Grain Mill Organic Bistro on the Garden Route delights fans with freshly baked goods and pasta made from flour ground on the premises, plus ethically and locally produced meats and organic fruit and veg. Eat Out critic Charlotte Pregnolato reviews.

The outside area is lovely on sunny days. Photo supplied.

Fast facts

Serves: Organic breakfasts and lunches
Best for: Healthy good food made from local ingredients
Average price for a main course: R65
Star rating: Food 3, service 2, ambience 3

Food

The owners, the Schmids, uphold their ethic of selling and serving sustainably grown fruits and vegetables as well as local, free-range chicken, eggs and grass-fed beef. Be assured all baked goods and pasta are made from flour ground on the premises and vegetables are delivered directly from organic farms.

The bread is all made on site. Photo supplied.

Vegetarians will delight in lovely soups like creamy vegan pumpkin, sprightly with spices; crispy veggie burgers; and their remarkably good salad – a rainbow of finely sliced vegetables marinated in lemon dressing and served on crisp greens. Hearty entrées are found on the blackboard daily menu and might include seafood soup, lamb curry or pasta with mushroom or bolognese sauce. Carrot cake and apple strudel are great for dessert or take-aways.

Veggies all come courtesy of local organic farms. Photo supplied.

Drinks

Grain Mill is not licensed to serve alcohol, but coffees are robust and teas are high quality. Fresh green power smoothies and juices also feature, as does their own delicious kombucha, a fantastic summer thirst quencher made from fermented tea.

Service

The staff complement, as friendly as ever, has grown to keep up with the Grain Mill’s growing customer base. All dishes are carefully prepared to order by Adelheid Schmid to be pleasing to the eye as well as the palate.

The inside area is cosy on chilly days. Photo supplied.

Ambience

Big changes this year have resulted in more cosy space indoors for chilly days. A casual crowd of folks both sides of the vegetarianism scale relaxes at wooden tables scattered in the nooks and crannies around the restaurant and patio.

And…

Browse the small farm stall for excellent organic produce, butter, eggs, cheese, olive, free-range chicken and fabulous baked goods while you wait for your meal.

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