Café BonBon on La Petite Dauphine guest farm in Franschhoek offers a charming dining experience with comfort food to satisfy the soul, says Greg Landman.

Food

This is Cape comfort food at its best, made with love and care, delivering maximum flavour in generous portions with no glamorous flourishes. Do not expect your plate to looks as if it has been painted, but expect it to taste delicious. Start off with the oak-smoked snoek fish cake, which is a succulent treat, with crunchy bits of ginger and a hint of chilli, served on a bed of glass noodles. Alternatively, try the free-range chicken salad with a tangy basting sauce and baby green leaves. Their speciality is grilled lamb rump, served pink, with roasted olives, artichokes and gnocchi. If that seems a bit daunting, try the lightly smoked trout, served with beetroot relish and ricotta croquettes. Whichever way you go, do save room for the pièce de résistance, one of their fabulous cakes; perhaps a lemon meringue piled so high it looks like a hat; or the carrot cake, which is rich and moist, lavished with cream-cheese icing. The cake of the day might be a superbly rich pear frangipane, and if it is, do not miss it.

A fish dish at Cafe BonBon. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Wine

They offer the entire range of wines from Haut Espoir, as well as their own label, La Dauphine, and some local gems like the ever popular Chocolate Block from Boekenhoutskloof.

Service

Service is very good, with staff showing good knowledge of how the dishes are made.

A dessert at Cafe BonBon. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Ambience

Very popular with families, the restaurant is located in a beautiful old farm house with a cosy and charming interior. The terrace is much vied for when the weather is good, and there are many long tables outside, often populated with groups of guests having fun. Their rooster, Hendrik, makes his presence known – much to the delight of the kids.

And…

They have a special kiddies’ menu.

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