Kloof Street House – what a flipping lovely restaurant. Tucked away behind a high wall and lovely garden, you don’t feel like you’re sitting in the middle of town, but in someone’s beautiful home out in Constantia.
Starters
Steak tartar // R95 for 120g or R180 for 200g
Kloof Street House don’t mess about with small portions. I went for the 120g starter and it was way more than enough. Fresh herbs, lemon, pickles, onion and plenty fresh herbs, then topped with the traditional egg yolk, for this carnivore it was the perfect way to start the meal. (ps. For those who are intimidated by the raw meat, it isn’t that raw as it is “cooked” with the lemon. If you can eat sushi, you can eat tartar. And for those worried about a raw egg yolk, remember you often eat them raw when you have a fried egg! It’s perfectly delicious and safe).
Whole Baked Camembert // R75
Honestly, how can you go wrong with ordering this? First topped with caramelised onions, this delicious, light, creamy cheese was baked to absolute perfection. It was oozy on the inside but still held its own. The homemade cranberry jelly was smooth and added a sweet acidity to this very rich dish.
Mains
Norwegian Salmon // R165
This succulent, well-seasoned piece of salmon was served with a Sicilian salad of baby fennel, orange, mint leaves, pine nuts and raisins, served with a roasted lemon crème fraiché. The fragrant fennel and sweet oranges and raisins complemented the simple fish, while the mint added freshness and the pine nut earthy crunch. You could taste the caramelisation in the crème fraiché which took it to another level.
Moroccan Spiced Lamb // R155
Hold the freaking press. If you thought the rest of the food looks delicious, the photo doesn’t do justice to this lamb. I am going to throw in an: ERRMAHGERD. Tender, slightly pink lamb, with all the crispy bits you need, in a spicy rub – think cumin, coriander seeds, turmeric, and way more – on a bed of herbed couscous, with a refreshing cold red cabbage slaw, and a tahini cream dressing. The rich, warm lamb, with the room temperature couscous and chilled salad was a brilliant taste, texture and temperature combination., and the earthy tahini cream finished it off magically. This is a runner as one of my top dishes ever.
Dessert
Cheesecake // R55
Served with a sour berry compote and fresh cream, it wasn’t overpoweringly sweet. The texture was perfect, smooth and creamy, but not the kind that sticks to the top of your palate.
Stick toffee pudding // R55
Now this bad boy was sweet, very, very sweet. The cake itself was quite light, but then smothered in a thick, rich toffee sauce. The peanut butter ice cream really brought it to life, but it was a lot of cake for one person. Perfect for sharing.
It’s not often a restaurant gets the homely and classy combination correct, and Kloof Street House has really excelled at it. It’s comfortable, beautiful but doesn’t feel pretentious – every detail carefully considered (except the branded umbrellas that kept ruining my photos). While not a cheap meal out, not everything needs to be. The quality comes through loud and clear through the menu, the presentation and the ingredients – as well as the portion size.
I arrived to lunch very grumpy, with a bit of a hangover, and I left with an enormous smile on my face.
For more photos, clickity click here —> CLICK!
Directions to Kloof Street House
30 Kloof Street
021 423 4413
