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.