I don’t know if I dressed for Grub & Vine, or if Grub & Vine dressed for me. Either way, it was a full Spring romance moment. Well, maybe just a Spring moment, it seems that romance died about right after my last review… Oh well, onwards and upwards. I mean, it’s probably for the best. I’m a full time eater, he’s a part time snacker. It would have never worked, right? Or maybe it was because he lives in Australia… Anyhoo. Swiftly moving on from Mr Aussie Anonymous. I spent my past Thursday afternoon sipping on generously sized glasses of wine, indulging in delicious food, and soaking up the sun. Because life’s too short to be crying over a no name brand, and an exchange rate I could never compete with.

As I stepped inside, I immediately felt like my outfit had been waiting for this backdrop. The space is sophisticated without the “try hard energy” you sometimes get in fancy dining rooms. I’m convinced that’s mostly thanks to the warm, friendly welcome from our waitress, Flowers. Yes, Flowers. As in soft, pretty, quietly bright, and impossible not to like. I felt an instant connection to her as I was wearing a dress with flowers printed onto it. Coincidence? I think not. Since it was a stunning day, we decided to sit outside. En route to our table, I had a little look around the interior. I absolutely loved the sleek tables, sculptural chairs, and that slightly mysterious lighting that makes you look 11/10 in photos. I almost changed my mind about our seating arrangements. That was until I saw the terrace. Just wow. It’s modern, green, and tranquil. The soft shade sails filter the sun just enough, everything is bright, but not blinding. The tables are spaced with actual breathing room, no eavesdropping, just peace. Not to mention, the view. The terrace overlooks their sculpture garden, with mountains behind it. Greenery everywhere, basically a high budget countryside aesthetic. Sitting out there felt like we’d stepped out of Cape Town traffic and into a painting. I sat back, relaxed into my chair, and prepared myself for an indulgent spring afternoon.

“I don’t know if I dressed for Grub & Vine, or if Grub & Vine dressed for me.”

If there’s one thing Grub & Vine doesn’t play about, it’s wine. Their wine list reads like a love letter to both local legends and international icons. It’s curated, considered, and refreshingly unpretentious. In the spirit of Spring, I was craving something crisp and fresh, so, naturally, I went for a glass of the Aubrey Sangena Sauvignon Blanc 2023. It arrived looking like it wanted to flirt with me. It was bright, perfectly chilled, and incredibly generous. The bigger the better, right? I definitely agree when it comes to wine, and food. This liquid gold therapy encased in a fishbowl sized glass was citrusy, bright, and borderline uplifting. I swear it boosted my serotonin. It’s the kind of glass that makes you want to stay for a second… and a third.

It’s never a good look to drink on an empty stomach, so obviously I behaved. Since I was in a spring dress, reading the spring menu, with a waitress named Flowers, I found it only fitting to order bright, fresh, and feminine dishes. Sorry boys, no meat for me! I woke up in a “vegetarian goddess with a glass (or two) of wine” mood. I went for the a la carte menu because she (me) is that girl who wants to curate her own journey. And with that, orders were in. Let the performance begin! 

Moments later, my favourite person of the day, Flowers, was back and she was bearing gifts. Placed in front of us was the complimentary  bread, aka, the real main character. If you know me, which I am almost certain you do, I’m a carb girl through and through. I always will be. Hard to impress? Negative! The moist focaccia was warm, bouncy, soft, and slightly oily, in the best Mediterranean summer way. I’m not usually a butter girl, but THIS butter? It was sweet, herby, silky, and melted beautifully into the pockets of the bread. Honestly, this might be my bread of the year contender. 

For starters, I ordered the heirloom tomato and summer beet salad. Look, visually it was stunning. It had full Hinge profile hero shot energy. All the colours were colouring, ruby reds, glossy tomatoes, neon pink radish, that little basil gel moment… It looked like the salad equivalent of a man who knows his angles and refuses to take a bad photo. But once we actually spoke, immediately nope. The flavours were so acidic, sharp, intense, and a little aggressive. No softness, no warmth, no gentle sweetness to balance the attitude. It was giving beautiful, but emotionally unavailable. Basically the salad version of a guy who looks like your dream guy online, and then turns out to be too citrusy and chaotic on the first date. 

Luckily for me, the mains turned out to be the unexpected but perfectly rebound man who actually treats you gently. The plate arrived and genuinely felt like the energy shift after you block the wrong guy and the universe immediately sends you something kind. It looked like sunshine in a bowl, warm and glowy. The gnocchi were fat, soft little pillows, the kind you want to lie on after a long week. They had that perfect pan seared edge, golden, slightly chewy, and completely addictive. The sweetcorn was popping through like little bursts of sweetness. And that zucchini basil puree, my god! It was smooth, velvety, and herby. Like pesto’s bougie cousin. I absolutely loved the Parmesan crisp. It was crunchy, salty, and totally dramatic. You know, just to keep things interesting. Simply put, this was the dish I’ll remember. 

By the time dessert arrived, I was already emotionally repaired, but this plate really sealed the deal. It looked beautiful, refined, and super high end. The colours were vibrant without being chaotic, and the textures balanced each other visually. The panna cotta was silky and wobbly in the cutest, most elegant way. “Smack that, all on the floor. Smack that, give me some more. Smack that, 'til you get sore. Smack that, oh”... Whatever happened to Akon? Anyway, this wobbly delight was light, creamy, clean, and gentle. Very easy eating. The toasted meringue added that little bit of sweetness and burnt caramel from the torching. There was a lovely crunch from the buttery crumble, just enough to break the softness of everything else. Lastly, the deeply berry sorbet. It was cool and bright and tasted like someone took a whole punnet of berries and turned it into a single intense spoonful. This dish was refreshing without being sour, and sweet without being heavy. The perfect reset after the warm, comforting richness of the gnocchi. A very “kiss on the forehead before you leave” kind of dessert. Now that I think of it, it’s almost like a deconstructed berry pavlova… Is this my sign to fly to Australia? Could it be? Maybe a bit delulu. Just as delulu as that word being added to the Cambridge Dictionary. 

By the end of the afternoon, I felt like I’d slipped into a different little universe. One where the sun hits just right, the wine flirts back, and the food moved from cute to captivating. Grub & Vine Norval has this effortless way of making everything feel softer, slower, and prettier. Between the sunshine gnocchi, the silky panna cotta, and the garden views, I left feeling full, glowy, and genuinely happier. I’d go back in a heartbeat.

Thank you Grub & Vine Norval, till next time!