It’s not something that many get to experience: an amuse bouche served in a glass jar, which puffs out smoke when you open it; a light fluffy foam which tastes of cauliflower and cheese; or a mouthful of aged steak, so tender you could cut it with a fork. Fine dining restaurants can be absolutely magical, but the problem, of course, is that these magical meals come at a price.

In winter, however, many of our fine dining restaurants come out with simply spectacular specials, and even eight-course tasting menus become affordable. Here’s our list of winter specials at nine of our award-winning Top 10 restaurants, 20 nominees, and other top fine dining establishments around the country.

Winter specials at the Top 10 
1. The Greenhouse
?Six course fish tasting menu for R495; with wine pairing for R725.

3. The Tasting Room at Le Quartier Français (Top 10 restaurant) ?
Winter special companion fare: order one five- or eight-course meal and get one free. Limited availability; check when you book.

4. The Roundhouse (Top 10 restaurant)
?Four courses for R295, which includes canapés, pre-dessert and bonbons.

5. Overture  ?
Four course chef’s menu for R250; R360 with wine.

6. Terroir  
Closed until 9th July for winter break then open on a limited basis until mid-July (check listing for full list of closures).
?Two courses for R175, three courses for R198. Both include a complimentary glass of Kleine Zalze wine.

7. DW Eleven-13  
?Nine-course tasting menu for R500; R750 with wine pairing.

8. Jordan Restaurant
Four course set menu with two glasses of Jordan Wine at R225 per person. The menu changes daily and is not valid on Sundays.

9. Nobu  
Winter Bento Box special for R275 per person from 1 April to 30 September. Deluxe Winter Bento Box for R375 per person. Complete the experience with a treat from a Dessert Bento Box.

10. La Colombe  
?Lunch special: three courses for R240. Dinner special: five courses for R310, or R395 with wine pairing. Available Monday to Sunday from 16 June until the 15 November 2012.

Specials at other fine dining restaurants this winter:

Joburg

Clico  
?Three-course menu for between R260 and R350 per person, depending on choices. Wine pairing is optional for an additional R125 per person.

The Rambling Vine  
?Gourmet food and wine evenings on selected dates each month for R450 per person and gourmet Sunday lunches for R265. 28 and 29 July (Nitida), 25 and 26 August (Zevenwacht), 22 and 23 September (Allée Bleue), 27 and 28 October (Iona), 24 and 25 November (Beyerskloof).

Pretoria

Brasserie de Paris
Five-course degustation menu at R350; or R515 with wine.

Restaurant Mosaic at The Orient ?(One of 2011’s 20 nominees)
?Winter menu: eight-course Grande Degustation Menu for R745 per person; with wine pairing for an additional R120 per person.

Cape Town

Azure (One of 2011’s 20 nominees)
?Three-course game menu for R345.

Catharina’s  
Two-course lunch for R185 per person; three-course lunch for R215 per person; three-course dinner for R250 per person.

The Foodbarn ?
Three-course menu with two glasses of wine for R175, or five-course menu with four glasses of wine for R225. 50% off food ordered from the à la carte menu offered weekly for subscribers to the restaurants newsletter. 

Planet  
?Five-course Journey Menu for R330, including wine, every Monday.

Signal  
?R195 for the three-course set menu or R95 for signature dish only.

Winelands

Babel (one of 2011’s 20 nominees)
?Winter special à la carte menu. Check listing for the full menu.

Bosman’s (One of 2011’s 20 nominees)
?Two for the price of one dinner from Thursday to Sunday evenings. Available on the three-course menu at R310 per person and five-course menu at R 540 per person. Excludes beverages. No BYO permitted.

The Restaurant at Grande Provence (One of 2011’s 20 nominees for the Top 10)
?Three-course lunch or dinner for a minimum of eight guests at R250 per person.

Tokara  
(One of 2011’s 20 nominees for the Top 10)?
Four courses and an intermezzo for R250. Also includes a glass of Miles Mossop red blend.

Overberg

The Pavilion at the Marine  
?Five-course dinner and wine for R340.

By Katharine Jacobs
Featured photograph: La Colombe
Pictured (from top): The Greenhouse, The Roundhouse, La Colombe, Azure and DW Eleven-13