Fast facts

Restaurant Name: The Werf Restaurant at Boschendal

Address: R320 Pniel Road, Groot Drakenstein, Franschhoek, 7680

Contact Number: 021 870 4209

Average price of a main course: Werf Set Menu – Farmer Jason’s Black Angus Steak R750 for two people; 2 courses for R360 per person; 3 courses for R480 per person; 4 courses for R600 per person

Opening times: Breakfast: Monday to Sunday 8am – 11am (last orders by 10am); Lunch: Monday to Sunday 12noon – 5pm (last orders by 3.30pm, and 2.30pm on Sundays); Dinner: Thursday to Saturday 6pm – 10pm (last orders by 9pm)

Food type: Farm-to-table fare

Food

The set menu changes each week and there are vegetarian options available. Starters could comprise fried mushrooms with pickled artichokes with mushroom espuma and roasted onions or lamb croquettes with a salsa verde.

Mains are just as tempting – braised sirloin with charred spring onions and plates of roasted carrots with fire-roasted onion pureé and pumpkin seed pesto, as well as crispy potatoes with a garlic emulsion. Served in a large bowl, the dark chocolate cremeux dessert with white chocolate ice cream and brandy sauce is incredibly satisfying.

 

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Matching the style of the food, the presentation is simple and neat rather than anything fussy or showy. With about 75% of the ingredients sourced from the farm (and the rest from local producers), Allistaire and his team let the strong natural flavours shine through. All are simply but excellently cooked.

Drinks

The Werf offers a limited wine list solely focused on the farm’s own wines that range from Cap Classique to white wines, red wines, rosé and a Vin d’Or dessert wine. There’s a choice between the estate’s more premium and well-priced offerings, plus some wines available by the glass.

 

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Service

The service is relaxed and friendly, yet still attentive. Waiters are well-versed in the menu, explaining the estate and restaurant’s approach to sustainable food, as well as being able to describe the cooking techniques in detail. The manager also makes a couple of turns past your table to see how things are going.

Ambience

The Werf’s nouveau farm aesthetic and uninterrupted views of the farm’s neat vegetable gardens in the foreground, plus the Franschhoek mountains in the background, makes for a relaxing Sunday lunch.

 

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