de Companjie

Shocking. We were only nine people in the restaurant, yet it took about 90 minutes for the mains to arrive. On a Friday night with maybe six tables occupied, our first wine choice was apparently out of stock, and then the waiter disappeared for 20 minutes. The gnocchi starter was fine, and we liked the special salad, but being told there was already ground pepper on the plate so none more could be provided was unacceptable. I asked for the kudu rare, but the chef wouldn’t allow that, so what came was a well-done steak better suited to my shoe. I’m not even sure it was venison. The rare fillet we ordered looked as if it had been defrosted in a microwave, and was overdone and tasteless. It seemed to be about 150gsm. The butternut side was the same as the gnocchi starter. The next table also ordered fillet. Their piece looked great, twice the size, rare in the middle, with juices running. Our feedback to the chef got no response or reaction. At R205 per steak, only in Norway do you pay more for less. No second chances, guys. Shocking.

The KUDU meat was great, and we also tried bone marrow for the first time. Our home town has its famous bone soup, a Malay dish, but we’d never tried marrow before. We hadn’t planned to eat here since other places were closed for the low season. As a last resort, we walked into this quiet restaurant, with no tables occupied, and ordered despite feeling unsure. It turned out amazing, with a beautiful fireplace too.

We were surprised by how beautifully the room and shared spaces were designed. Everything was clean, the breakfast was awesome, and the attention to detail really showed. Millie and the staff were warm and lovely. Highly recommended, it feels like being treated like a prince in your own home.

It’s cozy and comfortable, with little decorative details that make it feel like you’re at a friend’s home. There’s a great selection of local meals, including meat from their own game. The buffalo salad is worth trying!