Fast Facts

Restaurant Name: ALEIA 

Address: Ridge Square on Lynnwood, Corner Albeth Street and Lynnwood Road 

Contact Number: 082 764 4202 

Opening and closing times: Closed Sundays and Mondays; Dinner: Tuesday to Thursday 6.30pm to 10.30pm; Friday and Saturday 6.30pm to 11.30pm 

Average price of a main meal: Inquire upon booking 

Corkage: No BYO 

Food Type: Fine-dining, contemporary 

Best for: Romantic dinners, lunch and dinner with friends a family.

Food

The lunchtime menu include some delightful sandwiches, such as a pastrami, white cheddar, cornichon and red onion marmalade version called Beef me up Scotty, but also some salads and a few more comforting dishes such as a mushroom risotto with truffle and mascarpone. But the dinner set menu is the pièce de résistance.  

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Alēia (@_aleia_sa)

The bread service came with delicious home-made horseradish butter and liver parfait. The first course of tartare, chipotle and salmon was followed by a delicious sous vide shredded beef dish served with delicious ravigote sauce.  

 The second starter of lamb was served with a silky smooth, utterly delicious Jerusalem artichoke purée and was followed by the main course that consisted of a strip of extremely delicious and well-prepared Wagyu beef and parsnip, expertly tied together with a sumptuous coffee sauce. A pretty plate of dessert comprised a quenelle of moreish chocolate cremeaux or ganache, along with additional elements such as coffee, mascarpone and beurre noisette. 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Alēia (@_aleia_sa)

Drinks 

The wine list is a careful mix of high end and everyday drinking wines. The mark-up on the wines seems a tad high, but then again, the glassware is of good quality.  

One can savour an array of wines from a 1964 Rust & Vrede, Millineux Leeu Cabernet Sauvignon, Angela Estate Pinot Noir, LL Valmoissine Pinot Noir to Miss Lucy Sauvignon Blanc or Metzer Chenin Blanc.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Alēia (@_aleia_sa)

Service  

The service is lively and engaging, even though the server mistook a pea shoot for a bean sprout, and only brought an ice bucket for the white wine after asking if one was needed. Perhaps the dining room needs to consider that some patrons may appreciate a little more formality, such as a dessert fork along with the dessert spoon.  

And even though they provide a new paper cocktail serviette with the replacement cutlery for each course, a proper napkin would be much less fussy. 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Alēia (@_aleia_sa)

Ambience 

Chef Ramon Gouws have partnered with jewellery designer Jenna Clifford in this endeavour. This means that a section of the space is taken up by jewellery display cabinets which are unfortunately empty at night.  

The dining room is a massive double-volume space that is elegantly done in black. A few installations, although giving a slightly mismatched feeling, and massive chandeliers make for a less cavernous feel. Some exquisitely designed tables are sensitive to the fact that a large built-in banquette, running almost the entire length of the restaurant, is slightly lower. They also have a very attractive outside veranda for day-time lunching.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Alēia (@_aleia_sa)

Eat Out critics dine unannounced and pay for their meals in full. Read our full editorial policy here.