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ARKESTE

Reviewers' Choice 2024 - Top 50 Reviewers' Choice 2023 - Top 50
Bistro Fine Dining French South African
Chamonix Wine Estate, Uitkyk St, Franschhoek, 7690, South Africa
(2191 reviews)
RRR

Attributes

  • Romantic
  • Outdoor Seating
  • Wine Estate
  • Gourmet Guide Plated
  • Reviewers' Choice 2022 - Top 100
  • Reviewers' Choice 2023 - Top 50
  • Reviewers' Choice 2024 - Top 50

At Arkeste, we present an a la carte menu in a casual fine dining style. We are located on Chamonix Wine Farm, Franschhoek, in a characterful heritage building on the edge of a forest. This sets the scene for a tranquil dining experience and delicious food by chef Ashwin Johannes who present dishes which showcase seasonal and local ingredients. Our wine list features Chamonix wines and a curated selection from the Cape region.

Gourmet Guide Description

Chamonix Wine Farm in Franschhoek is the perfect backdrop for Richard Carsten’s culinary ability. The forest setting is serene and the heritage building charming, but diners come for the food. Richard has returned to Chamonix after 30 years of notching up an impressive pedigree at top restaurants that included a successful tenure at Tokara, giving him time to cement his reputation and following. Known for his modern twists on classics, Carstens creates dishes that celebrate the seasons and heralds local.

Choose from an a la carte menu with inventive starters like the squid, either with togarashi, dashi black rice, wakame, cucumber and chili garam or a rendition with risotto, parsnip, wakame and a yuzu-ginger sauce.

Mains could be a citrus-glazed linefish with pommes, greens, rouille, heerenboon and a sauce bouillabaisse, showing chef’s love of traditional, notched up with a contemporary flair. Or the kapokbos-glazed springbok with creamy and dreamy Robuchon pomme, greens, sake-pears, and a sauce that he calls ‘Cape senses’. Dishes are sure to appeal to all your senses. His signature baked Alaska of rainbow trout and the Franco-Jap interpretation of seafood are a must. Vegetarians are well respeced and catered for. Be sure to order a delectable dessert – watch out for the gorgonzola ice cream with walnut, pears and honeycombe – and your appetite for deliciousness will be sated. The wine list reflects wines of the estate and the Cape. Here’s casual fine dining at its best.

Reviews (2191)

4.8 out of 5.0
Based on the past 12 months
Food 4.8
Value 4.7
Service 4.8
Ambience 4.7
  • Karyn R. Dined: 5 days ago
    4
    Food 4.0
    Value 4.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 3.0

    Reviewed on: Tue 29 Apr 25
    The restaurant is very pretty, ‘Scandinavian stylish’ and looks into the trees which is really quite spectacular. The food was beautifully presented, with little extras like a small taste platter; bread and pate with some olive tapenade, in the beginning which was nice. The restaurant was very quiet only 3 tables in total. The service therefore was almost too attentive which ended up making us feel slightly rushed. I had been offered a small dessert plate by way of a celebration acknowledgement as I was taking my partner for our anniversary. This has been planned ahead of time but when it came time for desert it was not forthcoming. Eventually I got up to address the waitress as I didn’t want to order any actual dessert until said anniversary celebration plate arrived - and I wasn’t sure what to expect. Me having to get up to talk to them /ask/remind them kind of spoiled the surprise element and no additional effort was made just a plate arrived which had a small taster of the dessert . I wasn’t necessarily expecting sparklers or anything, but I felt disappointed as I wanted my partner to know I had planned something special. They also charged R300 corkage. All in all it was an enjoyable experience but I left feeling slightly let down but the lack of interest in making our celebration something extra special.

  • SEAN M. Dined: 4 days ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Mon 28 Apr 25
    Absolutley excellent food. We have the beef tartare to begin the best I have had in South africa. Then decided to have another starter which was the mushroom pasta. It was all hand made and deleicious with a very delicate blend of different flavours brillant. Ended with two deserts that exploded with taste. One of the best resturants around but so few people there. They are missing out on a lovely place with excellent food. The pricig was excellent for the level of food.

  • Camilla H. Dined: 6 days ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Sun 27 Apr 25
    Fantastic evening in the most beautiful setting with the best exquisite food.

  • Donna-Jane A. Dined: 1 week ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Fri 25 Apr 25
    Outstanding meal. Very interesting and well presented meals. A menu truely worth exploring.

  • Hazel M. Dined: 1 week ago
    4.8
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 4.0

    Reviewed on: Wed 23 Apr 25
    Best meal I've had in Fransxhhoek

  • Katarina S. Dined: 1 week ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0
  • Bakani N. Dined: 1 week ago
    4.5
    Food 5.0
    Value 4.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 4.0

    Reviewed on: Tue 22 Apr 25
    Exceptional food.

  • Hans-Joachim M. Dined: 1 week ago
    4.8
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 4.0

    Reviewed on: Mon 21 Apr 25
    Jedesmal ein Hochgenuss

  • Kyle V. Dined: 1 week ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Mon 21 Apr 25
    One of the best experiences I've had at a restaurant. Top quality food, great wine and the ambience is next level. Highly recommend

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Opening Hours

  • Monday 12h00 - 14h30, 18h00 - 20h15
  • Tuesday 12h00 - 14h30, 18h00 - 20h15
  • Wednesday 12h00 - 14h30, 18h00 - 20h15
  • Thursday 12h00 - 14h30, 18h00 - 20h15
  • Friday 12h00 - 14h30, 18h00 - 20h15
  • Saturday 12h00 - 14h30, 18h00 - 20h15
  • Sunday 12h00 - 14h30, 18h00 - 20h15