What do I expect from my Top 5? In rating a restaurant, I mind my Ps (forget the Qs) looking for passion, playfulness and plating.
The Greenhouse
Constantia: 021 795 6226
Why the Greenhouse in top spot? Because it provides a seamless experience, from the welcome to the smooth service, new streamlined ambience and well-chosen winelist. Out are the bunnies; in is a sophisticated backdrop for a perfectly-plated epicurean adventure with exec chef Peter Tempelhoff. Admire his playful touch and creative mix of ingredients. The kitchen is having fun, and it shows.
The Pot Luck Club
Woodstock: 021 447 0804
I didn’t eat at the Test Kitchen this year, but not as a price protest. Stop sniping at Luke Dale Roberts. Had you his global status, wouldn’t you up your charges? Instead, try Pot Luck, which pleases rather than teases your tastebuds. Head chef Wesley Randles masterminds the fresh, share-and compare, taste-driven menu; the view’s great and the vibe’s young. Allbacked by well-trained, enthusiastic service.
Bertus Basson at Spice Route
Paarl: 021 863-5222
Meet Bertus Basson in a new guise. His view-rich, family-friendly restaurant on Spice Route farm offers an unbuttoned adventure in eating, with quirky decor perfectly matched to playful cuisine. Family favourites are deconstructed, analysed, and then imaginatively and unrecognisably reassembled in a small menu Bertus describes as “binding together all the cuisines that have influenced local food”. Pair the generous SA-sized portions with Spice Route wines.
De Grendel
Cape Town: 021 424 6334
I revel in the consistent quality of this tranquil farm venue, set in pastures beside a lake, with sweeping views over the industrial belt to Table Bay. Menus, dependent on availability, change daily, though the bald menu descriptions give nothing away. Trust me. The playfully presented, farm-fresh delights are worth the drive. Excellent service, and wine lovers take note, there’s no mark-up on De Grendel wines.
Fork
Cape Town: 021 424 6334
Chef Aristotle Ragavelas has a five-star background – hence the calibreof the food at this unpretentious venue serving pinchos (small snacks, traditionally eaten in Spanish bars). Subtle or spicy, each bite is a taste triumph, and as the menu is subdivided into price categories, it’s easy to see if you must order to suit stomach or pocket. Limiting yourself to one item would take willpower.