Few Cape Town restaurants can rival Kloof Street House when it comes to delighting the senses. This hidden gem is a definite treat!

First-time visitors may find it difficult to locate Kloof Street House, given the restaurant is in a converted Victorian house tucked away behind a fence within a magical garden setting. In the summer, this garden is bustling with patrons and is home to weekly Jazz Brunches on a Sunday.

But as the rains and chill set in, visitors to the restaurant move indoors, to one of the many beautifully decorated rooms inside. The décor is best described as eclectic colonial chic – there seems little method to it, beyond a general vintage look, but somehow it works together perfectly. It might help that there are several fireplaces, which makes it a particular treat in cold, miserable weather.

At the moment, Kloof Street House is running a Winter Lunch special, with 2 courses priced at R160pp and 3 courses for R195pp. The options available for this special are limited but appetising. Starters to pick from are the arancini, calamari or soup. Mains are more diverse, with options including rib-eye steak, a gourmet take on fish and chips (beer-battered kingklip served with ‘rustic fries’ and mushy peas) and a vegetarian gnocchi dish, among several others. For dessert, guests can pick between Malva or Bread and Butter pudding. In all, this menu offers a variety of flavours and excellent value for money – particularly if you go for the steak!

We visited in the evening, so missed out on the reduced prices, but were instead spoiled for choice. For starters, we tried the pan fried Patagonian calamari (also available on the special), the baked camembert with onion marmalade and beetroot cranberry chutney and the oysters. The quality of the food was outstanding and the assortment of flavours in each dish was marvellous. The camembert ended up being the winner, most probably because it’s comforting, gooey, cheesiness was the perfect accompaniment to a cold, dark winter evening.

For mains, we both had the fillet with smoked marrow bone butter and fries. The steak was flawlessly cooked, juicy and thoroughly enjoyable. Tragically, neither my partner nor I could stomach dessert after the filling and delicious meal. I say tragically because several of the options were particularly appealing – such as the Amarula pannacotta with spicy rooibos syrup and the dark chocolate fondant topped with marshmallow ice cream!

The wine list is long, but not intimidatingly so. There is a range of price points and varietals represented, and the waitrons appear knowledgeable should you require assistance. The menu lists the origin of each wine, both the local and international ones, which is a nice touch, especially for foreign tourists.

The cocktail list is similarly varied and includes well-loved classics like Bellinis, Negronis and Old Fashioneds, while also featuring several options for those with a taste for adventure – like the delightfully named Banana in Pajamas or Adriana Lima.

Kloof Street House is an upmarket restaurant, and its prices reflect that. Expect to spend between R70 and R135 per starter, between R120 and R200 per main and upwards of R70 per dessert. Objectively, given the quality of the food, the stunning ambience and the top-notch service, this is very fair (and those looking to try the experience on a tighter budget can always go for lunch!)

In all, Kloof Street House is a treat for every single one of the senses and is definitely a ‘must-visit’ for locals and visitors alike.

Call 021 423 4413 for bookings or enquiries or go to their Website http://www.kloofstreethouse.co.za/ for more info.

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