I’m a bit of a perfectionist. And with age, I’ve also become a tad OCD (surprise mom!) So although I’m not fussy in the slightest and very rarely send food back, I notice problems. They glare at me from the distance like little flashing lights that I can’t switch off, shouting my name and calling me ugly.
It’s not often that I eat out and something doesn’t irk me.
Until Harbour House at the V&A Waterfront.
At the back of the Waterfront, overlooking the harbour is the Harbour House (HH). Up to 200 people can be seated on the 2 floors, the bottom of which is available for private functions. The menu, although delicious, isn’t enormous – a nice change from high-end restaurants, which try impress you with quantity and end up skimping on quality.
First up we had Fresh Oysters with a vinegar and shallot dressing, Tabasco and lemon. If you know anything about me, you would know that oysters are my favourite things in the world. And these didn’t disappoint.
We then shared:
A gorgeous Salmon Tartar with creamy basil mayo and chopped tomato. The oily salmon was roughly, but flawlessly chopped along with red onion and herbs. The mayo added creaminess and the tomato lightened the dish in its entirety.
Next was a Steak Tartar served with caper puree, fresh green salad, balsamic reduction, topped with a raw in-shell, quail egg and served with large croutons. The combination was absolutely brilliant and the tiny little quail egg add a quirky edge. The sweetness of the balsamic balanced beautifully with the rich steak, the fresh salad and sharp caper puree – an amazing combination.
The Tian of Prawns was made up of 3 succulent prawns, lightly seasoned and battered along with a tri-layered stack. My friend ate a prawn and suddenly had a confused look. When I asked what was wrong the reply was, “Oh nothing, just that this is the best prawn that I have ever eaten, and I eat prawns a lot”. Along with these magical prawns, the stack had brinjil/aubergine rounds as a base, then avo and topped with chopped tomato. It was stunning.
For our mains, we shared:
8 Mozambiquian-style Tiger Prawns drenched in a DELICIOUS garlic, peri-peri and lemon sauce. They were huge, perfectly prepared and cooked. Alongside these we had skinny chips, a tomato and red onion salad and savoury rice, packed with carrots, baby marrow, mushrooms and capers.
The Fillet of Beef was served perfectly rare, just as I wanted. It came with a golden potato fondant, green beans, pearl onions, mushroom and onion ragout (slow cooked, often refers to a stew) and a light truffle cream sauce. The meat was sensational and the rest of the flavours complimented one another, without being overbearing.
And third, the Line Fish of the Day, which was Angel Fish served on a bed of creamy mash, green beans and topped with a perfectly cooked poached egg. The fish was slightly underdone on purpose as Angel Fish is a very firm fish, and if overcooked becomes dry. It was a beautifully seasoned, filling but light main, perfect for Cape Town summer.
For dessert:
We had the Dark Chocolate Terrine served with a fudge sauce. Dark chocolate mousse was layered with meringue and a soft almond biscuit to create a slice of heaven. The fudge sauce was completely unnecessary – but absolutely divine.
And last but not least, Yogurt Panacotta, which was infused with Amaretto. It was light and creamy, without being too sweet, and went perfectly with the berry soup in which it was served.
I had an amazing night at HH. The restaurant design is stunning, the staff are exceptional and he food is perfect. It isn’t “cheap” but you are paying for top-end food and a great experience. Luckily for you they also have a special running ‘til end September that gets you 2 course for R150 or 3 for R170 – I suggest you do it. Really. Do it.
PS: What wasn’t perfect was me. I arrived, happy as usual and tried to take a photo – but my camera chose to break. So these pics are directly from Harbour House. Funny thing is, the food looked even better on the night.
@HarbourHouseVnA