Sara Barlow
1-Feb-2012

We celebrated my birthday at Rust en Vrede for the third year in a row and I must say our meal on 18 January was one of the best we've had in years!



The setting and garden is stunning as always, the ambience inside always comfy and cosy. The staff were just fabulous, best service we've had in a restaurant. And the food - sublime!

We had the 4 course menu. I had tuna and my husband had duck terrine with foie gras, both amazing!

We both had the pork as second course. For mains I had delicious Seabass and my husband the lamb.

And to finish I had the toffee apple cheesecake, delightful, and my husband loved the toasted marshmallow.

All in all, yet another amazing experience at one of our favourite places in the world!

Maurice van Heerden
25-Jan-2012

I’d been looking forward to eating here for 2 years and finally I had the opportunity in December. The restaurant is a true fine dining experience. It’s beautiful! The table settings are elegant, the staff are highly professional and the attention to detail is second to none.

From the moment you sit down you know you are in for a memorable treat. The vast and delightful wine list is served in crystal Redal glasses and the cutlery is polished and mirror like.

My sweetness and light and I went for the 4 course menu, each choosing something different so that in the end, we got to taste 8 courses – sneaky!

First courses – ostrich fillet with Foie Gras and Tuna with beetroot. Both delicious. However ostrich had crushed ginger biscuit (at least tasted like that) which was weird and ruined it.

Second – Scallops and, I don’t remember. Scallop was the dish of the night. Cooked to perfection! Sweet and delightful.

*2 courses down and I’m starving. Portions are seriously small, literally just a mouthful.

Third – Springbok loin and seabass. Both beautifully served and cooked well.

*still hungry!

Fourth – Cheese board and toasted marshmallow. Cheeses were all French and all fab. Marshmallow was sweet and yummy – not amazing.

In between courses we were given an amuse bouche, petit four, free bread (their bread is amazing), inter course sorbet, free bottled water and a free bar of homemade nougat when we left.

I was still hungry....

Without a doubt, Rust en Vrede has one of the best restaurants in the country. The place is stunning and glorious. The food is excellent but only one dish was “Wow”. I think the dishes are 95% of the way there but they are not perfect (of course any opinion is subjective).

There is however one complete certainty, the dishes are too small. I don’t want to leave feeling like the fois gras I just ate but I do want to feel satisfied. Honestly, I raided the hotel snack bar when we got back. Every course is literally a tiny taste which is fine for 1st and even 2nd but I’d like the main to be fulfilling, not just a taste.

I have no doubt that they will once again reach their former glory under David but it may just take a little time.

All and all, a great night and highly recommended, just make sure you are not close to your credit card limit and ensure you have a snack before you go.