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Cavalli Restaurant

Reservations Collection Delivery
Bistro Contemporary Fine Dining
Cavalli Estate, Strand Rd, R44 Highway, Somerset West, Cape Town, Western Cape, 7129
(2110 reviews)
RRR

Attributes

  • Outdoor Seating
  • Great Views
  • Fireplace
  • Gourmet Guide Plated
  • Gourmet Guide Plated 2019

Cavallis Everyday Gourmet menu is all about celebrating real food that nourishes and excites. Putting a contemporary, inventive spin on classic dishes, we grow our own seasonal herbs and have many vegetable varieties grown from seed and cuttings. As the first Green-star rated restaurant in South Africa, we treasure the beauty of our natural heritage. We simply believe in eating delicious, fresh, whole foods prepared in a way that honours the seasons. We want our food to be the kind that people enjoy not just once but again and again, the type of food that people come back for.

Gourmet Guide Description

'from soil to soul' 'Cavalli' means horses in Italian. In South African culinary terms, it means excellence. Settle yourself in dappled sunshine on the deck with arresting views of the dam, paddocks and Helderberg mountain range. In winter the contemporary, minimalist décor indoors does not compete for eye-time with the seamlessly efficient open kitchen. Here it is all about the excellent cuisine. It is a joy to witness the team at play, and to meet the fledglings as they take turns to serve and introduce the dishes, proudly and confidently, at your table. Chef Michael Deg has refined his flavours to perfection on this chic equestrian estate. Cavalli Restaurant is the perfect backdrop for a chef of this calibre, and the produce garden on the estate constantly inspires him. His love affair with a simple ingredient is made evident, with style and sophistication, on the plate. Nature's relationship between the soil of Stellenbosch and the seasons is in obvious harmony. As the first Green-star rated restaurant in South Africa, Cavalli treasures and celebrates the beauty of natural heritage. Some dishes are simply presented, like the barley and mushroom risotto with a delicate Parmesan custard. Others are infinitely styled with precision, like the seven-hour slow-cooked octopus with fermented black garlic aioli, squid-ink crisps and radish, topped with a fynbos dressing. A main course of confit duck leg with orange, fennel marmalade, mustard pommes mousseline and black kale, will keep the heartiest of appetites sated. Michael excels at creating vegan and vegetarian dishes that the strictest carnivore will swop sides for – his imagination runs riot when his soul connects with the soil. The menu constantly evolves as ingredients present themselves in the garden. Wander around the immaculately manicured 100-hectare estate to admire the horses, sunken gardens and art, with a last stop to the winery to buy Cavalli wines that the sommelier matched with your memorable dishes. "It's now all about constantly refining dishes." Chef Michael Deg

Reviews (2110)

4.5 out of 5.0
Food 4.7
Value 4.3
Service 4.5
Ambience 4.6
  • Gillian B. Dined: 1 day ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Sat 19 Sep 20
    It’s just glorious having this level of dining on our doorstep. Fabulous service and incredible attention to detail, beautiful food and the bubbles were delicious.

  • Zakithi Z. Dined: 3 days ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Thu 17 Sep 20
    Beautiful dining experience, as always

  • Ute C. Dined: 6 days ago
    4.8
    Food 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Tue 15 Sep 20
    We had the Spring menu (regular). Two points might worth considering: the prawn/fish reduction overpowered the fish and the lamb with the potato was extremely rich because lamb fat was used to cook the meat and potato. Taste, however, was delicious!

  • Samantha M. Dined: 6 days ago
    4.8
    Food 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Mon 14 Sep 20
    Loved it, thank you for the friendly stuff and great service.

  • Malinda V. Dined: 6 days ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Mon 14 Sep 20
    Can’t wait to go back during the summer.

  • Brent Dined: 1 week ago
    4.3
    Food 3.0
    Value 4.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Mon 14 Sep 20
    Absolutely stunning location, garden, set-up. I found the lamb a bit dry, and the risotto lacking some spice. The presentation was Lovely. The mistake of charging us too much because of not deducting the deposit and not wanting to refund the extra is unacceptable.

  • Janet M. Dined: 1 week ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Mon 14 Sep 20
    We had a delightful dining experience at the beautiful Cavalli. The gorgeous plating and fresh flavours is reminiscent of spring. Thank you Cavalli team for a memorable experience.

  • Nhlokomo M. Dined: 6 days ago
    3.3
    Food 2.0
    Value 2.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 4.0

    Reviewed on: Sun 13 Sep 20
    AWESOME , AWESOME staff . The food was really average, not disappointing but it was bland. I would come back for things like wine tasting but not the food.

  • Pride M. Dined: 6 days ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Sun 13 Sep 20
    Farai is the most exceptional host. Thank you!

  • Hans J K. Dined: 6 days ago
    4.5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 4.0
    Ambience 4.0

    Reviewed on: Sun 13 Sep 20
    The delicate fook was simply superb, nice plating, exceptional flavours, well thought of menu choices for every taste bud - compliments to the chef and his brigade for doing a great job. Service was a bit over eager, zealous to please, but not necessarily a draw back as it was surely well-intended. The estate as such is one of the landmarks in Stellenbosch, starting by entering the property and driving up to the restaurant with indigenous plantings all along - believe Keith Kirsten has done an excellent job here. The building is of an unusual architecture and one learns that it has a 'green star rating' - whatever that means, but it's nevertheless impressive as the estate as a whole, with a terrace offering spectacular views of the surrounding Stellenbosch mountain ranges. Cavalli is really a feast for all senses.

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Opening Hours

  • Monday CLOSED
  • Tuesday CLOSED
  • Wednesday 12h00 - 21h30
  • Thursday 12h00 - 21h30
  • Friday 12h00 - 21h30
  • Saturday 12h00 - 21h30
  • Sunday 12h00 - 14h30
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