Hermanus has a new hotspot and it is worth a visit.
Situated conveniently in the new Carriages building, an
evening out now means no looking for parking and no driving too far out of
town if you come from Eastcliff’s side like me.
I have to pause for a moment though and add that the
Carriages building is opposite Woolworths. I have spoken to so many people who
have not seen a whole new building going up in the Main Road.
So here goes, here is what I thought of @Food and Wine:
We arrived to a very warm welcome.
I must admit, my first impressions were that this is
different. Very different. Every effort has been taken to consider every
detail. From décor to dining, @Food and Wine is here to impress.
Within minutes chef Edmund Viljoen was greeting diners and
making everyone feel at home.
Our very first impression of the menu is that it is very
well priced. Especially when you are considering a three-course meal, you don’t
always feel like a huge starter or main, so the smaller options are a fantastic
addition.
Before we got started with our food, a small amuse-bouche was
served. It was a small potato soup with truffle oil. Give me more please! Buckets
more!
I opted for the wild mushroom risotto, which was pure
perfection and my partner went with the skilpadjies. Yes, they have skilpadjies
on the menu. But, do not be scared. I had a taste and it was amazing.
But, the mains were truly what blew us away.
I had the rump steak with triple cooked chips and some
roasted vegetables. My partner had the sticky ribbetjies.
Where do I begin. In my mind there was only one restaurant
in Hermanus that could serve proper steak. Well, now there are two.
You could choose between a pepper crust or a basting, and I
chose the basting. It was done to perfection. Every bite was a pleasure.
You know that taste you crave when you crave a good steak?
You know the one, a mix between the black charcoal of a braai and the red juiciness
of the steak? This is what @Food and Wine delivered. It was so good, I was
considering skipping dessert and ordering another steak.
My partner’s ribbetjies were also out of this world. Every
bite melts in your mouth. And, this includes the softest and smoothest mash you
have ever tasted.
All throughout the service was impeccable. There is really a
sense of camaraderie among the staff. Everyone serves, takes away dirty plates
and tops up your wine.
So yes, I was considering skipping dessert, but boy, am I
happy I opted for the dark chocolate mousse. Don’t expect one of those mousses
that come out of a packet and are served in a huge milkshake glass. This mousse
is much more special. It’s a quenelle of the darkest, yummiest mousse, a dollop
of ice-cream and two gorgeously toasted marshmallows.
So that was the meal.
I’m going to have to go and make a cup of tea before I get
to the negatives . . . because there are none!
If I have think long and hard about the things I do not
like, there really are only 3. And these are a matter of personal taste and
not really any reflection on the restaurant itself.
We had to ask for the wine list and later in the evening I noticed
that another table also had to ask. I was wondering whether I didn't get the
memo about bringing my own wine or something, but we nevertheless ordered an
awesome Gabriëlskloof red blend.
For a place that has the word ‘wine’ in the
title, I was expecting more of a variety of it.
But, do you see how I’m nit-picking here?
With the sticky ribbetjies I also expected to get a little
finger bowl or even a wet wipe. Perhaps it is not the type of place where you
sit and eat the meat off the bone, but, it is so good, how can you not?
Those are my only criticisms, but please, do not let those
few aspects keep you away from @Food and Wine. Those few comments have no
bearing on the warm and friendly atmosphere that both chef and staff create.
Remember to book. They fill up quite quickly.
Winter is upon Hermanus, and restaurants cannot afford to alienate
their customers with bad service and exorbitant prices anymore. They also can’t
freeze customers over with an unwelcome experience and icy stares.
@Food and Wine
strikes the balance between a great quality product and reasonable prices. The hospitality of all the staff will warm any cold wintery night.
