On the gloomy Saturday we just experienced, I had the pleasure of spending my afternoon at Beyond Restaurant. I was given the task of finding the perfect lunch destination, instructions were to:
1. Find somewhere warm
2. Somewhere with a nice view
3. Somewhere with delicious food
If I do say so myself, I succeeded.
We arrived at exactly 12 o’clock, and took a short little jog in the rain to the entrance. Yes, I did that in heels. We were greeted by an incredibly friendly host that then escorted us to our table. Since it just opened, we were the first table to arrive. I was not complaining, we had the whole restaurant to ourselves! I was truly having my 15 minutes of fame moment, and bit my tongue before saying “You booked out the whole restaurant, for me? You shouldn’t have” to my date. I thought it would be a good idea to save my sense of humour for our potential second date.
Moving on, we booked a table in the main dining area. We thought it would be a good idea to have a view of the vineyards on one side, and people watching on the other. You know, just in case we ran out of things to talk about, we would be surrounded by entertainment, well that being when more people arrived. We got ourselves seated, in the most comfortable chairs I must add, and took a look around. Wow, I did good. The interior was just stunning, rustic yet sophisticated. I loved all the wooden features, and the addition of the very minimalistic black chairs. It worked so well together, and the stormy weather outside complemented everything so well.
We ordered some sparkling water, because the bubbles make it more fun, and took a browse through the menu. I was delighted to see that they were running a winter special, a 5 course meal for R645 per person. Luckily for me, my date also wanted to give it a go. Since it seemed fitting, and I was not driving, for once. We decided to order some wine, our waiter was incredibly well educated and enthusiastic on which wines would pair well with our food, so we thought it would be best to trust him. Unfortunately, I cannot recall what we were drinking, but it was red and delicious, it paired perfectly with the food, as well as the weather.
“Dipping that toasty bread into that cheese was life changing.”
This brings us to the food. We were surprised with a bread course that was not on the menu, but I wasn’t complaining, my main food group just so happens to be carbs. The bread was warm and fresh, I lathered it with the sweet potato hummus for some carb on carb action, and took my first bite. It was delicious, smooth, nutty and the perfect way to start a good afternoon of eating. I must also mention the breadsticks, they sound and look simple, but they were nice and salty and incredibly moreish.
The first course arrived, on the menu it read “Weekly Chef’s Surprise Course”. That week it was mushroom soup accompanied by an arancini ball. Firstly, it smelled absolutely amazing, truffly goodness, yum! It was luscious, creamy, and packed with umami flavours. It was topped with parsley oil which balanced it all out and gave the dish that necessary bit of freshness. The arancini was good, but the soup was definitely the star of the show. I thoroughly enjoyed it and if I am not mistaken, there were bits of mushroom in the soup, which gave it more texture, making it more fun to eat.
For the starters, we were served Cape Malay gamefish tartare. Oh my word, I loved everything about this dish. From the vibrant presentation to taste, it was all ten out of ten in my book. It tasted as breathtaking as it looked, and incredibly complex, I don’t even know where to begin. There was a creamy taramasalata type dip on the base of the plate, and on top of this was beautifully fresh tartare. It didn’t end there, alongside were a few pickled items and chutneys, and to tie it all together, a sauce that mimicked a summer’s sunset finished it off. This took me on a flavour journey, and again, I loved all the different textures. My favourite part was mixing in the sticky rice that accompanied this meal. It tasted like the best elevated sushi you will ever have. Overall, the best way to describe this course is that it was truly harmonious.
Next up, we have the cheese course, probably my favourite bite of the day. Oozy melty cheese fondue served in an onion, and paired with the most buttery, crispy dipping sourdough toast. This course transported me right back to childhood. It tasted like the toasted cheese my mom used to make me. Her trick was to butter both sides of the bread to give it that golden finish and extra flavour. I had forgotten how delicious yet simple it was. You could really taste the quality of the ingredients in this dish. It is truly the perfect winter snack. I also thoroughly enjoyed the pickles and vegetables, it offset the richness from the other elements. Dipping that toasty bread into that cheese was life changing.
With warmed bellies, and flowing red wine, it was time for our main course. Dry aged rump, I mean, what better meal to have on a stormy day? When it arrived, I was a bit skeptical. I like my steak on the rarer side, but this looked very rare. I was soon to be proven wrong, because it did indeed cut like butter and it was just absolutely delicious. This stunning cut of meat was topped with a glossy bone marrow jus. It was rich, but not overpowering, still letting the flavour of the steak shine though. The pomme puree soaked up all the juices and acted as the perfect sponge, anchoring all the bold elements. Everything on this plate just worked, and it was also very well seasoned. Again, I absolutely love the use of simple yet very good quality ingredients. I find the best dishes are not overly complicated, but well thought out and utterly delicious.
Alas, it is time for our last course, but let’s just say it was a closing act that didn’t hold back. In all honesty, a large part of me choosing this restaurant was based on the dessert. It was a brandy pudding, served with pumpkin spiced ice cream and then smothered in a chocolate anglaise. Poetry really. I am an absolute sucker for warm desserts, and this one really hit the spot. The brandy cake was surprisingly not as rich as I thought it would be, it was light and fluffy, but I am quite relieved about this because the anglaise was incredibly indulgent and decadent.
The ice cream added a different type of sweetness to the dish as well as that necessary coolness. This course didn’t last very long, but I enjoyed every bite. I must also add that the candied pumpkin and pumpkin seeds added a nice crunchy texture to the rather soft dessert. This was an excellent way to end a stormy Saturday in Cape Town.
Lastly, we were surprised with petit fours. That day it was chocolate macarons with a passionfruit center. These were light and airy, yet still chewy, and filled with just the right amount of sweet tartness from the fruit. Now I can say, a wonderful way to finish off a fantastic winter’s day lunch.
I felt very well looked after and I really enjoyed every interaction with everyone at Beyond. Our waiter even walked us to our car with umbrellas overhead. I found this incredibly kind and appreciate him going the extra mile.
Thank you so much for hosting us, I had an absolutely incredible time and I truly cannot wait to be back.
Till next time!
