Butlers brilliant and the waiter’s good, too
Butlers Restaurant 24 Old Main Rd, Hillcrest Phone: 031 765 3850 Hours: Tues to Saturday 12-9.30pm, Sun 12-4.30pm
WE HAVE found a new spot to spoil ourselves for a special occasion. We wanted to see special friends before the holidays and they suggested the venue.
After booking online at 8am on Saturday, within 10 minutes they had confirmation of the booking.
The impression on arrival is of lots of space, from the car park, through the impressive entrance to the circular restaurant and bar, and central outdoor seating area. There is an ambience of comfortable elegance.
Our waiter was a star during the course of the evening. Friendly, efficient, swiftly on hand but not intrusive. We quickly had our drinks delivered while we started catching up: a craft beer, Hansa Pilsener (R29), sparkling water (R15) and a glass of Wolftrap white (R25). And he brought a dish of snacks.
The menu is concise and the ambition is fine dining. Novel offerings include Rooibos smoked duck salad with orange dressing (R65) and apple and dill cured salmon gravlax (R75) from the starters menu.
We chose the Panco crusted crab cakes with sesame and lime (R69) accompanied by fresh vegetable slaw, smoked chili and ginger mayonaise. Everyone raved about them.
When it came to main courses, our friend chose the grilled line fish (R169) served with a prawn and lemongrass risotto, green beans and caper veloute and was full of praise for the dish.
My wife chose one of the chef’s specials, the duo of chicken (R115) of grilled breast and a confit leg served with leek, cabbage kimchi and butternut mashed potato (R115). Another big hit.
The two guys chose from the grill menu. My friend chose the rump (R134), “the cut is produced by removing the rump tail and all bone cartilage and excess fat”. He announced he was going to marry his steak and it was the best he had ever tasted. He also chose a creamy garlic sauce (R25).
I picked the ribeye (R139) rare, “derived by deboning the prime rib and removing the eye muscle”. My sauce was an excellent Madagascan pepper sauce (R25). But I did envy my friend’s enthusiasm for his rump, which now extended to telling the waiter he wanted to marry the chef.
The grilled meats are accompanied by confit tomato, sauteed mushrooms, green beans and a choice of chips (excellent), mashed potato or baked potato.
For dessert we shared a baked chocolate fondant of coffee ice cream, chocolate soil and mixed berry compote (R55) and a baked croissant (R45). Both were winners.
We brought along a good bottle of red and paid R50 corkage.
Filter coffees (R19) and two Klipdrift Premium brandies (R19) helped settle the digestion.
It was a great evening and the restaurant is high up on our list for a return visit.