Foliage was named number 12 in South Africa at the 2017 Eat Out Mercedes-Benz Restaurant Awards. To find out why, watch the video and read the review below.

Food

Chef Chris Erasmus, famed Franschhoek forager, brings his burgeoning imagination and lust for the most local of ingredients to Foliage – a warm and inviting restaurant in the heart and hearth of the Cape winelands. For Erasmus, the cornucopia of flora and fauna indigenous to his surroundings remains the cornerstone of his culinary creations. Traditional plates are given a locally inspired re-imagining, dotted with treasures from the Franschhoek forest floor. This results in surprising combinations, like the yellowfin-tuna tartare with herb stems, wood sorrel, persimmon atchar and a horseradish ‘egg’.

Dishes at Foliage are a feast for the eyes as well. Photo supplied.

Infused with aromatic smokehouse flavour, the nest of barbecue whey-braised Spier beef brisket, wild watercress pommes purée, porcini and wild herbs takes you directly to the campside fire. Continuing the theme, there’s a s’mores-inspired caramelia delice dessert with peanut butter and marshmallow chocolate rock. It’s a perfect harmony of sweet nostalgia. The menu changes with the passing of the seasons and, often, daily. Thus Foliage never fails to fascinate.

Drinks

A solid wine list offers the best of the Franschhoek wine valley. Foliage offers a great way to explore, glass by glass, this world-renowned location through its viticulture.

Service

A relaxed air of friendly professionalism seems to flow effortlessly between the staff, who are well-trained, attentive and detail-oriented while remaining discreet and relaxed. They show a comprehensive understanding of the menu as well as good knowledge of the produce and its provenance.

The interior of Foliage. Photo supplied.

Ambience

There are two main dining areas within the restaurant and the area with the open-plan kitchen is by far the more interesting and fun one. The hustle and bustle of the kitchen and the nuanced interaction of the cooks never fails to delight diners who, beyond simply eating the very fine food, are shown the theatre behind the perfect plates. The décor is simple and unassuming, playing second fiddle to the drama of the dining experience. Foliage brings together the precision of fine dining with the heart and lack of pretence one would expect of a bistro.

And…

Try the in-house cocktail for a final hurrah! The menu also provides well thought-out options for non-meat eaters, not just the cursory substitution of a protein.

See all 30 of the nominees for the 2017 Eat Out Mercedes-Benz Restaurant Awards here and the Top 10 here.