Grazing at The Gardener's Cottage

 25 February 2024

 

THE GARDENER’S COTTAGE

Portobello Design Centre, Newlands Avenue, Newlands, Cape Town

 

Yesterday’s lunch at Forester’s Arms was impromptu;  today’s lunch at The Gardener’s Cottage was planned and booked in advance.  

 

Of course, it was Yorkie day again, and when we were shown to a table at the front of the garden dining area, we asked to move to a table at the back. Prinses was much improved from the previous day and was likely to revert to her havoc causing ways but, as it turned out, she was good, as was Lucy, who begged food from us rather than bother those around us. 

 

The general setting and feel of The Gardener’s Cottage is similar to Chardonnay Deli on Constantia Main Road, in that the building, housing the kitchen, deli and indoor seating, is also quite old, presumably the dwelling of the eponymous gardener, and the main, preferred dining area is in the shady garden space. Lots of large trees and shrubs provide the greenery that sparks joy.  

 

Newlands Avenue is just on the other side of the building but we were blissfully unaware of traffic. We might as well have been on a remote farm.

 

Several walk-in would-be-patrons were turned away during the busiest time of service, so it’s probably an imperative  necessity to book if you want to eat lunch during the lunch hour. Bookings are handled by Dineplan which is very good with the initial text message confirmation of the booking with email and text message follow ups, to remind you of the booking and to seek final confirmation.

 

The lunch menu offers five main courses and salads, and omelettes, toasted sandwiches and filled bagels are available all day. If you’re not a bagel person, you can substitute with a cruffin, a croissant in muffin shape.

The two specials of the day were grilled Kingklip and sides and a sirloin steak and sides.

 

After our initial coffees (cortado and espresso) the wife ordered a carafe of white wine and I had a beer. After our food and wine pairing blow-out at The Woodlands Eatery, it was time to revert to normal service.

 

Her main course was a chicken burger (R135) and salad and my choice was the vegetable version of the “Indian street curry,” (R135) rather than chicken or seafood (Kingklip & prawns.)

 

Our meals came to the table very quickly; almost as if the kitchen had read our minds and had started preparing the dishes as soon as we’d received the menu.

 

The wife was highly appreciative of her beautifully fresh salad; she would’ve happily eaten a large portion. The burger was also superlative, with succulent, flavourful and yummy chicken, easily the best chicken burger she’d had for ages, and far better than the chicken burger at Chardonnay Deli two weeks ago and much yummier than yesterday’s pulled beef burger at Forester’s Arms.

 

The curry was deeply flavourful, had a nurturing chilli warmth, with perfectly cooked Basmati rice, a delicious sambal and a large, crunchy poppadum. Don’t know on which street of the subcontinent you’d find this curry  but it was very satisfying.

 

With our final coffees, we had a slice of chocolate cake (wife) (R68) and moi a segment of brûléed lemon tart (R50).  The cake had an excellent, slightly moist crumb and a deep essence of rich chocolate. The lemon tart had a sublime abundance of tart lemon (see what I did there?), not too sweet and also no cumulative overload of sourness. Perfectly balanced.

 

The bill (inclusive of food, the liquor, four coffees and two cruffins to take home) came to R721,00 before tip.

 

The setting is exceptionally splendid, the service was excellent (unlike the laid back Chardonnay Deli) and the  food was excellent. The  chef did simple food simply good; the benefit of a trimmed down menu.

 

Afterwards we meandered through the art village and bought some fresh fruit at the little market stall. A truly relaxing and blissful Sunday outing and the Yorkies absolutely approved.