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Belthazar Restaurant & Wine Bar
V&A Waterfront Shop No. 153, Cape Town
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Apparently President Cyril Ramaphosa had dinner at Belthazar Restaurant on the night of his inauguration last year. Proof – in the form of a photograph – circulated on social media, the restaurant’s staff tell me. Although they declined to divulge what exactly the president ordered that night, I think it’s safe to say he tucked into something meaty.
Indeed Belthazar is not for vegans or reluctant carnivores. Inside the restaurant at Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront long chunks of biltong dangle from the ceiling and the display fridges are brimful of fleshy cuts in various shades of crimson. Different steak cuts are presented on a silver tray, with accompanying explanations and recommendations.
We opted for rump – mine with a Madagascar green peppercorn sauce (R170 + R35) and, for my dinner companion, with béarnaise (R306 + R35). My meat was slightly chewy, but my companion pronounced his sublime. Starters of deep-fried camembert (R97) and springbok carpaccio (R137) were adequate – I was mystified to find a side of mayonnaise with the carpaccio – while fresh table bread, served with a tasty wors and tomato-based relish, went down a treat.
Sadly, we reached max-capacity and had no choice but to give the dessert menu a miss. I did sneak a peek though and some rustic delicacies like peppermint crisp tart and malva pudding caught my eye. Belthazar’s other selling point is its wine collection, ensuring our dinner was well lubricated with good wine and our palates pleased.
The eatery claims to have 600 entries on its wine list and serves 250 different wines by the glass – which is great for pairing different tipples with food courses. The sommelier, Louis, was happy to guide us through the maze of wines, arranged per cultivar and region, offering some sterling recommendations. A warning though – check the prices before ordering. His suggestion of a particularly splendid 2015 Simonsig Redhill Pinotage turned out to retail at R250 a glass. We also had 2014 Hartenberg Cabernet Sauvignon (R125 per glass) and 2016 Tokara Shiraz (R80).
Stepping out, we admired lights darting off the harbour as seagulls squawked overhead; the waterside location really is fantastic. Our bill came to R2 000 for two people and, even though it made for a lovely evening out, it was hardly fair value for the bill.
