Tucked away on the prestigious Steenberg Estate, home to a well deserved 5 star hotel and spa, is one of my favourite restaurants, Tryn. It is the perfect combination of sophistication and comfort. Its welcoming atmosphere keeps you coming back, time and time again. It is rare for a place to look as beautiful as it does on the outside and have the same amount of charm within. It may be because I’ve found myself to be a regular, but when I visit I really feel like I am a part of the family.
On Thursday afternoon, my business partner and I made our way there to take advantage of their special. Three courses from their main menu for R640 per person. This also includes an amuse bouche, a bread course, as well as the most delicious chocolate truffles to end with. I absolutely love their menu, it is super diverse and I quite enjoy trying something different each time. I have eaten here more than a few times I will admit, and I have truthfully never been disappointed. They are incredibly consistent in dishing out top notch food.
We arrived and were welcomed by the incredibly friendly host and taken to our table. I absolutely love the interior of this restaurant. The best way to describe it is warmly modern, minimal, and effortlessly cool. It’s a place that makes you feel like you made it. I love the natural tones of the tables and then the pop of colour from the mustard yellow couches and the artwork. Even the lighting has a crucial part to play. It is all very well thought out.
As per usual, I was driving, so I opted for sparkling water. Why, you might ask? It’s more fun than still. While we waited for our fun drink, I browsed through their menu. Honestly, there are so many good options, I decided to try something new this time. I chose the fish tartare for my starter, umami glazed fish for my mains, and crème brûlée for dessert.
"It is rare for a place to look as beautiful as it does on the outside and have the same amount of charm within."
We got our orders in, and within minutes we were served our bread course. Now, as a bread lover, this is some of the best bread out there. It is this sweet, I almost want to say brioche type mini loaf glazed with honey. It is phenomenal. I am about to share a little secret with you, they do sell larger loaves. Be sure to call the day before you go as they bake them fresh every morning. I mean, what better way to end a meal than to take home a loaf of their signature bread? I’m just putting it out there. Anyway, it is delicious. It is buttery and warm and has that perfect sweet, syrupy exterior. It has so much flavour, you don’t even need to add butter, in my opinion.
Moments later, we were served our amuse bouche. It was a pani puri. I cannot recall what was in it, but it had lovely warm Cape Malay flavours with some sort of mousse on top. It was deliciously spiced and balanced nicely with the rich topping.
It was time for our starters, and presented in front of me was a beautiful and colourful plate of food. It looked absolutely divine. The fish was topped with a drizzle of creamy sauce, sweet potato crisps, and fresh saffron. I was so excited to dive right in. I squeezed the fresh lime over it and tucked in. Once again, I was thoroughly impressed by Tryn’s food. The fish was remarkably fresh, the mayonnaise based sauce added great mouthfeel, and the crisps added a good amount of crunch. The flavours were quite rich and they were balanced out nicely by the sharpness of the pickled mushrooms and sour lime juice. This dish was very well rounded.
Next up we have the mains. Again, exquisitely presented and on the generous side, which always makes me wildly happy, I do love my larger portions. This dish was also topped with saffron, it must’ve been my lucky day. Naturally, I got stuck in. I constructed my perfect bite, with a little bit of everything making it onto the fork. To no surprise, it was delicious. The fish was perfectly cooked with the crispy skin, delicate flesh, and coated in that umami goodness. I thoroughly enjoyed every element of the dish, even the potato had a part to play. The fish and sauce were quite salty (in the best way) and the potatoes softened the intensity of it all. Another element I really enjoyed, was the grilled baby cos lettuce. It was at the base of the plate and it soaked up all the juices from the fish and broth, it also added a nice bit of freshness to the dish.
Almost last, but certainly not least. We have dessert. Clementine and chai crème brûlée finished with a crunchie cookie on top. Why the cookie? I’m not entirely sure but I’m definitely not complaining. I love myself two desserts in one. This was honestly just stunning. The sugar was of course perfectly caramelised and underneath was the golden custardy filling. Something I was not expecting, but thoroughly enjoyed was the citrus layer at the bottom of the ramekin. That was a lovely touch. It added that burst of freshness that I didn’t know I needed. It was scrumptious. Top tip, if you’re getting the crème brûlée (highly recommend), order a coffee to have with it, so you can dip the biscuit in it. Naturally, the coffee does come with a complimentary shortbread cookie, but who’s complaining.
Now, last but not least, it was time for our petit fours. The most decadent chocolate truffles. I savoured this moment. Rich and indulgent, what better way to end a truly memorable lunch?
I thought so.
Overall, I had an unforgettable experience. From the atmosphere, to the service, and of course the food. Tryn gets it right time and time again. I wholeheartedly cannot wait to come back, it will definitely be sooner than later. Honestly, everything on the menu is delicious, I highly recommend trying something new every time you go, you will not be disappointed.
Thank you Tryn, thank you, team, and thank you to Alvin for taking such good care of us.
Till next time!
