Situated on the elegant Lourensford Wine Estate in Somerset West, The Millhouse Kitchen is known for its wood-fired pizzas, relaxed atmosphere, and child-friendly location. Katharine Jacobs makes a pilgrimage for a long, lazy lunch.

A view of the garden from inside The Millhouse Kitchen. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Food

The best-known dishes on Bjorn Guido’s menu are probably his creative pizzas, but the starters are worth pausing over, too. Try the summery watermelon, chevin and pistachio salad with aged balsamic, or indulge in a rich, creamy chicken liver parfait topped with jewel-like elderflower-and-port jelly.

A pizza at The Millhouse Kitchen. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Then by all means progress to the pizzas (R80 to R115): thin, bubbling, wood-fired bases in a range of creative combinations. Think bacon, brie, strawberries and balsamic, or wild mushroom, prosciutto and truffle oil. The Miss Piggy boasts an exciting-sounding mix of pork belly, pineapple, avocado and coriander, but doesn’t quite deliver the porky flavour punch we’re hoping for.

Another hearty option is the beef burger (R89) with tomato compote, pickled jalapeños, cheddar and hand-cut chips, which comes perfectly seasoned and generously proportioned. If you’re after medium-rare, make a point of ordering it as such – mine came rather well done.

A seafood dish at The Millhouse Kitchen. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

There are also some more bistro-themed mains, which are more pricey – like the springbok loin wrapped in prosciutto for R185 – plus a handful of pasta, risotto and fish options, including a glorious-sounding veal tagliatelle with port and wild mushrooms (R98).

Coffee and a biscuit at The Millhouse Kitchen. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

For dessert – if you’ve room – share a slice of the overwhelming but sublime chocolate torte. It’s a dense wedge of what can only be chocolate, butter and cream, with a dollop of sour cream, which slightly offsets the magnificent sweetness. The creamy, delicate crème brûlée also attains a near-perfect score from my extremely-strict-when-it-comes-to-crème-brûlée partner.

Drinks

The wine list is limited to the Lourensford Estate bottles at a mark-up, but these include a good range of varietals, and all are available by the glass.

Wine from the Lourenford Wine Estate at The Millhouse Kitchen. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Service

Staff are courteous and friendly, but this is a popular spot, so you might have a slight wait on busy weekends.

A view of kitchen at The Millhouse Kitchen. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Ambience

This restaurant strikes a lovely balance between stylish and relaxed. The front deck, overlooking the lawn and geometric ponds, is glorious on sunny days – provided your table has a brolly. Inside, wood, exposed brick and dangling light bulbs create a calm, stylish atmosphere. The inner room, onto which the kitchen opens, is cosier and great for winter dining.

Another interior view of The Millhouse Kitchen. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

If you’ve got kids, ask to sit in the back garden, or at the back of the restaurant, which opens onto a walled garden with several jungle gyms – great if you’ve got a little sprinter. (There’s also a kiddies’ menu of pizzas, toasties and other child-pleasing options.)

And…

Don’t miss the lovely Lourensford Harvest Market on the estate on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 3pm.

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A picnic basket and wine for picnics at The Millhouse Kitchen. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.