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Epice

Reviewers' Choice 2025 - Top 100 Reviewers' Choice 2024 - Top 50
Fine Dining
Location Pointer Berg St & Huguenot St, Franschhoek, 7690, South Africa
4.8
(2609 reviews)
RRR+
Favourite

Attributes

  • Romantic
  • Gourmet Guide Plated
  • Reviewers' Choice 2022 - Top 20
  • Reviewers' Choice 2023 - Top 50
  • Reviewers' Choice 2024 - Top 50
  • Reviewers' Choice 2025 - Top 100

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Favourite

Epice – derived from the French word Épice meaning spice (and is pronounced eh-peace) - is an intimate fine dining restaurant located at Heritage Square, Franschhoek (opposite Leeu House)

"The restaurant menu will revolve around spices, but that doesn’t necessarily mean spicy hot - think of vanilla and saffron, or cinnamon and nutmeg, too," says Scot Kirton, Chef Proprietor of La Colombe.

Heading up the kitchen, head chef Charné Sampson is no stranger to refined, cutting edge cuisine- until recently she was the sous chef at La Colombe and is another one of Scot’s protégés to spread her wings. A graduate of Silwood, Charné also honed her craft in the kitchen of The Restaurant at Waterkloof and The Test Kitchen.

Gourmet Guide™ Description

Take a magic culinary ride to the iconic space in the old Le Quartier building in Franschhoek for a captivating treat at Epice (French for ‘spice’). The interior’s understated spice hues juxtapose perfectly with the bright sunshine and greenery outside, or you can appreciate the
crackling fire in winter.

Chef Charné Mouton is unapologetic about her passion for spices and the depth they impart to all dishes, whether sweet or savoury. She delights in introducing the full spectrum at your table from the start. The uninitiated may think of curry, but there’s true intellect in how she has married every ingredient with her first-choice spices. This spice queen celebrates each ingredient personally, drawing from her Cape heritage, with both her vindaloo sauce and fabled bread course creating a come-back-for-more scenario.

Choose from a traditional wine pairing, cocktail, or in-house tonic pairing. Whilst marrying beverages with spicy foods can be challenging, the team has worked hard to ensure successful surprises. Expect a little showboating with dry ice and tableside service, which all adds to the fun. Food is tasty and well-executed, and guests rave about the sweet potatoes with cumin, beef dripping, and berbere. In ‘feeding with passion’, La Colombe converts will be overjoyed to devour octopus cooked in passion fruit, cutting it open with scissors. You’ll leave with a spice box, some seeds to plant, and indelible memories.

Opening Hours

  • Monday CLOSED
  • Tuesday 18h30 - 22h00
  • Wednesday 18h30 - 22h00
  • Thursday 18h30 - 22h00
  • Friday 12h00 - 15h00, 18h30 - 22h00
  • Saturday 12h00 - 15h00, 18h30 - 22h00
  • Sunday 12h00 - 15h00, 18h30 - 22h00

Reviews (2609)

4.8 out of 5.0
Based on the past 12 months
Food 4.9
Value 4.7
Service 4.9
Ambience 4.7
  • St John H. Dined: 1 week ago
    3.3
    Food 4.0
    Value 3.0
    Service 3.0
    Ambience 3.0

    Reviewed on: Thu 15 Jan 26
    Having eaten at several restaurants in the group, this was probably the least exciting. While most courses were tasty, the main course was a miss with a piece of lamb about 5cm x 4cm. We complained to the manager who totally agreed with us, but failed to rectify the situation or offer an alternative, simply saying she would tell the head chef next time they were in. The wine tasting servings were also laughably small and we had to speak to the somm to receive a reasonable size portion, instead of a splash. Service was adequate but impersonal.

  • Dr.Celine B. Dined: 3 days ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Thu 15 Jan 26
    Fantastic food and wonderful service

  • Arad R. Dined: 4 days ago
    4.8
    Food 5.0
    Value 4.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Wed 14 Jan 26
    Loved it. The last two courses were not as good as the rest - the main beef and the chocolate and cherry 🍒 dessert. Chris was amazing! Such a personable and with a huge smile service

  • Frank V. Dined: 4 days ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Wed 14 Jan 26
    Marvelous

  • Emmanuel d. Dined: 5 days ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Tue 13 Jan 26
    Really amazing food, full of taste. Very generous and passionate cooking. The service is perfect, and the ambience as well! One of the best restaurant experience in our life, and we have been to several Michelin starred places… Thank you for sharing your passion with us!

  • Stefan H. Dined: 1 week ago
    4
    Food 4.0
    Value 3.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 4.0

    Reviewed on: Tue 13 Jan 26
    Except for the desserts, all courses were great, creative and delicious. However, I have the feeling that overall the value for money is not a balanced.

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