It’s that time of the year again, Restaurant Week! Well, technically it’s a month, personally I think they should change the name. Although that’s just my opinion (and a little precision). Anyway, to kick things off, we decided to give Marble a go. They are running a 2 course (R350) and a 3 course (R450) special. Naturally I went with the 3 course meal because, why not. Marble brings South Africa’s oldest tradition of cooking over fire into a contemporary world class stage at the V&A Waterfront. It is truly a celebration of fire, and not just meat, but for vegetables, breads, and the theatre of dining itself. As I mentioned, it is located at the Waterfront, with Table Mountain as your picture perfect background. If the view wasn’t enough, the interior is immaculate too. Stepping inside Marble, you’re met with a dining room that feels equal parts gallery and theatre. Sleek yet dramatic, the space is built for a spectacle. Mirrored ceilings, statement art, and a flood of natural light. Every table feels like the best seat in the house, but with saying that, I think mine was the best of the best with Table Mountain taking centre stage.

“Every bite hit salty, spicy, smoky in harmony. This is the type of dish you talk about days later, and I did.”

While taking in the sophisticated energy around me, I thought it was only fitting to match the vibe with an equally elegant drink. I ordered bubbles that arrived in a glass that felt dressed up for the occasion. It had a blush pink glow and sparkled like stardust. That crisp snap on the first sip was everything. It was refreshing, refined, and dangerously easy to finish. Dry enough to feel grown up, playful enough to keep you smiling. I loved that it was light yet layered, with a subtle summer berry tartness. The kind of glass that feels like a pause button for the day, and makes you forget the world around you, other than the spectacular mountain view. 

Our waiter took our food orders and left us with a golden tower of bread with little treasures alongside it. If you know me, you know I’m a full on carb lover, so I greatly appreciated this over the top plating. Truly treating the bread like royalty, as one should. I reached for one of the thick, rustic slices and it felt warm and heavy. I lathered it with the burnt orange pumpkin puree and took my first bite. I am sad to say that it was rather underwhelming. Not the bread! Never the bread… but the puree was quite bland, and it didn’t have that lovely silky texture I was hoping for. Luckily, there was some flaked sea salt on the table, so I sprinkled some on top and that made a world of difference. The combination came alive once seasoned, highlighting the pumpkin’s natural sweetness. The bread itself was heavenly. It was moist and had a bouncy texture, almost springing back with each bite. It’s the kind of bread basket that makes you forget there are still three more courses to come. With that, our starters arrived.

I ordered the game tartare which arrived looking dramatic, layered, and was visually screaming “eat me now!”. The chilli oil glistened like liquid fire across the tartare. The cured yolk shavings gave it a luxe, almost golden dust effect, while the pickled onions added a playful pop of pink and brightness. Lastly, crisp bread was perched on top, giving the dish that little bit of textural contrast. Not only was it absolutely stunning, but it is hands down the best tartare I’ve ever had, and unlike any before. The game was lean but lush, perfectly melt in your mouth and the chilli oil coating the meat added a slow building heat. I am not sure if it was the oil or elements like the caramelised onions that wove in Cape Malay spice notes. It was aromatic, warming, sweet, and completely addictive. The dollops of creamy aubergine puree added a gentle smokiness, rounding out the spice and heat. The crisp bread snapped perfectly, and broke through the richness, as well as acted like the perfect vessel to scoop up all the deliciousness on the plate. Every bite hit salty, spicy, smoky in harmony. This is the type of dish you talk about days later, and I did.

For mains I chose the sirloin which didn’t hit the mark. It looked beautiful at first glance. The steak was nicely sliced, glossy with jus, with a touch of sea salt on top. The wedge salad looked colourful, fresh, and inviting. Unfortunately looks can be deceiving. I’ll start with the negative that we can end on a good note for this course. The sirloin was a good quality cut for sure, but very much overcooked. I ordered medium rare, it arrived closer to well done. The texture was firm, bordering on dry, losing that juicy, tender bite you want from a sirloin. Seasoning was lacking, luckily the flaked sea salt on the table did wake it up a bit, but overall it was underwhelming. The jus looked rich but fell flat in flavour, it tasted a bit diluted so didn’t deliver on depth. For the Caesar wedge, the lettuce was meant to be charred, but instead came across watery and bland, and the dressing didn’t quite cling. The croutons, though, were crisp and tasty, adding the crunch the salad needed. The star of this course was easily the chips. They were hot, golden, perfectly crisp with that paprika like seasoning. A beautiful balance of salt and spice makes them dangerously moreish. If I came back, it would be for the fries, not the sirloin.

This brings us to dessert, I chose the key lime pie which was more like a cheesecake, but I am not complaining. Visually, it was refined and modern. Clean white on white action with pops of green and glossy jelly cubes. The meringue drops gave it texture and looked like little pearls dotted across the plate. Very chic, like a designer version of a key lime pie. This was indulgent and incredibly delicious. The filling was smooth and decadent with a tangy lime punch. The buttery crust was indulgent without being heavy and it also had a bit of a saltiness about it which elevated all the other flavours. Those glossy lime jellies were like little citrus bombs, cutting through the creaminess. There were subtle flavours of elderflower that brought a gentle floral lift. Lastly, the sorbet was a sharp, icy contrast that acted like a reset button on the palate. This dessert was both decadent and refreshing, a clever, modern take on key lime pie.

We closed off with a complimentary chocolate truffle rolled in coconut. It was small, sweet, tropical, and seriously yum. The perfect little send off bite. Overall, it was a bit underwhelming for me. The tartare, key lime pie, and of course, the chips were absolutely delicious but Marble is all about open fire, so the meat should have been the star, but it just didn’t quite hit that level. The setting is gorgeous and the experience had its moments, but I am not too sure if I’ll be going back, but who knows, we’ll see.

Thank you, till next time!