A little-known gem tucked away in Cape Town’s Harfield Village, Rare Grill has been getting some rave reviews from our readers. We sent Eat Out critic Ashraf Booley to put the steakhouse through the mincer.

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Cost: Average main course ranges between R150 and R200
Food type: Steaks and grills
Perfect for: A laid-back date night or dinner with the family
Parking: A few bays in the parking lot as well as on-street parking
Star ratings: Food and drinks: 4, Ambience: 5, Service: 5

Food

The menu is small and to the point, with steak as the restaurant’s mainstay. Choose between superb cuts of sirloin, rump or fillet (200g or 300g), which have all been wet-aged for up to four weeks. They’re accompanied by your choice of starchy sides and sauces. If you’re not up for steak, tuck into one of the other mains options, such as spicy baby calamari, a whole peri-peri baby chicken or pork ribs.

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The starter of mushroom risotto, soused with truffle oil, is topped with parmesan shavings. The generous portion is fortunately neither too rich nor heavy. The creamy risotto is packed with flavour and cooked to perfection. Carpaccio, bone marrow and deep-fried camembert are among the other seemingly delicious starters to try.

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Owner Greg Bax, who himself mans the grill, sure knows his meat: the succulent fillet is tender and tasty, sporting beautiful grill marks. The smooth and creamy sweet potato mash is the perfect foil for the fillet. If you’re feeling ravenous, ask about the blackboard specials, which could include the popular 500g fillet on the bone (a revelation); the 500g grass-fed black Angus; or a 1kg t-bone steak, which is perfect for sharing. The béarnaise, mushroom and peppercorn sauces that accompany the steaks are; however, nothing to write home about. As for the crispy chunky chips served skin-on, they’re in a league of their own – fluffy on the inside and extra crispy on the outside. End off your meal on a sweet note with a local malva pud, a chocolate bomb or brownies.

Drinks

A small selection of Wolftrap wines is available by the glass as well as a few good bottles, a bubbles option, and craft beer on-tap.

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Service

The service is nothing less than stellar. The waiter is friendly, attentive and well-versed on the menu – as is the owner, who juggles time between the kitchen and tables.

Ambience

This quaint, cosy eatery is warm and intimate. Rare Grill’s rustic wooden walls are reminiscent of a cabin. The walls are adorned in framed pictures of cows to marvel at while you savour your cut.

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And…

They have chocolate vodka shots. Enough said.

Eat Out critics dine unannounced and pay their own way. Read our full editorial policy here.