East Griqualand Restaurants

Nestled in the Underberg Village Mall, The Grind Café bursts with fresh salads, garden ripened produce and premium meats. High quality signature dishes and ever-changing specials compliment the menu ideal for breakfast, lunch or dinner. If a quick coffee or tea takes your fancy, Grind Café stock Illy Premium Coffees and ice-cold Stella Artois beer. The wine list is one worth taking note of, with the John Platter seal of approval and rating on all wines. Relax in the adjoining bar for a few drinks, or sip a coffee watching children at play in the play area.

Dressed in classic elegance, the dining room calms the senses with neutral colours and contrasting dark wooden furniture with view of the well-stocked wine cellar. Freshly prepared dishes burst with local ingredients and herbs fresh from the garden. The menu boasts fine seafood and interesting starters with a good selection of main dishes and deserts. Dining at Moorcroft Manor is an unforgettable experience in Southern Drakensberg.

Here the aroma of delicious food wets the appetite while rolling farmlands cradle your soul in perfect isolation. The lapping waters of the Umzinkulu River lull the senses dining alfresco, and the warm and cosy surroundings of the thatch restaurant sets the mood with a tranquil setting. Sweeping views add a dramatic backdrop to your dining experience as mouthfuls of delicious Italian cuisine wet the appetite. The menu changes daily, ensuring produce used are seasonal and fresh. Balmy summer days invites alfresco dining on the grass next to the dam, while winter warms with toasty fires and hearty dishes. Discover a peaceful haven set within breathtaking beauty of the Drankensberg at The Old Hatchery in Underberg.

Located just 10.5 km on Sani Pass Road, touched by magnificent views and a laid back atmosphere is The Giant’s Cup Tea Garden and Restaurant. Steeped in history and rural charm, the cosy interior hosts Cypress Wood flooring, a warming Queen Ann Stove and rustic elegance. Magnificent views cradle the senses as diners indulge in hearty breakfasts, lunches and light snacks and homemade cakes. Purchases some delightful crafts from the local crafts shop then sit down for a cup of tea in the magical tea garden.

Garnished with the most plump and voluptuous olives and a complimenting selection of wines, diners can enjoy the culinary delights influenced by Mediterranean touches for an all round sumptuous meal. With delectable daily specials and firm favourites found in the Ala Carte menu this welcoming and warm establishment rewards with gastronomic delight. Enjoy signature dishes such as the ever-popular prawn tails wrapped in phyllo served with dill, sweet chilli and Greek yoghurt dipping sauce. For meat lovers, the dijon, avocado and feta sirloin is a melt-in-the-mouth 300g of succulent deliciousness. For the seafood lovers, try the extensive array of dishes grilled and basted in their very own secret basting. Round off a satisfying meal with delectably sinful desserts such as the kahlua avalanche comprised of vanilla ice cream wrapped in a pancake, smothered in kahlua, nuts and bar one sauce or the death by chocolate, which consists of warm chocolate fudge cake smothered in bar one sauce and served with ice cream or cream. Olive and Oil will delight and intoxicate the palate with taste sensations seduced by Mediterranean flair for a truly pleasurable taste experience.

Nestled in the heart of the Drakensberg, this culinary gem features reduction techniques prepared according to close guarded recipes. The food brims with flavour and colour, complete with passion and dedication evident with every mouthful. Serving breakfast, lunch and a grand dinner affair - a seven-course feast for the senses. Winter warms with roaring log fires, deep wines and hearty flavours, the lingering aroma of freshly baked bread and fresh ingredients from the garden. Expect the highest local and imported ingredients, sumptuous dishes and nostalgic ambiance for a memorable dining experience.

Located along Nottingham Road in the Midlands Meander, Café Bloom welcomes with a shabby country chic feel dressed in old wooden furniture and comfy couches. The veranda overlooking the gardens makes an ideal spot for coffee and delicious homemade cake while the children play. Indulge in seasonal homemade leek, parsnip and parsley soup, designer Camembert salads, savoury muffins and heavenly cheesecake.

Nestled deep in the lush vegetation of the Natal Midlands, Rawdon’s Estate Restaurant stands proud against a picturesque backdrop within the grounds of a charming country hotel and fly fishing estate. The menu embraces country cuisine with warming pub fare and Austrian influences. Serving mouth watering dishes from the a la Carte menu and table d’Hote, diners sink into comfy chairs sipping naturally brewed ales enrobed in warm hospitality and crackling fires.

This simple little coffee shop lures the palate with the delicious aroma of freshly baked delight and hearty country cooking. Set in a beautiful location, Aladdin’s de Light entices shopping and eating in one swoop with offerings of arts and crafts and delicious meals. Browse the local stores before settling down for a relaxing meal at Aladdin’s de Light in Midlands Meander.

The décor remains modern and spacious, with plenty tables laid out for comfort looking out onto the open kitchen and adjoining deli. Relax in the trendy ambiance sampling the pub/bistro cuisine offering delights such as curries with tender meat, pies with hearty fillings and succulent steaks. Try the beer battered fish and chips, noted by some as the best in town complimented by the interesting wine selections. Jardine’s is a lovely setting for relaxing and indulging in the Meander Square.

Nestled in the heart of the Midlands Meander, with roaring winter log fires and an evening country ambiance is a place known for delicious food. Bierfassl Restaurant and Pub dapples in Austrian and German influence with plenty pub grub to fill the belly and traditional dishes to indulge the senses. Light lunches range from spinach and feta pancakes to sauerkraut balls, with plenty beer all way round. Dine in the character-laden dining room or on the shady veranda.

Located in Meander Square, Saporé welcomes a family dining experience with a vibrant atmosphere. The menu blends a fusion of flavours with old world flavours in a chic and relaxed setting perfect for lunch or dinner. Expect high quality food and great service.

A wooden bar and booth seating with long Oregan Pine tables completes the pub ambiance with a lovely courtyard shaded by trees. Local brews from the Nottingham Brewery serve as pub staples alongside heartier portions of lamb shanks, fish and chips and the famous Pickled Pig Pie (beef pie cooked with Pickled Ale). Enjoy a cosy setting and large fireplace during winter, or make the most of summer in the pleasant courtyard. The boar’s Head can be found at the Rawdons Hotel in the heart of the lush Natal Midlands.

The Junction offers delicious country meals and a relaxed setting perfect for breakfast or lunch. Children are well entertained with a playground, jungle gym and jumping castle. Browse the deli bursting with cheeses, pickles, preserves and jars of old fashioned sweets that will send your palate down memory lane. The menu focuses on light meals, pizzas and grills. The Junction is located in Nottingham Road at the Junction Complex.

Dine in tranquil surroundings on healthy contemporary dishes prepared using local fresh produce and ingredients, according to the seasons. Health conscious can relax knowing they are in good hands as all dishes lean towards nourishing the body. Browse the local shops before settling down for a nice cup of coffee or healthy meal at Blueberry Hill.

Located at Fern Hill Hotel, Snooty Fox is a cosy and unpretentious restaurant. The famous window box seats and stained glass give this place much acclaimed reputation. Classic French dishes spill off the extensive menu, presented in contemporary style. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner and seating just under 60 diners, Snooty Fox is a must try, especially the Sunday carvery.

Tucked away at Folly Hill, this tranquil country retreat welcomes idle conversation and lingering lunches. Housed in an old milking parlour Sue Tarr’s hosts relaxed country dining with wonderful gift browsing.

This alfresco gastronomic experience is setting the trend for outdoor culinary indulgence. Here time stands still in simplicity, surrounded by the fresh mountain air. Sit outside under a shady umbrella on comfy chairs, or relax on traditional blankets and cushions with low Japanese tables to host your affair, or spend the day horizontal in a cosy hammock to share. The seven-course picnic is complete with napery, glasses, crockery and ice buckets chilling the wine. Horizon’s Gourmet Picnics is a luxurious alfresco experience and the perfect way to indulge in languid summer weekends.

Start your day with a farm style breakfast on the veranda overlooking the garden, or relax over a light signature salad or gourmet sandwich for lunch. Light café style lunches provide the perfect indulgence before dinner, which captures classic elegance served in the slender dining room. Summer hosts a sunset spectacle best enjoyed on the veranda sipping a cocktail, while winter beacons cosy intimacy and log burning fires over hearty meals and red wines. Skye Bistro captures a bygone era and classic elegance in the heart of the Natal Midlands.

Inflaming the passions of local diners, Corner Post is a friendly local restaurant and bar owned and run by a couple of chefs from London. Front of house is a light, fno-frills bar area leading to an interior that is more serene and formal. Outside there’s a sunny courtyard and a garden especially landscaped for kids at the back. The food is interesting, using the best local ingredients and is reputed to be the best in Howick!