Christmas Day at Wilde Vy Bistro is shaping up to be the kind of feast that makes diners grateful they booked a table rather than attempted a home-cooked marathon.
Since opening in January 2025, the restaurant has already become a favourite in Durbanville, thanks to its bold flavours, warm hospitality, and a space that balances the heritage of Hooggelegen Farm with clean contemporary design.
The team behind Wilde Vy—Chef Jürgen Snyman and Ghanaian entrepreneurs Kwasi Osei-Kusi and Charles Bucknor—share a background rooted in people-focused hospitality. Their approach has shaped not only the training and culture of the restaurant but also the generous, flavour-forward menus that quickly earned them a loyal following. And on Christmas Day, they’re going all in.
- Lunch begins on a cosy note with mini ciabatta and herb butter, along with spiced pumpkin churros that feel like the culinary equivalent of a wink across the table. It’s festive without being fussy, and it sets the tone for a meal that celebrates comfort as much as craft.
- Then come the canapés, and this is where the kitchen starts showing off. A prawn cocktail taco offers a crisp, bright bite. Tapioca crisp dates topped with duck liver parfait lean sweet and silky. Three cheese arancini arrive with a sundried spice aioli that’s rich enough to make guests forget they’re only at the beginning.
- Starters keep the festive momentum going. Guests can choose smoked brisket with beef tongue, beer mustard, and chermoula—a dish that practically hums with depth—or take a lighter route with octopus carpaccio brushed with vindaloo aioli and citrus. For those who love something adventurous, the ostrich tartare with fermented beetroot ketchup, confit egg yolk, and slangkettjies delivers a mix of texture and colour that feels perfect for a holiday plate.
- The mains are built around heartiness, though each one carries the subtle flair that Snyman is known for. Roasted pork collar sits on pumpkin purée with grilled artichoke and a glossy charcuterie jus. The Norwegian salmon comes tucked into a shellfish cassoulet with citrus velouté, offering a bright contrast to the richness around it. And then there’s the duo of lamb with peas, edamame, onion soubise, and blackberries—a dish that feels both classic and quietly celebratory.
- Dessert keeps things playful. The Black Forest pavlova is a showstopper, crisp on the outside, cloud-soft inside, and loaded with festive flavours. The smoked yogurt crémeaux with passionfruit sorbet and burnt marshmallow offers something lighter, though no less indulgent. Afterward, a small selection of friandise arrives with coffee, the restaurant’s gentle way of saying the celebration doesn’t have to end just yet.
For a restaurant still in its first year, Wilde Vy Bistro’s Christmas Day Lunch reads as a confident, joyful expression of what it does best: flavour, warmth, and the kind of attention to detail that turns a holiday meal into a memory. Anyone lucky enough to spend their Christmas here can expect a feast that’s equal parts festive and thoughtful—no washing up required.
Wilde Vy Bistro, Durbanville
064 643 9766
info@wildevybistro.com
