The list of sustainable and plant-based restaurants we have access to is growing by the day. Here are four of our favourite SA eco restaurants, each offering something different.
As people are becoming more informed and interested in knowing exactly where their food comes from and how it is grown and manufactured, restaurant kitchens around the world have been making concerted efforts to source ingredients that align with the principles of seasonality, freshness, organic production, local sourcing and sustainable farming practices.
Pay-day splurge: The Table at De Meye
Where: Stellenbosch, Cape Town
Situated on the picturesque De Meye wine farm, this popular slow-food restaurant run by chef couple Brendan Thorncroft and Leigh Williamson garnered an EatOut Woolworths Sustainability Award in 2017 for its efforts in championing seasonal, local produce. The menu changes each week and is based on whatever ingredients are available at the time, so you can expect to sample something different each time you go.
Lunches here are not to be rushed, but savoured over a good few hours, either under the shade of oak trees or inside in the cosy whitewashed farm building. The restaurant is currently closed for its annual winter break but will reopen on 3 August. Tables are booked up fast so make sure to reserve a spot now.
Night out with friends: The Conscious Kitchen
Where: Tamboerskloof, Cape Town
It's all in the name. This fully vegan restaurant is passionate about sustainability and strives to be conscious in all areas of operation, from the ingredients they cook with right down to the takeaway packaging they use. The menu is extensive, offering everything from burgers and bao buns to risotto and curry, so there really is something for everyone.
All the fruit and vegetables they cook with are organic and sourced from small-scale farmers in Khayelitsha, Gugulethu, Nyanga, Mitchells Plain, Philippi and Malmesbury. The Conscious Kitchen is open daily for breakfast and lunch, and open for dinner service every Friday and Saturday from 6 to 11pm.
Best brunch: Lexi's Eatery
Where: Rosebank, Joburg
This fun, vibrant cafe is the brainchild of Lexi Monzeglio, a trained plant-based chef and health fanatic. The entire menu at Lexi's Eatery is vegan, gluten- and refined-sugar free, but don't be under the impression that any of the meals skimp on flavour or look dull – Lexi's waffles in particular are one of the most popular items on the menu and just one look at them on the restaurant's Instagram page will have you drooling.
Other dishes on offer include colourful acai bowls, breakfast scrambles, wraps and burgers, and there are often specials available so be sure to check their stories for the latest deals.
Date night: The LivingRoom
Where: Pinetown, Durban
Endemic, seasonal ingredients are the order of the day at The LivingRoom, an award-winning fine-dining restaurant located at Summerhill Guest Estate in Pinetown. Dishes here are all built around seasonal ingredients and chef Johannes Richter makes uses of special fermentation techniques to ensure produce can be enjoyed all year around.
Diners can choose between a five- or seven-course tasting menu and an optional wine or juice pairing. The venue's intimate ambience makes it ideal for a romantic evening for two and is the perfect spot for celebrating a special occasion such as an anniversary.
4 OF SA'S BEST ECO-FRIENDLY RESTAURANTS
Reviewed by Amaarah
on
July 27, 2023
Rating:
Reviewed by Amaarah
on
July 27, 2023
Rating:
