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Dusk is a restaurant concept conceived by award winning chef duo, Darren Badenhorst and Callan Austin. The pair first met over a decade ago, when Callan walked through the doors as an intern at one of Darren's kitchens in the Cape Winelands.

Over the years, the two chefs established a strong mentor/mentee relationship and in 2017 Darren extended the offer to Callan to join his team when he opened Le coin Français in Franschhoek. As the restaurant would go on to win multiple awards, Darren's mentorship became increasingly prevalent in Callan’s career - seeing him through to the finale of the San Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition 2021 in Milan where Callan became the winner of the Social Responsibility Award.

Fate, it seems, would have it that they have come full circle, since Callan is now assuming his first head chef role at Dusk restaurant. Stay tuned as we unveil more about the story behind the restaurant and what guests can expect when dining at Dusk.

Gourmet Guide Description

The discreet door on Plein Street, opposite Stellenbosch Town Hall, belies a multi-faceted dining enclave. It offers an elevated, sophisticated dining adventure that illustrates alchemy. Shafts of light illuminate each linen-covered table in the dark and intimate space. Here fine dining boundaries are pushed to the limit with the marriage of taste and technique.

There’re two wine pairings with the tasting menu, one a surprise package dubbed Pandora’s box. Choose a number, get a box and then a sommelier adds a little magic, plus water pairings. After some delectable amuse bouche expect to be wowed by seasonal, locally sourced dishes that focus on the ingredient, perhaps braised and coal-fired abalone with citrus sabayon, pickled kohlrabi and a wild rice puff. Beautiful plates represent their ethos of responsible sourcing and in-house crafting, like the smoked and dry-aged duck breast with celeriac, duck gizzard sausage, black garlic and balsamic with wild allium and truffle.

Staff are unobtrusive yet present, and one of them will invite you to view their fermentation playground. Whole-process cooking is part of their vision of zero wastage. Constant experimentation is seen in the handcrafting of miso, shoyu, garum, lacto-ferments, cured meat and cheese.

Chef Callan Austin met co-owner Darren Badenhorst a decade ago when he was an intern. He joined Darren when he opened Le Coin Français restaurant. Callan is never off duty, he lives on a farm and when he sees that the pine ring mushrooms are begging to be picked, he is known to message his equally passionate team members to join him for forest therapy.

Reviews (446)

4.7 out of 5.0
Based on the past 12 months
Food 4.8
Value 4.5
Service 4.8
Ambience 4.8
  • Sifiso M. Dined: 5 days ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Sun 24 Mar 24
    You have gain another loyal ambassadors in a form of me and my wife. We were both blown away and thank you for the experience. You can only get better from here..... resident chef was equally amazing. Well done Team Dusk

  • Roberto B. Dined: 5 days ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0
  • Susan B. Dined: 1 week ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Fri 22 Mar 24
    We loved our evening at dusk! The dishes were so creative and so much fun, thank you!!

  • Min D. Dined: 1 week ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0
  • Stefan S. Dined: 3 weeks ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Mon 18 Mar 24
    Great evening with breathtaking food and service. We will go there again

  • Ebbie R. Dined: 1 week ago
    4.3
    Food 5.0
    Value 3.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 4.0

    Reviewed on: Sat 16 Mar 24
    Good experience

  • Marion S. Dined: 1 week ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Sat 16 Mar 24
    Experiential dining at its best!

  • Jan O. Dined: 2 weeks ago
    4.8
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 4.0

    Reviewed on: Thu 14 Mar 24
    We will be back

  • Dina D. Dined: 1 month ago
    4.8
    Food 5.0
    Value 4.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0
  • Louis K. Dined: 2 weeks ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Wed 13 Mar 24
    What an incredible evening. It was a fantastic food journey and the service is second to none. Highly recommend this restaurant if you are in the area!

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Opening Hours

  • Monday CLOSED
  • Tuesday 18h00 - 22h00
  • Wednesday 18h00 - 22h00
  • Thursday 18h00 - 22h00
  • Friday 18h00 - 22h00
  • Saturday 18h00 - 22h00
  • Sunday 18h00 - 20h00