Yesterday was the third time that I ate at Stargarden Boutique Café, since it opened in Fish Hoek about six months ago. I had to drop my friend Ali Tanguy in the Deep South, and so it was a perfect opportunity to return to this delightful restaurant, my favourite on that side of Table Mountain. My only regret is that it is so far from where I live in Camps Bay. 

As background to the owners of Stargarden Boutique Café, Aldo du Plessis, former Event Manager of Boschendal, and hence the connection to the Boschendal Farm that supplies free range meat, as well as fresh organic fruit and vegetables; and Carina du Randt, art curator, and now owner of Platform 13 Gallery, just two doors away, is the first review which I wrote about Stargarden soon after it first opened: 

Restaurant Review: Stargarden Boutique Café in Fish Hoek is a star!

Yesterday we were late in leaving Camps Bay, due to prior appointments, so I messaged Aldo, to check at what time the kitchen closes, and he informed me that it is 15h00. We had enough time to get there by that time, the traffic being far lighter on a weekday than I am accustomed to on weekends. 

The menu colour for Lunch was cerise red, rolled up neatly with a purple ribbon, adding a touch of difference.  Aldo poured cold water from a beautiful glass jug, and brought a bread platter to the table, a new addition to Lunch, served at dinner too, he explained. Two slices each of seed loaf and sourdough bread were accompanied by five mini portions of dips, being whipped feta topped with tomato and chili, herb paste, garlic hummus, red pepper paste, and ginger hummus. I was going to resist the bread, but wanted to try the whipped feta and the herb paste, so ate half a slice of seed loaf, all delicious and tasted freshly made. For lunch perhaps too many slices, and the presentation of the dips was overpowered by the bread slices, which could have been cut into half, to make for a better presentation.

I could not help ordering the same dishes as before, the Tomato salad with mozzarella, and Basil Pesto, excluding the spring onion. (R80). My friend ordered a delicious pea and asparagus soup, topped with goat cheese crostinis, and kindly allowed me to taste a spoonful of it (R75). It was so filling that she took some of it home with her. 

Other Lunch options yesterday were Grilled chicken breast and salad (R95), pan-seared steak (R195), an interesting sounding Smoked Camembert to share (R115), a vegetarian platter for two at R180, and fresh fish, which is priced at SQ. Yesterday’s fish offering was Tuna. 

For dessert it was an absolute yes to order the Roasted peaches with cream to which Inverroche Gin had been added, presented in a heart-shaped pastry casing, and topped with a strawberry, again (R75). On the previous Lunch occasion the cream was called Barbados, rum having been added, equally delicious. 

As we were paying at the bar counter, we saw a beautifully made Pink Gin, with Chelsea Lane handcrafted premium Pink Gin.  The gin is inspired by the Swinging Sixties when pink gin was the vogue in Chelsea Lane in London. It is locally made in Cape Town, infused with ‘hand selected Rose hip, citrus and natural berries resulting in a beautifully balanced, easy drinking, & refreshing gin’, the back label informs. 

Scarlett is a new assistant to Aldo, and she hand wrote an invoice for me, as their Yoco credit card machine does not print out a receipt. Ali loved the green interior, and we both left happy after our Lunch, not just for its good taste but the attentive service too. 

Stargarden Boutique Café, 150 Main Road, Fish Hoek. Tel 084 639 4031. Facebook. Instagram: @stargardenfishhoek Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Tuesday – Saturday.

Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.chrisvonulmenstein.com/blog Tel +27 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@Ulmenstein Facebook: Chris von Ulmenstein Instagram: @Chris_Ulmenstein