96 Winery Road is in the heart of the glorious Helderberg countryside, just a few minutes from Somerset West. The outside patio gives you beautiful views of the vineyards, and if you have any, kids can have fun at the playground. If you’re a little chilly, the inside of the restaurant is rustic and homey with wooden furniture and red face-brick walls.
You may think the name of the restaurant is its address – but guess what? It’s actually a reference to its launch date, May 1996. Having just celebrated their 20th birthday speaks volumes as it’s no easy feat to stay successful for such a long time. They change their dishes seasonally so we were invited to try out the new winter menu.
Please note that the dishes below are tasting portions; the actual meals are much bigger.
On the Menu
Amuse Bouche
Baby Langoustine & Prawn Ceviche
This french-style starter was served with a pineapple, cucumber and red onion salsa and thankfully the delicate seafood wasn’t over-powered by the powerful trio. If you’re not a fan of fruit outside of the dessert realm, then this isn’t for you, but for the rest of us this dish had the perfect balance of flavours.
Starters
Fresh pan fried Sea Bass
Served with fried baby potatoes (yes please), ratatouille, and a basil cream sauce, the sea bass was firm and fresh, with a mild buttery taste. Even though it’s a meaty fish, it’s a great starter for those who like fish, but still want to dig into some “real” meat for their mains. Case in point…
Mains
Hollandse Pepper Fillet
Ohhh yeah, cooked perfectly medium rare, the fillet was rolled in crushed black pepper and then pan-fried in an incredibly rich brandy and cream sauce, which had just the right amount of kick. The fillet itself was tender and full of flavour, unlike some that can taste like… well… nothing. And please, can we all take a moment to appreciate those fries.
Dessert
Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate
Sugar overload! I normally like sweet desserts, but this took things to another level. While everyone else at the table was raving about the chocolate cake, my attention was firmly placed on the vanilla bean extra creamy ice-cream and crunchy biscuit bowl.
Their extensive wine list boasts many local and international wines at affordable prices, which can be perfectly paired with each dish. For the beer lover lovers, there’s a good range of local craft beers to tickle your fancy. A relaxed atmosphere, friendly staff and delicious food: it’s the kind of restaurant, where you can spend hours without realising that time is flying by.
Directions to 96 Winery Road Restaurant
Winery Road
Zandberg Farm
(0)21 842 2020
