Capelands Wine Farm

We enjoyed the view, atmosphere and very friendly serving staff. Bibeana (?) is a star! We live close to Capelands, so we’ll come back and give it another try. We only went for dinner. My husband’s snails were better than my Ostrich Carpaccio, which I’d have liked with more sauce than just lemon to squeeze over it. For mains, his Wagyu cheeks on mash were again the better choice. The meat was super tasty and melt-in-the-mouth soft, and the creamy mash was perfect with the cheeks and gravy. My cheese-filled Ravioli with exotic mushrooms was tasty too, though the edges were a little dry and seven pieces felt like a small main. His portion also seemed small for R270. For dessert I had the coffee parfait with honey and almonds, while he had ice cream. His was the better pick again. The parfait was quite bitter, and I couldn’t see or taste honey to balance the coffee. Thankfully he shared some ice cream, adding a little sweetness to my choice.

We had a wonderful meal and can’t wait to return. The homemade ravioli was delightful, and all the food was superb, prepared with heart and care. The herbs and vegetables are grown organically on the farm, and the wine served is their own. Staff were professional, very friendly, and happy to explain the Italian dishes. We came for supper with a friend, not to stay in the guest cottages. The restaurant sits on the outskirts of Somerset West, overlooking vineyard rows with ocean and mountain views in the distance. We chose the terrace on a beautiful summer evening. Sunset there is magic. For winter, the indoor restaurant looks cozy, with a fireplace and the promise of an intimate, different experience. Good food, lovely staff and a welcoming, part-of-the-family feeling made the evening special.

The spaghetti was undercooked and far too salty, despite the restaurant’s fantastic view. The menu was badly laid out, and an Italian restaurant without even lasagna felt odd. The vines were overgrown with weeds as we drove in, and the entrance needed some TLC. It may once have been a prime spot, but it’s not up to scratch now. I hope they can improve things and restore what seemed to have been a lovely place.

The service was personal and caring, and our meals had that Italian taste that added some excitement. The restaurant is well positioned for a memorable meal. Still, portions were lacking, which was disappointing given that generous servings are usually a key feature of Italian food. The dessert selection was disappointing too. I’d have liked to see more Italian puddings, like cassata.