Balducci CapeTown South Africa V&A waterfront

Last nights  I had the pleasure of dining at Balducci, this little gem is tucked away in the heart of the Cafetown V&A waterfront. 

It boast a large menu covering everything from  succulent steaks, tantalizing curries, seafood and Sushi.   The wine selection was top notch and at R450 plus for some of the bottles, I knew I was in for a treat .

Our waitress was an absolute Gem who was extremely knowledgable and professional. I was advised that if I opted for oysters they would be milky as its spawning season so we opted to share a pear, avocado,rocket, baby spinach,Gorgonzola and walnut salad gently drizzled with balsamic vinegar and olive oil and a light dusting of pepper  complimented by a glass of  steenberg Sauvignon blanc- this wine just oozed freshness - exotic fruits and green pepper on the nose opening up to an asparagus  flavor . This is one salad you don't want to miss.

Mains were something else pepper crusted fillet steak that melts in your mouth. Cooked and seasoned to perfection. Complimented by roasted pumpkin and a side of spinach.   We decided to push the boat out and sample a R450 2011 bottle of Kevin Arnold Shiraz - this single label from the Waterford estate - think liquid velvet in a glass with its heady mixture of spice, mocha and slight pluminess. The pairing was a match made in heaven. 

Sadly I had no space for dessert although the had a great selection including the South African favorite Malva pudding . 


Total spend for 2- including a shared starter, 2 mains, water, 2 glasses of wine and the bottle of Shiraz plus service approx £59 (R1241, 73) and worth every penny.

willoughby & co CapeTown V&A

Today we review the willoughby & co purveyors of fine seafoods and Sushi a recommendation by my local guide. This place is lively yet chilled. I am reliably informed that after 7 people will happily queue to get a table here and often a free glass of wine is chucked in to those  queuing" we are liking the management already"

I opt to sit in the cool terrace within the main shopping center watching the world go by.  If you prefer not to have the shoppers watch you eat opt for an inside table if available.

Plates of the freshest sashimi salads, tempura and Sushi dancing on trays as the waiters seamless deliver these parcels of moorishness - (think I just made up a word )

I start my evening with a Villiera  traditional brut  at R 40 with its Zesty lemon aroma and biscuity notes whilst not a Veuve Clicquout this brut holds its own.

Starters some Cajun spiced calamari @ R63 which i opt to have served together with my 8 queen prawns on a bed of yellow and red pepper spiked rice  and a garlic butter sauce R179 . So far it all looks smells and sounds very promising.

I chose to pair tonight's seafood with yet another Sauvignon Blanc this time a R68 glass of Ataraxia with its zesty citrus and goose berry aroma on the nose, it has good mineral structure with a slight acidic texture on the palate. It certainly offset the Cajun spices and garlic butter.

Service was unobtrusive and you were allowed to enjoy your meal in tranquility. If I was being really picky then additional  serviettes or a finger bowl should be made available.

Verdict

As expected fresh seafood cooked to perfection although slightly lacking in seasoning. I am not one to normally add salt when dining out opting to rather enjoy the skill of the chefs who prepared my meal  but having done so today we were back on track to an enjoyable meal further enhanced by today's wine choice.

A well deserved 3.5 stars which could easily be upped to a 4 by providing wet towels or x finger bowl especially to those eating grilled prawns or shell fish ..

The prawns did tend to become slightly tough once they cooled so eat them whilst hot

The Damage

2 courses with a glass of fizz, a large wine, water and service R420 (£20)

M Restaurant Victoria

Housed on the ground and basement floors of the the Patrick Lynch designed Zig Zag building, this new kid on the block by Martin Williams is his second venture since leaving Gaucho. 

The venue

Having been to its sister restaurant M Threadneedle, I arrived with high expectations and this place did not dissapoint. One enters this multifaceted venue via its M wine store boasting a large selection of champagnes, wines and a tasting table.

Walk along its extensive wine rack stair case and enter the world of Martin, his M Raw, M Bar, private dining spaces or the M Grill with its spacious dining space,understated opulence and copper leaf ceiling will leave you spoilt for choice. 

We booked the 4 course set menu with unlimited  prosecco for an hour and a half @ £35pp excluding service.

Our tasting journey starts with a snack from the menu designed by renowned Australian Chef Michael Reid.

Divine bread with a chicken skin butter which led us straight onto:

Course 1 - The Snack 

The Puffed beef

Creative use of  intestines , think beef flavoured prawn cracker

Course 2 - The Starter

kangaroo Tartare with Mushroom and Nasturtium 

This popular dish of kangaroo tartare had my taste buds singing, it was well seasoned and served with a toasted bread crisp.

" I preferred to eat the tartare on its own as I found the oiliness of the bread crisp overpowered it. "

Course 3 - The Main

Argentine Black Angus Rump, with M Chips and Baby Gem Salad

These guys sure know how to cook a steak, Melt in the mouth morsels of meat, flavoured to the point that no extra sauce is offered or needed.  The best I have eaten in my 12 years of reviewing food . "Best enjoyed rare to medium rare"  

Course 4 - The Dessert 

Dulche Mousse

A buckwheat crumble, sweet corn ice cream and bacon bits 

Sadly my palette was not ready for this innovative dish, I found the sweet corn ice cream grainy, the bacon bits a tad too salty and chunky for the delicate mousse which was the highlight of the dish

The Team 

Refreshing to see a manager who is developing his team and taking it to the next level .  Having the head chef come up to your table and engage with diners is a great way of showcasing the commitment by this great team. The personal touches and seamless service are a credit to the Restaurant Director Andre Manning and his team.

Impeccable, attentive and seamless service from every member of the team.  Ale Febles gets a special mention for going above and beyond.

James a passionate Head chef freshly imported from Australia who is clearly passionate about food, I look forward to him delivering new flavours/ concepts as he takes the reigns. 

Overall what a fantastic dining experience, I am heading back soon to experience the full menu and look forward to that blue cheese Ice cream.

Rating 

Service *****

Food      ****

Ambiance *****

Overall ****

What  are you waiting for, get booking!

M, Zig Zag Building, 70 Victoria St, London, SW1E 6SQ

 Tel : 020 3327 7776  

http://www.mrestaurants.co.uk/

mailto:victoriastenquiries@mrestaurants.co.uk

Londons finest BBQ smokehouse

Fancy eating your food on a trash can lid... 

With its dark exterior a red neon signage this shoreditch hangout is billed as BBQ lovers place of worship. The church theme playfully runs through its marketing ,flyers , menus and interiors . Think rubs, glazes and all thing barbecued.  

With its big bold smoky flavours, a selection of sauces and a meaty menu that will leave you salivating I bring you Reds True BBQ 

We opted for one of the meat feat platters at £19,99 per person, I chose to pair mine with a fantastic South African Pinotage at £6,95 a glass. 
Whilst the rest of the team opted for some of the incredible ales on offer.

The last Super "The Feast "

St Louisiana Ribs, Baby back ribs,sticky brined chicken, Rib tips, burnt ends, red pulled pork, buttermilk slaw, garden salad, onion rings, skin on fries, usda black Angus brisket, cheese and jalapeño sausage, cheese and jalapeño corn bread and a slug of Bourbon, this meat feast is proudly brought to you by Reds True BBQ Shoreditch.

Heaven "The Ambiance"

This great find is certainly no man cave, it was great to see mixed groups and a sprinkling of couples.
It's dimly lit eclectic interior gave it an authentic shoreditch feel with its shabby chic, old yet new interior.

The Altar Boys "The Team" 

From the guy who spoke too fast for my colleagues to understand what he was saying, to the American sounding waiter, we enjoyed excellent, Attentive and unhurried service. 

The offering 

It's great for meat lovers or a boys night out. If you liked Bodeans, you will love this place m, as they say the BBQ was so glorious the Angels wept tears of Joy. 

Hell "Requiring improvement"

When Slaw isn't coleslaw, the only dampener to the evening .. This needs a bit of work 


With not an empty table in sight, I would recommend booking to avoid  disappointment.

Reds True BBQ

54-56 Great Eastern Street

shoreditch London 

EC2A 3QR

Tel: 0203 021 2302