Eat. Drink. Look. Buy. Enjoy at Hemelhuijs

The name Hemelhuijs does not adequately convey the charming spirit of this chic eatery in Waterkant Street, Cape Town. By any measure, Hemelhuijs qualifies as a restaurant off the beaten track, although it’s situated on the fan-walk strip.

The interior is something special. A mix of stylish homeware and Zen furniture create a charming enviroment. The back wall is covered with pages from old recipe books and eye-catching artworks. A nice touch. It’s quirky and lends an air of uniqueness and individuality. The service is friendly and the staff really do their utmost to make you feel welcome in this heavenly space.

The menu offers all day breakfasts and tantalizing lunches. Patrons are advise to book in advance, as this 40 seater restaurant rarely has an open seat and judging by their newly launched winter menu, things are not about to change.

The salads dishes, with which you are advised to begin, are cleverly put together for an unique tasting experience. On our visit we opted for the pan-fried porchini with persimmon and feta salad, and the beetroot salad with warm roasted duck, celeriac, walnut praline and aged balsamic vinegar. Both were excellent! Every bite came with a new flavour discovery and both starters complimented the chardonnay in our glasses perfectly. Starter prices range between R40 and R60.

Chef Jacques Erasmus’s Dutch heritage is clearly visible in his dishes, especially when it comes to the mains. The menu sports old Afrikaans favourites such as frikadelle cabbage, tomato butter and crushed potatoes; macaroni gratin with potato, bacon and boerenkaas, accompanied with a homemade apple sauce; lamb kidneys panfried in brandy cream and tomato alongside marmite toast soldiers; and slow roasted milk stout pork neck with Abraham Lyle and Son golden syrup, ginger and cauliflower.

To say that we overindulged in the mains would be an understatement. The portion of the panfried lamb kidneys were big, hearty and rich. The same goes for the slow-roasted pork neck and the ”side” (read full) portion of macaroni. We thoroughly enjoyed ever bite but in the end we had to bail out to avoid exploding. One thing is for sure, guests will not leave this ”House of Joy” hungry. Main dishes are priced between R75 and R120.

Needless to say that we never got around to enjoy dessert but we did order another bottle of the Shiraz that we enjoyed with our mains. Made by an under the radar winemaker in Napier, the Henry Shiraz is so tasty, one can not resist the temptation to overindulge.  It was the perfect ending to a memorable lunch. One that will linger in our minds for many moons to come.