TH: **
GS: **½
RL: **
BH: **½
Average rating: **
Found on harbour’s edge of the V&A Waterfront, I could waffle for a bit on the virtues of location, but despite this, the sad truth is that Den Anker disappointed almost from the moment we stepped through the door. Not that anything was “bad”, mind you, just that it never lived up to promise, and more importantly, price.
Yes, we were greeted at the door by a very friendly hostess, but her sense of dress was a little strange and her etiquette was lacking - when we asked if there was somewhere we could hang our jackets she looked around aimlessly and then eyed out the handles on the top windows. She may have been joking, but I’m just not entirely sure. Neither of these points are particularly problematic, but - and I’m afraid I may repeat this - when you’re paying R300 or more a head, without wine, you come to expect a certain level of sophistication. At the prices they were charging, I could be eating at a far more eloquent restaurant with staff that near perfection in presentation and training.
The same casual service carried through to our waiter. Again, he was friendly, but lacked that certain polish we were hoping for. His descriptions of the meals offered no more detail than the menu and when asked to make recommendations, he largely listed everything on the offer. This is not to say that we didn’t like him - we did - and he would have been perfect in a pub or casual dining establishment but we wanted…more.
On a side note, there were an awful lot of staff for a very empty restaurant. Not always an issue, you never know how many walk-ins you may get, and I assume that the weather was a bit of a deterrent, but this does not mean that at 9:30pm, if you start getting bored, you begin packing up the glasses and table settings around the guests you do have. This is one of my particular pet hates as it’s inconsiderate and nothing will make diners feel more unwelcome.
Enough ranting however, back to the core of our story, which brings us to the food. The menu presented some small challenges as all dishes were described, somewhat inconsistently, in multiple languages; a clear indication of the market they’re aiming at, and a common complaint about the Waterfront. Of course, this just further explains the gap between the prices and the actual offering. It’s sad that this often backfires on narrow-minded restaurants, as when winter comes their seats are left empty and the atmosphere desolate, as was the case with Den Anker.
Despite this, the selection of dishes showed promise and I was excited to be adventurous and try out the Marrow Bone starter. Silly me, I was picturing quaint chop bone-sized marrow bones, but what I received was, well, dog bones. Huge things thrown on my plate in some sort of clear, watery, oily stock and served with toast. I made it through one and half before I just couldn’t wrap my mind around it, and was forced to pass. In contrast, GS’s Goat’s Cheese starter looked beautifully presented, even if the bacon was a little pale. Apparently he enjoyed it, but wasn’t overly impressed. BH however made a good selection in the Seafood Bisque which meant we had a least one good dish to recommend.
Unfortunately, Mains also left a little to be desired, with only TH really enjoying her Fillet with white pepper sauce. This she described as one of the better cuts of meat she’d enjoyed, but she would have preferred to enjoy it in a more appropriate setting. My Tiger Prawns were so spicy that I couldn’t enjoy them, and BH could best explain his Rabbit dish as “nondescript”. GS faired a little better with his Kingklip, but it arrived somewhat congealed from standing too long. Also be warned that not all dishes come with accompaniments, a trap I almost fell into as the menu doesn’t state anything of the kind. So, once again, only one really good dish, not a good average.
Desserts were more basic and enjoyable, but presentation lacked on occassion. I enjoyed the flavour and tartness of the Crepes, but TH remarked they looked like dead jellyfish, lying on the plates. She herself tucked in to a healthy dose of Ice cream and Chocolate Sauce which seemed to go down well. GS’s Cheesecake looked beautiful, but he may have been a little disappointed with the portion size, a comment which could also apply to some of the Starters and Mains.
This again brings us to price. At a certain level of expense, you expect the dishes to either be beautifully presented and absolutely delicious or very very large. Den Anker offers neither. The same applies to the wine selection. Yes, there were numerous options on offer but they were so exorbitantly priced that we didn’t even bother. Luckily however there is also an array of beers to choose from and these proved to be the best decision of the night. Needless to say, we sampled several, and all were greatly enjoyed.
In summary, I would say that Den Anker is more than a pub, but less than a restaurant. Unfortunately it doesn’t fully deliver on either point.
Ambiance: **
Service: **½
Food: **½
Wine: **
Bathrooms: ***
Den Anker Restaurant and Bar / Pierhead / V&A Waterfront / Tel: 021 419 0249 / Email: Denanker@mweb.co.za / www.denanker.co.za
Posted on: June 23rd, 2011 THLa Mouette
La Mouette boasts instant street cred in certain circles, as the first Cape Town venture for renowned London chef, Henry Vigar. Having never had the pleasure of experiencing the London foodie scene, I was pleasantly surprised to come across this little gem tucked away in the middle of busy Seapoint.
Food is “Modern French” with a “Mediterranean Flair”. We tried the exceptionally well priced Winter Special (see The Highlights for details) and found the quality, presentation, and flavours of each course simply outstanding. We were hard pressed to find a least favourite course, and certainly could not pick just one favourite. Courses, as with all tasting menus, are very small, but we were more than satisfied by the end of the meal. The jokes about needing a burger on the way home were most definitely unfounded.
The converted Victorian-style house, with original wooden floors and cosy fireplace lends a wonderfully intimate atmosphere to the restaurant, and the front garden with its huge fountain must be bliss on a hot summer night. Sadly in mid winter, with a full house, it seems the fireplace sometimes goes unlit, and the high ceilings and drafty rooms can be cold. I’d advise taking a jacket - I certainly left mine on.
In spite of being somewhat chilly on our visit, I’d highly recommend La Mouette for a romantic date, impressing the in-laws, or just a very special meal for a very (winter) special price.
La Mouette / 78 Regent Road / Seapoint / Cape Town / Tel: 021 433 0856 / Fax: 021 433 2600 / www.lamouette-restaurant.co.za
From the moment you drive up to the doors of the One & Only in Cape Town, and the valet calmly takes possession of your car, to the moment the elegantly attired staff bid you a pleasant day further, you know you’re in good, and professional, hands.
It’s clear detail is important to the hotel, and this is carried through to their High Tea offering in the Vista Bar. Available everyday from 2:30 - 5:30pm, the One & Only provides a selection of beautifully crafted and presented sweet treats, a handful of savouries and a variety of 36 teas all for only R145 per person. A more than reasonable price when compared to other hotel and restaurant offerings.
Although the selection of sweets may be smaller than at other establishments, the choices present a wide range of options sure to satisfy any sweet tooth. Look out for the koeksisters, mini cheesecakes, eclairs and nougat. One the savoury side, the assortment is far more limited, and a little disappointing in this regard, but what is provided is scrumptious. Be sure not to miss out on the mini quiches! Most impressive however was the method of presentation of the treats. Yes, they were lovely to look at, but even easier to hold and maneuver onto your plate. Each item was perfectly bite sized and the more delicate items were placed on small card supports. The word “genteel” comes to mind.
On an additionally refined note, the One & Only takes the High Tea experience one step further by offering 36 teas from around the world. The selection of which is made easy by the “Tea Menu”, a wooden board displaying each of the teas in a clearly labelled and enclosed compartment. As their is no limit on the amount of tea you can enjoy, the hotel staff are happy to oblige as you sample as many as desired. Of course, if tea isn’t your bag, you can always sip on the perfectly good coffee.
I would definitely recommend the High Tea at the One & Only - my only hope is to see more savouries!
The One & Only Cape Town / Dock Road / V&A Waterfront / Tel: 021 431 5888 / http://capetown.oneandonlyresorts.com/cuisine/vistabar/tea.aspx
Posted on: June 20th, 2011 RLLa Masseria
The La Masseria website proudly proclaims that “La Masseria is the culmination of the Ciman family’s passion for good, wholesome food. The fare is genuine, unpretentious Italian country cuisine prepared and nurtured, as recipes and traditions are passed down from one generation to another.”
And to be honest, I couldn’t have said it better. Service and food is genuine, and the delight the family takes in their establishment is clear from the wide variety of quality dishes on offer to the mid meal opera singing which takes place with gusto.
La Masseria / Cnr. Bluegum and Huguenot Streets / Eversdal / Durbanville / Tel: 021 976 0036 / Email:
info@lamasseria.co.za / www.lamasseria.co.za
Winter is on us again and Cape Town’s fine eateries are dishing up the usual multi-course specials. Take a look at the list below for all the restaurants offering 4 or more courses, listed alphabetically;
1. Jordan Restaurant - R225 (4 courses, includes 2 glasses of wine)
2. La Mouette - R240 (6 course tasting menu)
3. Myoga - R195 (6 course, Dinner)
4. Nobu - R299 (5 courses)
5. The Food Barn - R185 (4 courses, wine paired Mondays to Saturdays, Lunch & Dinner)
6. The Food Barn - R215 (5 courses, wine paired Mondays to Saturdays, Lunch & Dinner)
7. The Greenhouse - R295 (5 courses, wine paired)
8. The Jonkerhuis - R200 (4 courses, Lunch & Dinner)
9. The Planet Restaurant - R220 (4 courses, Vegan)
10. The Planet Restaurant - R300 (6 courses, Vegan)
11. The Roundhouse - R240 (7 courses)
12. The Roundhouse - R460 (7 courses, wine paired)
13. The Square - R195 (5 course tasting menu)
14. The Square - R295 (5 course tasting menu, wine paired)
The above specials are as listed on numerous online sources but we’d recommend you double check that these specials are still running when you make your reservation.
Winter is on us again and Cape Town’s fine eateries are dishing up the usual multi-course specials. Take a look at the list below for all the 3 course options currently advertised, listed alphabetically;
1. 221 Waterfront - R135
2. Aubergine - R275 (until 20th June)
3. Beluga - R160 (Lunch & Dinner)
4. Blues Restaurant - R150 (Includes a glass of wine and coffee)
5. Brio 1893 - R165 (Monday – Thursday)
6. Cafe Delicieux - R155 (Dinner, Fridays)
7. Catherina’s - R195 (Lunch, including a glass of wine)
8. Catherina’s - R215 (Dinner, including a glass of wine)
9. Chez Max - R145 (Includes 2 glasses of wine)
10. Constantia Uitsig - R220 (Lunch, Monday to Saturday)
11. Constantia Uitsig - R250 (Dinner)
12. Five Flies - R150 (Mondays & Wednesdays, Dinner)
13. Hildebrand - R130 (Early Dinner)
14. Mama Mia - R175
15. Myoga - R145 (Lunch)
16. Olivello - R119
17. Pure - R195 (Includes 2 glasses of wine)
18. River Cafe - R180 (Includes a carafe of wine, Monday to Saturday)
19. Savour (15 on Orange) - R189 (Includes a glass of wine)
20. Servuga - R160 (Lunch & Dinner)
21. Sinn’s - R150 (Dinner, Includes a glass of wine)
22. Sotano by Caveau - R100
23. Taj - R185 (Includes a glass of wine)
24. Taste Restaurant - R160 (Sunday Roast, Lunch)
25. Terroir - R195 (Includes glass of wine)
26. The Black Marlin - R140 (Including glass of wine, until end July)
27. The Cove - R150
28. The Food Barn - R165 (wine paired, Mondays to Saturdays, Lunch & Dinner)
29. The Roundhouse - R180
30. The Square - R160 (Lunch, Monday to Saturday)
31. Trees Restaurant - R130 (Dinner)
32. Zenzero - R180 (Including as glass of wine or grappa)
The above specials are as listed on numerous online sources but we’d recommend you double check that these specials are still running when you make your reservation.
Winter is on us again and Cape Town’s fine eateries are dishing up the usual multi-course specials. Take a look at the list below for all the 2 course options currently advertised, listed alphabetically;
1. 1802 at D’Ouwe Werf - R100
2. Aubergine - R200 (until 20th June)
3. Beluga - R120 (Lunch)
4. Blues Restaurant - R120 (Including a glass of wine and coffee)
5. Cafe Delicieux - R125 (Dinner, Fridays)
6. Catherina’s - R165 (Lunch, including glass of wine)
7. Constantia Uitsig - R190 (Lunch, Monday to Saturday)
8. Five Flies - R120 (Mondays & Wednesdays, Dinner)
9. Hildebrand - R99 (Early Dinner)
10. Myoga - R120 (Lunch)
11. Mama Mia - R150
12. Olivella - R99
13. Sevruga - R120 (Lunch)
14. Taste Restaurant - R130 (Sunday Roast, Lunch)
15. Terroir - R170 (Includes glass of wine)
16. The Cove - R120
17. The Black Marlin - R115 (Including glass of wine, until end July)
18. The Square - R130 (Lunch)
19. Trees Restaurant - R95 (Dinner)
20. What’s On Eatery - R99 (Includes a glass of wine)
21. Zenzero - R155 (Including as glass of wine or grappa)
The above specials are as listed on numerous online sources but we’d recommend you double check that these specials are still running when you make your reservation.
TH: **½
GS: ***
RL: **½
BH: ***
Average rating: ***
For “C”, we thought we’ve give 95 on Keerom’s sister restaurant; Carne.
As their website puts so elegantly, Giorgio Nava, well known chef and proprietor of Cape Town’s award winning 95 Keerom, has spread his Milanese flair with the opening of his second signature restaurant: “Carne SA”, situated directly opposite 95’s front door in Keerom Street. Dedicated entirely to meat, as is evident from its Italian name, Carne SA is a carnivore’s paradise; serving a unique offering of the finest cuts of Romagnola beef and Dorper lamb, off Giorgio’s very own Karoo farm.
As with 95, Carne’s interiors are well considered and the the slick masculine finishes are well suited for an (almost) meat only menu.
The menu boasts free range, grass fed meat, dry aged in their own fridges and, as I’ve mentioned earlier, the Dorper lamb even hails from Giorgio’s farm in the Karoo. With all this, you expect the meals to be phenomenal and the meat to make you cry as you taste the first bite. High expectations indeed…
As usual, we wanted to give the Featured Restaurant every opportunity to impress, so we ordered 4 different starters, mains and desserts.
For starters, TH had the “Primi” Raviolo, which she found a little unremarkable, while GS sampled the Veal Tongue with poached tongue salad. Again, nothing exciting to report, but more concerning was that the dish looked a little bit like suspect sandwich meat. RL had the Carpaccio which was “fine”, although cut a little thicker than she liked. Not a great start, but not an awful one either. Wanting to see what they could do with a veggie dish, I ordered the Asparagus. Surprisingly, I actually quite enjoyed mine. Unlike the usual flash-blanched asparagus you’d normally receive, Carne gives theirs a quick flip on the griddle for a smoky, chargrilled touch that worked very well with the distinct Asparagus flavour and parmesan shavings.
For mains, GS tired the marinated leg of Dorper Lamb which he found unusually tough and not at all “lamb-y” in flavour or experience. A great fan of lamb dishes, RL admitted that if she had ordered his dish, she would have been greatly disappointed.
As an experiment in different meat cuts, TH, RL and I decided to give their three classic steaks a go. In theory, this would give us the best of tenderness, flavor and the middle ground. TH had the Sirloin, the most tender, I had the Rump, the most flavoursome, and RL had the Ribeye, a mix of both. The result were not as one might have expected… the Sirloin had a stronger flavour than the Rump and both were equal in their mostly-tender texture. Unfortunate as we had hoped the Sirloin would melt in our mouths, and the Rump would shout with richness. In contrast, the Ribeye, the supposed “happy medium”, was the most tender and flavoursome, but a little too chargrilled and tasted like braai meat at times. Surprised? We were.
Not having had such a great meal so far, we moved onto desserts. TH & GS decided to simply have a glass of dessert wine while RL surcumed to the “95″ Chocolate Soufflé. Although this dessert was more fondant than soufflé, it was rich and decadent with a runny centre, but not over the top. RL naturally wolfed it down. I decided to check out the infamous Grappa trolley - literally a trolley filled to the brim with various grappa’s and digestifs. After smelling a few and listending to our waiters explainations, I selected one I thought wouldn’t kill me and a single espresso to accompany, in true Italian style. It was a little different, but in a good way and the grappa I chose, the name of which I can neither remember or pronounce, went down smoothly
All in all, we went to Carne expecting the meat to blow us away and it simply didn’t. It was simply “okay” but we had high hopes and were probably overly critical as a result. That said, the prices weren’t outrageous so I didn’t leave feeling ripped off, although the starters are a little steep. I was simply disappointed. On the other hand, if it weren’t for the average food, Carne would be amazing. The service was spot on; a healthy mix of casual and professional, our waiter was very knowledgeable and eager to please. The venue is chic and modern with a timeless elegance to it. So many “hits” but such an important “miss”.
I think the lesson to be learnt here, is that if you’re going to specialise in a particular type of dish - make sure it’s as close to perfect as possible.
Ambiance: ****
Service: ****
Food: **
Wine: ***
Bathrooms: ***½
Carne SA / 70 Keerom Street / City Bowl / Cape Town / Tel: 021 424 3460 / Email: info@carne-sa.com / www.carne-sa.com
