Food24 Eats at Spice Route Restaurant

The name Spice Route is a reference to the Spice Route Winery which was established by Charles Back in 1997. The restaurant’s décor and style depict the spice theme well with small Zanzibarian windows showing off elaborate, curling metal work and cosy enclaves in the walls that neatly hold large candles and artifacts. Situated up against the south-west facing slopes of Paarl mountain, this is a real must for any out-of-towner as the view stretches all the way to Table Mountain making it a postcard sunset spot. Check out the gorgeous gallery of food and décor.

The food

‘It’s not that the food is spicy,’ says restaurant manager Lize Rossouw, ‘but we show what one can do with spices’. A starter of slow-roasted pork belly infused with five spice, is served on a small chocolate lentil salad (R56). The chocolate definitely adds interest to the dish without overpowering in any way.

If you’re looking for something lighter, thebeetroot-cured linefish (R65) will do the trick. It comes beautifully pink from the beetroot, atop a small blini with a side of caviar and crème fraiche. For mains there’s homemade gnocchi with Chakalaka cream cheese (R89) and venison loin with a Szechuan pepper jus (R134).