Wherever you find yourself among the vines, good food is never far away in the Cape Winelands. In moments of defeat – or when you’re just feeling lazy – cosying up to a plate of your favourite comfort food can soothe nearly any woe. We’re here to help you embrace that cheat meal and make sure every deliciously indulgent calorie counts this winter. From pizza to fried chicken, fish and chips to the finest tacos, these comfort food dishes hit every time.
Smoked meats and classic sides: Vadas Smokehouse & Bakery
In an era where eaters crave trends, cooking well-known dishes can be a risky prospect. How do you, after all, improve on the classics? In the case of Vadas Smokehouse & Bakery’s Peter John – ‘PJ’ – Vadas, you don’t. Instead, you use modern-day cooking skills to make these classics the finest versions of themselves. Housed in the Jonkershuis building at Spier Wine Farm, Vadas is brimming with cheerful casualness – yellow walls, red booth seating and a custom-built wood-fired oven at its heart. The easy-going service follows the template too. Whether you’re a fully-fledged meat lover or just in the mood for seasoned, long-smoked meats, look no further. The vibrant menu bridges authentic smokehouse-style dishes with a dose of modern culinary flare – to truly delicious effect. Every dish is a winner, but standouts include the sharp, salty labneh dip with roasted garlic and za’atar (best scooped up with flatbread); the lamb ribs pepped up with lashings of harissa tzatziki; the satisfyingly crunchy fried chicken with sweetcorn slaw and chipotle aioli; and the revelatory braaibroodjie made on buttery bread and filled with oozy fillings like boerenkaas, red onion and tomato. But whatever you do, a trip to Vadas isn’t complete without at least one freshly baked crispy, creamy pastéis de nata (Portuguese custard tart). Take yours with a cup of coffee and eat them as you stroll through Spier.
Spier Wine Farm, Baden Powell Drive, Stellenbosch
021 809 1137
Terrifically tasty tacos: Cosecha Restaurant
If it’s the best tacos in the Cape Winelands you seek, you’ve come to the right place. Bright colours, cool décor and lively music – Cosecha Restaurant on Noble Hill Wine Estate is a breezy crowd-pleaser. Despite being located on a vineyard, this place knows a thing or two about whipping up a delicious Latin American meal. Cosecha Restaurant boasts a concise but well-thought-out menu of food, wine and beer. That being said, the star that rises above the rest would have to be their approachable tacos. Three tacos are stuffed with huge chunks of beer-battered kingklip, cabbage slaw and sprinkled with citrus salsa. Simple, effective and tasty. Next, strands of slow-cooked pork fill soft tortillas that are amped up with smashed avocado and green apple salsa. Our suggestion for first-timers? You’ll also want to save room for their authentic guacamole and prawn and chorizo quesadillas. Deeply conducive to good times, the famed guac here is prepared tableside from a trolley laden with avocados and bowls of chopped tomato, onion, coriander and chillies. Top it off with jalapeños, bacon or blue cheese. The vegetarian options will convert even the most affirmed carnivores – behold jalapeño and black bean salad or chickpea and red pepper enchiladas. It’s the sort of lick-your-fingers eating, accompanied by Noble Hill’s organic wines, that chimes well with the weekend mood and suits groups.
Noble Hill Wine Estate, Klapmuts-Simondium Road, Simondium
021 874 3844
America’s favourite foods: Franks Corner Bar and Grill
The title of ‘cool new kids on the block’ looks good on Franks Corner Bar and Grill. Since partners in The Franschhoek Beer Company – motoring entrepreneur Frank Rodriguez, venture capitalist Alex McCormack and beloved South African chef Reuben Riffel – opened its doors, the contemporary American restaurant in Franschhoek has been the go-to destination for the social set. The menu has all the staples you’d want, the pricing is as friendly as the welcome and the lineage can’t be beat. Be sure to order the blackened prawn tostada to start: Presented on a crisp tortilla shell with spicy Cajun prawns, chunky guacamole and chipotle lime crema, it’s irresistible. So too are the corndogs and the buttermilk fried chicken wings. Starters wise, order many rather than a few. You will not regret it – not for a moment. Don’t leave without sampling the well-marbled rib-eye steak with BBQ sauce or the pork chop plated with braised red cabbage, mustard cream sauce and blue cheese. And the upmarket spin on the fish and chips? A beer batter makes it moreish – that and lemon-caper aioli. Their drinks list goes big on The Franschhoek Beer Company beers, Franschhoek wines and on-theme cocktails. The Fancy Frank (gin, elderflower, lemon juice and Indian tonic) and Popcorn Old Fashioned (whisky, popcorn syrup and aromatic bitters) are excellent. It’s a top place to grab a meal out with the gang.
42 Huguenot Street, Franschhoek
021 488 9922
An indulgent slice of gourmet pizza: Stellenzicht Wines
Stellenzicht Wines is a treasure in the heart of the Upper Blaauwklippen Valley. With alfresco and indoor dining, the eco-friendly wine-tasting pod is a must-visit. The menu invites diners to choose from six types of pizza featuring interesting flavour combos made using local ingredients. Rectangular bases, blistered edges, molten cheese and generous toppings that spread out right to the edge make for a winning slice here every time. It’s amore. Pick a topping that’s worth Instagramming (think slow-roasted cherry tomatoes, pancetta, mushrooms and fresh rocket) or just devour their take on the classic margherita – why mess with perfection? The Spanish Sausage is a lush number, replete with chorizo, goat’s cheese and sweet onion marmalade. Eyes roll in delight at the exquisitely light Smoked Chicken topped with smoked chicken breast, basil pesto and avocado. We may be stating the obvious, but these pizzas are particularly good when washed down with one of the wines on the menu. A bold, meat lovers pizza calls for an equally bold wine that can stand head-to-toe with its rich flavours. The Thunderstone Red 2019 complements every last mouthful. A colourful veggie pizza needs the full-bodied Thunderstone Chardonnay 2023 to let all of the delicate tastes shine through. The snack game is strong here too – leave room for the cheeseboard for two and you’ll go home happy.
Stellenzicht Wines, Upper Blaauwklippen Road, Stellenbosch
021 569 0362
Elevated comfort food: The Restaurant at Glen Carlou
There are few things you can rely on in life, but a stellar two or three-course meal at The Restaurant at Glen Carlou is a constant. Long lunches are a daily ritual at this thatch-roofed winery restaurant captained by head chef Johan Stander. The pleasingly plain space, comprising a modern art gallery and tasting room with an abundance of natural light, has long set the tone for high-end dining with vineyard views. Superb ingredients and sublime flavour combinations are valued in equal measure. While all dishes are accomplished in their own right, it’s the French onion soup made with perfectly caramelised onions, thyme and croutons that takes your breath away. Cut into the golden and crisp croquette, and Dalewood Huguenot oozes out. And if the winter blues are biting hard, just turn to the Parmesan soufflé with a poached pear and walnut salad to lift your spirits. As the pace shifts to mains, pork belly is teamed with apple, radish, Cape Malay crème and a potato croquette, while lamb shoulder gets slow-cooked till tickled pink, then presented with jus, beetroot, onion confit and fondant potatoes. They’re just dying to be accompanied with the full-bodied Glen Carlou Quartz Stone Chardonnay. Desserts, in the vein of luscious roasted figs with honey and thyme, blue cheese, a Parmesan crisp and thyme ice cream, maintain the high right to the end. Settle in for the afternoon.
Glen Carlou Wine Estate, Klapmuts-Simondium Road, Klapmuts
021 875 5528
