Well, there we have it! The perfect example of how to take something with potential and realise it! This is a superlative venue and for me is not far off being on par with the Restaurant Mosaic as the top dining experience destination. I remember the old Delaire and everyone whom I chatted to about this estate felt the same in that it had loads of potential. Pity that none of us had the capital or vision to do something about it.
That fact on the other hand may be a good thing as what the Graff's have done is do justice to that potential, simply magnificent, not sure I would have achieved it even if I had the capital. Your arrival at the restaurant is very impressive and the expansion of the old wine tasting area and restaurant is way beyond what I had envisioned. Gone is the old wine farm feel which has now been replaced by something chic, with a definitive style that shouts "I am the future and I am damn good, even if I say so myself".
I just think that this venue provides you with all the best things you want to see when going to eat out at a wine estate: fantastic views, beautiful furniture and art, see through glass walls in to the cellar and barrel maturation area, which are rounded off by beautiful marble and massive fireplaces everywhere. Where Restaurant Mosaic presents rich colours and tapestries, this venue presents cool colours and clean lines, each at their own end of the spectrum, but both exceptional at what they are.
In addition we understand that a hotel and spa will be added in the near future and it will certainly be interesting to see what that looks like. Based on the present evidence I have no doubt that it will be stunning. Anyway, on arrival we were shown through to the lounge for an aperitif. This gave us a chance to have a good look at the menu, which is small, but will provide for most tastes as there is a good variety of dishes available.
The wine list is very impressive with a wide variety from a number of local and international estates. The estate's own wines make for really good drinking while there is a good measure of reasonably priced wines with some expensive ones and a couple which are in the stratosphere and whose prices look like the year they were made in. This however means that they cater for all types of patrons that will dine at this venue. To me this is a perfect example of how an estate with its own wine should present itself. The reality being that, as we did, most people will select your estate wine to try it in any case. If they however prefer something else, then there is a wonderful selection to choose from.
Well, as they say, the tasting is in the eating and so we did. The food is very impressive and as it is a three course restaurant, the portions are generous which is always good to see. We tried the tuna and the salmon starters, delicious, we would certainly recommend the salmon if forced to choose. For mains we tried the recommendations, being crayfish lasagna and the roast duck cassoulet. Both dishes were fantastic, but the duck for us was the better dish. The crayfish lasagna was very very good, but the duck was beautifully done with the best sausage cassoulet we have ever eaten. The duck is a powerful dish, but absolutely smashing and delivers loads of flavour. My mouth waters just thinking about it. The desserts were good as well, but the star of the evening for us was still the duck.
So where does this leave us? For me the restaurant experience is fantastic (I forgot to mention the very friendly and efficient staff) and South Africa could certainly do with more of these types of venues as they are magnificent to frequent and really make life enjoyable. On the restaurant side, it certainly goes straight into our top ten as the food was simply fantastic. In closing, if you find yourself in Cape Town and are looking for something special, then this restaurant is certainly the venue for you, particularly on a warm summers evening with something cold to drink, fantastic food to eat and magnificent views. It doesn't get much better than this!
I'm glad (and sad) for your experience - as you've said, fantastic culinary outing but not all you hoped for? I do wonder thou….would that have something to do with the fact that, because you’re consciously aware that it’s the top rated restaurant at the time, your personal expectations hover and oscillate at a heightened level, - significantly increasing your opportunity to be disappointed?
ReplyDeleteI hate 5 star hotels…and its only because nothing, nothing at all, must go wrong and everything must be to my expectation and liking? Now of course this is impossible (and unfair) with the result that 5 star establishments for me – always disappoint. Had Delaire Graff not been so highly rated, had you not been aware of it’s status – might u have enjoyed the experience more?
I disappoint myself sometimes by not being pleased with something that, not long ago, would have pleased me? Almost as if my previous 8/10 experience has now compromised my new 8/10 experience. I think it’s a real skill, an important skill, to compare all you experience to the same “base line level” of expectation.