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ARKESTE

Reviewers' Choice 2023 - Top 50 Reviewers' Choice Awards 2022
Bistro Fine Dining French South African
Chamonix Farm, Cottage 1, Franschhoek, 7690, South Africa
(1691 reviews)
RRR

Attributes

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

Bookings for EAT SLEEP DRINK Franschhoek open on 1 May 2024.

At ARKESTE. we present seasonal ingredients by revisiting classic techniques in a contemporary, modern way.

Chef Richard Carstens has returned to the Franschhoek Valley and Chamonix where he was head chef during the mid 90s to showcase to diners his modern take on seasonal ingredients.

Voted Chef of the Year by EatOut in the past and chef de cuisine at numerous top 10 and top 20 restaurants in South Africa. For the past eight years, Richard dazzled diners at the award-winning Tokara Winery and restaurant.

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 (1691)

4.8 out of 5.0
Based on the past 12 months
Food 4.9
Value 4.8
Service 4.8
Ambience 4.7
  • Dale T. Dined: 1 week ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Mon 06 May 24
    Excellent Date night Evening,Well Done

  • RAULT Dined: 5 days ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0
  • Kia Dined: 5 days ago
    4.8
    Food 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Sun 05 May 24
    Beautiful setting on a rainy day with a wood fire burning inside and leaves falling outside. The starters, especially the Baked Alaska, were a bit of a miss in terms of flavour combinations and were under seasoned. Mains hit the spot and the beef and springbok were perfectly cooked.

  • Brendon B. Dined: 6 days ago
    4.3
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 4.0
    Ambience 3.0
  • Kim R. Dined: 6 days ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0
  • Peter G. Dined: 1 week ago
    4.8
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 4.0

    Reviewed on: Fri 03 May 24
    Very nice food and very professional and friendly service at our table

  • Karen J. Dined: 1 week ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Thu 02 May 24
    Food was superb !! Service was exceptional. We will be back

  • Andries V. Dined: 1 week ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0
  • Alan W. Dined: 1 week ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Tue 30 Apr 24
    Simply the best meal we have eaten in SA.

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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