhat of a negative one. However give it a chance, write your name on the board, order, eat and enjoy a mouth-watering burger. More importantly, enjoy the truly unique dining experience that can be offered nowhere else in Cape Town. Try it, it’s an absolute must.

Beluga

There is nothing quite like a summers day in Cape Town. Not only is the weather incredibly warm and peaceful but the sights are simply breathe taking. Cape Town truly is a sexy city. Within this city subsists a number of restaurants that are on par with the sexiness that is this city.  Being the restaurant special seeking student that I am, I find myself constantly looking for cheap restaurants that are offering some sort of special. If there’s a 2 for the price of 1, all you can eat or half price special at a restaurant, you can be sure that Guy Muller will be there getting involved. The restaurant up for review this week offers a particularly appealing special for people like me (students). The special: Half price Sushi and cocktails. Not only does this restaurant offer sushi at an affordable price but it combines allows students to engage in their two favourite pastimes; saving money and drinking cheap drinks. The restaurant I’m harping on about: Beluga.

Beluga is situated within the city of Cape Town, a stone’s throw away from the famous V&A Waterfront. The restaurant itself is absolutely stunning, the interior has a very modern, classy kind of feel, while the outside has a very chilled out atmosphere conducive to the kind of people that attend such restaurants. Being the lazy Sunday afternoon that it was my mood wasn’t quite in a “let’s get boozed” place as it perhaps may have been due to the ‘half price cocktails’ offer. So I decided to go for a drink that was more of a thirst quencher, something refreshing and easy on the pallet. Mojito was my choice of drink. Besides waiting a longer time than I would like, the drink itself was incredibly refreshing and easy to put back. One may think that when a restaurant is producing a larger than usual number of identical drinks at the same time, these drinks may lose their quality as quantity becomes a priority. However, this was not the case and my drink was incredibly tasty and thoroughly enjoyed.

My tummy was rumbling for sushi, as it often does and I couldn’t help but experience feelings of immense hunger and anticipation as my eyes gazed over the delicious sushi options. As I ordered my desired raw fish I found myself thinking ‘I hope this doesn’t take as long to get to me as my mojito did’. Thankfully it didn’t and to the credit of the chef and server involved, my food was delivered in good time with little frills and fuss. The sushi itself was really good, I’d be lying if I said it was the best meal of my life but it certainly was satisfactory. My fears of my drink losing its quality as quantity became a priority rang true with the Sushi served. My knowledge is limited when it comes to the actual making of Sushi but I’d imagine that it would be a careful, precise process that requires concentration and experience. Due to the high demand, the chefs must find themselves under pressure and often end up rushing their meals. Due to this obvious and natural happening, my sushi may be wasn’t of the quality it should have been.

The business of the restaurant was without a doubt an attributing factor to the service that wasn’t terrible but also wasn’t quite where it should have been. Many restaurants who offer specials (and there are many of them) should not use ‘busyness’ as a cop out excuse for their poor service. If you want to walk the walk i.e: Offer all these amazing attractive specials, you should be able to walk the walk and provide your customer with these specials regardless of how ‘busy you may get’. For the most part, my dining experience at Beluga was an incredibly enjoyable one, and although the food may have been at a 6 out of 10 rating, the general vibe and atmosphere makes the restaurant extremely appealing and enjoyable to attend.

Brads Grill

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, in my mind there is nothing better than a good quality steak. After much debate with my family as to where the best steak house in Cape Town was, my arm was eventually twisted and I was reluctantly forced into trying something other than the Hussar Grill. The restaurant I was being dragged to for the night: Brads Grill. Brads Grill is situated in 2^nd Avenue, Kenilworth. Within this little gem of a street exist a number of restaurants. There are restaurants there to satisfy the pallet of any individual regardless of your preference. The variety is impressive. There’s an Italian restaurant for the pizza and pasta lovers. There’s a curry restaurant for the spice cravers. There’s even a sushi restaurant for the raw fish eaters of the world. As impressive as this array of variety is it does make life incredibly difficult for a restaurant owner in the area because it is just so dam competitive. Due to the competitive nature of the area over the years a number of restaurants have come and gone as they attempt to succeed but subsequently fail. While there have been a number of restaurants that couldn’t handle the pressure and competitive nature of 2^nd Avenue, there has been one that has maintained its popularity for on the street for over 30 years, that restaurant is: Brads Grill.

After hearing so many wonderful things about Brads Grill it would have been wrong of me to remain in the comfort zone of the delicious, tender and juicy Hussar steaks, so I reluctantly decide to give the much talked about Brads Grill an attempt to overtake my beloved Hussar Grill as Cape Town’s best steak house. As we walked into the restaurant I can’t say I was all that impressed with the décor of the place. The colours were dull and lifeless, shouting from the kitchen can be heard throughout the entire room and the restaurant itself is very petite in size, making customers feel cramped and claustrophobic. However, despite it failing the visually impressive test, the restaurant itself was quite vibey and the atmosphere was fairly festive. The waiter need not bring me a menu as my mind was already made up as to what I was going to eat. ‘Bring me your biggest steak, cook it medium rare and throw some mushroom sauce on the side’ I thought. My order reflected my thoughts as I prepared to get stuck into the 700gram mini dinosaur like steak that was awaited my devouring.

When critiquing a restaurant, I find it is unfair to just judge the restaurant based on one aspect and , to do justice to the review and the restaurant, one should judge it on all the aspects. One of these crucial aspects is: service. The service at Brads Grill wasn’t the best I have ever seen. The waiters seemed inexperienced and nervous like in their work. This was evident when our waitress poured our drinks all over my recently purchased jeans; needless to say I wasn’t impressed and thought to myself: ‘this steak better blow my mind’. Much to my surprise, it did.

I found myself greeted with a beautiful cut of rump steak, perfectly basted with a marinade only found in Brads Grill restaurant. The meet was cooked to perfection with every bite I took my taste buds rejoiced with jubilation and celebrated a combination of beautifully well balanced and exquisite flavours. Wow, what a steak it was. There a few cases when the word “beautiful” would be applicable to food, but in the case of this steak, beauty couldn’t be more appropriate. Yes, the décor didn’t blow me away, and yes the service wasn’t great but if you looking for a great steak, a festive atmosphere and an all-round good night Brads Grill is the place that should dominate your calendar for an evening. I wouldn’t say it’s the best restaurant in Cape Town, but my word its close.

Hong

Bizarre really, how a piece of raw fish can be so appealing. However, as bizarre as this piece of food may be it is the food that so many of us crave on a daily basis. The food in question? Sushi. At first Sushi was a type of food I detested. The first time I had a California roil was almost my last, as I struggled to comprehend the sticky, slimy textures that were attempting to make themselves at home in my mouth. However, as time went by I somehow grew to love the Japanese dish, and now it is one of my favourite meals. There are many restaurants that attempt to make this Japanese delight, some do a great job, others – not so much. For those of you that have experienced it, will know that there are few things worse than having bad (off) Sushi. Looking for a Sushi restaurant is somewhat of an easy task, finding a quality Sushi restaurant is an entirely different task.

After much deliberation and positive feedback from friends and family alike, I thought it was finally time to make my way down to Hong, the Sushi restaurant in Claremont. I had heard a lot about the famous ‘Hong’ restaurant and on this particular evening my craving for raw fish was somewhat overwhelming.  You could only imagine my excitement to testthis much spoken of restaurant. As we made our way into the Sushi restaurant we were greeted by a waiter. A small Chinese man, who could barely speak English. Call me crazy, but if you go to an Asian restaurant, and everything about the restaurant is Asian (including the people that work there) you are usually in for a treat. As my eyes gazed over the menu, my tummy rumbling with hunger and excitement, I found myself spoilt for choice. Hong offers a wide variety of Sushi, and because if the reasonable pricing of everything it made it difficult to choose. Eventually I made my mind up and ordered the Sushi of my choice, now it was a matter of waiting.

Despite the waiters knowledge for the English language, or lack thereof my food arrived swiftly and efficiently, without any frills or fuss. I was greeted with a wave of excitement and surprise. Excitement, attributed to my on-going craving for Sushi, which was now becoming a reality. Surprise, attributed to my emotion I experienced as I saw the size of the portions of my meal. People often throw around and perhaps overuse the cliché: Quality not quantity. However at ‘Hong’ in Claremont the sushi is quality in its quantity. The food is truly outstanding. The service, you may argue could be better, just in terms of communication. In terms of efficiency and speed in getting your meal from you back to the kitchen, back to you, you would struggle to complain.

I have eaten at many Sushi restaurants in my time and I can honestly say, without the shadow of a doubt that the meal I experienced at ‘Hong’ was one of the best Sushi experiences I have ever had and one which I certainly won’t forget.

Hussar Grill

When it comes to food, everybody has his or her own personal inclinations. You get those people that like the Italian food of the world, your pizzas, your pastas and the like. You get those who prefer to satisfy their pallets with seafood dishes. These people tend to indulge in meals resembling the traditional, classic fish and chips. Then you get people who like meat; I am one of those people.

Established in 1964, Hussar Grill finds itself home to one of the best steak dishes around. With branches all over Cape Town, the impressive steak house is becoming increasingly well known as they continue to satisfy and impress customer after customer. I must be honest, Hussar Grill is a restaurant I have come to know very well as my family, friends and I have been taking advantage of their services for many years. Lost in the busyness that is Rondebosch Main road exists the famous steak house, which, if you haven’t gathered by now, is the restaurant up for review this time around.

For me, there is nothing better than a good steak. In life there are a number of moments that simply cant be forgotten. The birth of your child; the day you marry your spouse; the day you scored the winning goal for your team; the day you finally get that big promotion. All of these moments are happy, joyful ones that people simply don’t forget overnight. What makes these moments so unforgettable? Ill tell you. It’s the feeling that takes over you when you are in your respective moment. Feelings of happiness, pride and pleasure attempt desperately to escape from within us, however their failed effort to do so lives on in the form of Goosebumps. Forgive me for my slight over-exaggeration and potential dramatic rant but biting into your favorite meal, when everything about it is perfect is a moment, which could effortlessly rival ones I have earlier mentioned. Such a moment is waiting for you at the Hussar Grill.

The setting at Hussar Grill oozes class, elegance and beauty. From the well-dressed doorman to the elegant furniture and table arrangements you cant help but be visually impressed. The décor and general vibe of the restaurant is fairly fancy and swanky, yet at the same time there is an element of homeliness that I find is lacking in a lot of top restaurants in Cape Town. Like everything else in life, nothing is perfect and although the setting is for the most part stunning, I cant help but feel that Hussar Grill has packed a couple too many tables in such a small space, and because of this there is an element of claustrophobia. While its nice to eat in a festive, bubbly atmosphere I don’t want to be sitting on top of my neighboring tables’ meals listening to their conversations thank you very much. Although this complaint may well be valid, it is, by nature minor in the grand scheme of things and really isn’t enough to sour your dining experience at the Hussar Grill.

The service was, for the most part satisfactory. The staff seems well versed as to the happenings of the restaurant and the various dishes that are on offer as they confidently conduct themselves around the restaurant. One aspect I didn’t quite enjoy was the constant checking up and almost ‘nagging’ habits of the servers. Personally, I find nothing more irritating than being asked “Is everything ok here?” 50 times in one night.  You might disagree with me and argue that he/she is simply doing their job. Maybe they are but there’s a marginally fine line between being enthusiastic and annoying. I’m a customer at a restaurant, not a 90 year old in an old age home, if something’s wrong ill tell you. If not, smile at me. Show me to my table. Tell me about your specials. Take my order; perhaps make some lighthearted small talk. Do this, and we’ll both walk away happy campers. There’s no need for the constant and overdone check ups. Having said that, I’d much rather deal with the nagging waiter, as opposed to the careless, lazy one. If my biggest complaint about the service of a restaurant is that they are too keen, then you know they are doing something right. This is less of a complaint and more of a compliment.

On the whole my dining experience at Hussar Grill was an incredibly pleasant one. The food was fantastic. The setting was unique and special. The service certainly wasn’t bad. Other than being a bit pricey (we must remember I am in fact a student here) there really is little to complain about when one speaks of the magnificent steak house. If a good quality steak is what you’re craving then you should dine nowhere else but the Hussar Grill. There’s a reason I’ve been going there for years, and there are even more reasons why I’ll keep going there for many years to come.

The Postcard Cafe

Stellenbosch, is one of my favourite places.  The sites, the sounds, the culture, the vibe, it’s all equally as special and contributes to the beautiful town that it is. Whether you are of an elderly generation and you seek a quiet place to enjoy a Sunday afternoon or perhaps your young aspiring student seeking a caramel vodka shot and a place to squeak some takkie on a Wednesday night. Whatever your demographic, age or agenda Stellenbosch is very much a happening town that caters for just about everyone. Over the last few months I have spent more time in the ‘bosch’ than the average non-Stellenbosch studying student, and thus indulged in some of the local restaurants. Some good, others, not so much. The restaurant up for review today falls into the: “not so much” category. Do allow me to elaborate.

About ten minutes outside of the beauty that is Stellenbosch exists a beautiful little restaurant called The Postcard Café. My girlfriend and I woke up on a Sunday morning feeling particularly hungry and we decided to treat ourselves to something other than the classic ‘Chicken Mayo tramezenni’ from Caltex. On a friend’s recommendation we decided to put our student budgets to the test and try some place different, you know, some place nice. Off we went as we ventured down Merriman road deeper into the beauty of Stellenbosch, away from the 4- way stop streets and busy town life and into the more scenic natural environment. We finally arrived at the Postcard Café and what a beautiful setting it was.

The restaurant is situated on a large piece of land that boasts stunning green pastures and a beautiful mountain backdrop. The setting is enough to grab your attention and make you want to grab a table. That we did, and before I knew it I was sitting at one of the most stunning restaurants I had ever been to. As soon as I managed to get my breathe back my tummy kindly reminded me that I had come to breakfast not because I was looking for a beautiful view but rather because I was in fact starving. My attention now turned to the menu. If I’m honest, the menu itself didn’t really scream excitement and although I was incredibly hungry there was nothing jumping off the page for me. The restaurant and its whole vibe is really modern, the setting is beautiful one would expect the food, or at least the menu to be as well. Sadly, it was not. It was all very plain; the menu was small (which is not necessarily a bad thing) and there was little variety or evidence of a theme. To put it simply; the menu was ‘random’.  But like they say “the proof is in the pudding” and it would be wrong of me to judge a restaurant without tasting what it has to offer first.

For some obscure reason I decided to go with the mixed meat and cheese platter option. The meal not only took forever to make its way to me, but when it did I found myself incredibly disappointed. The cheeses were plonked on the plate haphazardly, while the meats were hidden away underneath them.  The platter itself wasn’t visually appealing in the slightest, so it was already 5 points down in my book. In terms of taste, the platter continued to disappoint as the selections offered weren’t varied and after a while the flavours became tiresome and bland.  Nonetheless I was determined for my eating experience to change so I searched the dessert section of the menu, in the hope that I would find something that could redeem the below par cheese and meat platter I had been struggling my way through for the better part of Sunday morning. Once again, there was nothing jumping off the page but after a while my girlfriend and I decided to share a chocolatey/peanutty kind of a dessert, forgive me I forget what it was called. Basically it was a chocolate peanut square which ,much like my cheese platter was just plonked on the plate with very little effort or care.

My experience at the Postcard Café was a sombre one, although I was surrounded by beautiful views my dining experience was something I could easily forget. It’s a pity though because a restaurant of such beauty in such a place could offer so much more. I cant help but feel that the restaurant is poorly managed and badly run.

Harbour house:

Nestled within the rustic beauty that is Kalk Bay exists a restaurant almost as special as the area itself. This hidden gem is arguably the top restaurant in its area and quite possibly the best restaurant I have ever dined at.


Rested up against the crashing rocks and breath-taking sea views, Harbour house provides one with the perfect setting to enjoy a fantastic, modern cuisine inspired meal. Without even tasting any form of food Harbour house immediately impresses you with its incredibly intriguing surroundings. How many restaurants can boast that while you wait for your meal you can enjoy the views of waves breaking against the rocks, or spot a seal on one of its adventures? Such views are part and parcel of the unique dining experience that is offered by Harbour house.


As I sat down and soaked in the blissful atmosphere, I began to philander with various meal options. All the meals were incredibly appealing to the pallet, and although one would assume that “Harbour house” is a specialized sea-food restaurant there really is something for everyone. In saying that the menu wasn’t filled with hundreds of options, however with the meals that were available they managed to include a variety of different foods. The old cliché: “Quality, not quantity” rings very true at Harbour house, and couldn’t be more appropriate when describing its menu. With everything looking exceedingly tasty I eventually decided to go with the steak tartar starter and treat myself to the Karoo Lamb Chops as a main. How was it you ask? To answer simply; mouth-watering.


The steak tartar not only tasted amazing but it was visually appealing as-well. It was presented in a very modern, sexy kind of way. Sexy is not a word one would typically use when describing food but I personally believe it is one of the most important aspects. Just like in any relationship there needs to be a form of attraction between a person and their potential relationship prospect. Food is no different. While your relationship with your meal may not last as long or require as much effort it can still be just as, if not more rewarding. Customers are immediately attracted to meals that are visually appealing, if you can ‘whoo’ them with your presentation, your well on your way to pleasing them. The Karoo Lamb Chops were nothing short of superb, with every bite encouraged a celebration of flavours in my mouth. The meat was cooked to perfection and all credit belongs to the chef and the rest of his cooking staff for providing me and my respective entourage with a fantastically satisfying and enjoyable meal.


A lot of restaurants are often criticized for quality of service or lack thereof. You would have to be a particularly cynical and ignorant person to complain about the service at Harbour house. It truly is fantastic. I’m almost willing to put money on the fact that our waiter knew the menu off by heart. He was extremely knowledgeable and was always willing to help and make our experience as comfortable as possible. He went out of his way to inform us about the specials and served us gracefully, smiling at all times. Again, to use another over-used cliché; “A smile goes a long way” well in terms of service, these 6 words couldn’t be more appropriate.


As you may have gathered by reading above, I’m struggling to find a negative thing to say about the beauty that is Harbour House. The atmosphere and setting was superb, the food: fantastic, and the service: impeccable. It really does tick all the metaphorical boxes when it comes to what exactly it is one would want from a restaurant. If you are ever looking for a place to enjoy a nice glass of wine, a special meal and a great atmosphere in the company of good friends, then Harbour house is where you should be. It truly is a unique dining experience, one which you will never forget.

The Culinary critic.

Food, for me is one of life’s greatest joys. The sights, smells, and tastes that one can only find brewing out of someone’s kitchen are unrivalled with anything on this planet. Food is a celebration of ingredients culminating together to form an explosion of flavours in your mouth. Personally I feel that the whole notion of food is so much more than sustenance one puts on their plate in a an obligatory manner to survive. Food is a celebration of all that is pure and each meal should be acknowledged as a unique dining experience.

One thing I have noticed, in a number of restaurants that I have eaten at; is that these establishments are either too worried about the food they are going to serve, or they are stressed about all the bells and whistles that go along with restaurants i.e. the setting, lighting etc.  They neglect to find a happy medium between the two and thus fail to provide their customers with a truly unique culinary experience. Over the years I have attended hundreds of restaurants, some good, some not so much. What makes a good restaurant you ask? Don’t mind if I answer.

A good restaurant is somewhere that is warm and welcoming to people, Regardless of the area in which a restaurant is set there should always be an atmosphere that is happy and pleasant to be a part of. Customers should feel safe, and relaxed when eating in a restaurant. A good restaurant should boast a unique and current menu that is appealing to their respective customers. In saying that, I can’t help but feel that so many restaurant owners are obsessed with modern, trendy cuisine that they forget about what people actually want to eat. Each cook should cook to their strengths, if frying a steak is as creative as your chef gets, then fry the living daylights out of that steak and make sure it’s the best dam steak in town. Do this, as opposed to forcing a slightly incompetent chef into adapting to a menu which he/she is not comfortable with just to make your restaurant ‘current’ and ‘trendy’. My point is: stick to what you do best and adapt those dishes to make something slightly more modern, as opposed to producing food which is below par. So many restaurants are too ambitious, and expect too much from their cooking staff. Keep it simple people, less is more.

Service and staff are massive ‘make or break’ factors when it comes to restaurants. There a few things worse than a waiter who takes forever to serve you, or a manger that is rude and unfriendly. In the restaurant world the over used but very appropriate “a smile goes a long way” cliché couldn’t be more appropriate. How can one expect your customers to be happy and satisfied when your waiters and waitresses are not?  Personally, I find the setting of a restaurant can be crucial in its respective successes. Many customers, (families in particular) often flock to restaurants that serve mediocre food, simply because of the fact that they are dining in a beautiful setting. In my mind a restaurant that is able to combine all these factors, would be a restaurant worth dining at. You need to find a balance between modern/trendy foods and homey, well-cooked delights. A little bit of everything goes a long way, balance is essential.

I suppose you are wondering about my bizarre obsession with restaurants? Allow me to explain myself. Over the next few weeks I will be reviewing a restaurant a week. Each restaurant will be somewhere new and hopefully exciting. Watch this space for a fresh, new insight into the happenings of restaurants in South Africa. Enjoy.

The Culinary critic.

Food, for me is one of life’s greatest joys. The sights, smells, and tastes that one can only find brewing out of someone’s kitchen are unrivalled with anything on this planet. Food is a celebration of ingredients culminating together to form an explosion of flavours in your mouth. Personally I feel that the whole notion of food is so much more than sustenance one puts on their plate in a an obligatory manner to survive. Food is a celebration of all that is pure and each meal should be acknowledged as a unique dining experience.

One thing I have noticed, in a number of restaurants that I have eaten at; is that these establishments are either too worried about the food they are going to serve, or they are stressed about all the bells and whistles that go along with restaurants i.e. the setting, lighting etc.  They neglect to find a happy medium between the two and thus fail to provide their customers with a truly unique culinary experience. Over the years I have attended hundreds of restaurants, some good, some not so much. What makes a good restaurant you ask? Don’t mind if I answer.

A good restaurant is somewhere that is warm and welcoming to people, Regardless of the area in which a restaurant is set there should always be an atmosphere that is happy and pleasant to be a part of. Customers should feel safe, and relaxed when eating in a restaurant. A good restaurant should boast a unique and current menu that is appealing to their respective customers. In saying that, I can’t help but feel that so many restaurant owners are obsessed with modern, trendy cuisine that they forget about what people actually want to eat. Each cook should cook to their strengths, if frying a steak is as creative as your chef gets, then fry the living daylights out of that steak and make sure it’s the best dam steak in town. Do this, as opposed to forcing a slightly incompetent chef into adapting to a menu which he/she is not comfortable with just to make your restaurant ‘current’ and ‘trendy’. My point is: stick to what you do best and adapt those dishes to make something slightly more modern, as opposed to producing food which is below par. So many restaurants are too ambitious, and expect too much from their cooking staff. Keep it simple people, less is more.

Service and staff are massive ‘make or break’ factors when it comes to restaurants. There a few things worse than a waiter who takes forever to serve you, or a manger that is rude and unfriendly. In the restaurant world the over used but very appropriate “a smile goes a long way” cliché couldn’t be more appropriate. How can one expect your customers to be happy and satisfied when your waiters and waitresses are not?  Personally, I find the setting of a restaurant can be crucial in its respective successes. Many customers, (families in particular) often flock to restaurants that serve mediocre food, simply because of the fact that they are dining in a beautiful setting. In my mind a restaurant that is able to combine all these factors, would be a restaurant worth dining at. You need to find a balance between modern/trendy foods and homey, well-cooked delights. A little bit of everything goes a long way, balance is essential.

I suppose you are wondering about my bizarre obsession with restaurants? Allow me to explain myself. Over the next few weeks I will be reviewing a restaurant a week. Each restaurant will be somewhere new and hopefully exciting. Watch this space for a fresh, new insight into the happenings of restaurants in South Africa. Enjoy.