Cape Town’s foodie scene is exploding like never before. Hardly a day goes by where I don’t come across an article on social media that has me drooling about a new hot spot that has opened. Capetonians and visitors alike are spoilt for choice when it comes to dining in and around the Mother City. Whether you want to indulge in an exceptional fine dining experience for two or a more casual meal out with friends, you will no doubt find it and everything in between!

I was particularly excited to read about the opening of a brand new spot in the picturesque and quaint seaside village of Kalk Bay. All the reviews I had read were waxing lyrical about the restaurant and I was dying to try them out to see what all the fuss was about. We spent December in the city (along with a million or so other visitors) and sadly didn’t make it to Osetra Kalk Bay during the busy holiday season.

So when an invitation to join a group of fellow foodies for dinner found its way into my inbox, I excitedly pencilled it in my diary as a must attend event. The fact that they specialize in sushi and seafood made my decision a very easy one. I had already spent quite some time drooling over the photos on their social media pages (don’t judge!), so I just HAD to taste the deliciousness.

It was a balmy summer’s eve when I arrived at Osetra. The outdoor dining terrace facing the ocean and harbour was already quite full; always a good sign in my opinion. Greeted with a smile and glass of sparkling wine with passion-fruit, I was immediately impressed with the chic, modern, Mediterranean-style decor. The minimalist interior with touches of grey and yellow makes this upmarket, 220-seater designer restaurant THE place to be.

The culinary feast began with Salmon and Tuna Poke Bowls that were packed with simple yet delicious flavours – like little bowls from foodie heaven! Super fresh Sushi with a twist followed and this too set off mini flavour bombs in my mouth. Some of the sushi was a tad spicy, but the flavours were well-balanced and complemented one another. Accompanied with wasabi and fresh ginger (you won’t find any garish neon pink ginger here) made this dish another winner.

Osetra, named after the caviar, will delight wine lovers with their impressive wine list that showcases more than 250 of South Africa’s finest wines; all are available by the glass. This is a fabulous way for diners to sip and savour as many wines as they wish. I opted for a crisp glass of Klein Constantia Rosé. Not into wine? No problem! Choose from a variety of cool cocktails and mocktails, beers and non-alcoholic beverages.

Tantalizing platters just kept on coming and everyone was more than happy with this arrangement 🙂 Salmon Popcorn Balls with wasabi and yuzu mayo were simply scrumptious. I could’ve easily noshed on these all night long! If you can handle the heat, then you will love the Mussels in a Red Curry Sauce that proved to be an unexpected delight for someone who isn’t a fan of spicy food. Homemade Vegetable and Beef Spring Rolls revealed a different side to their extensive menu and were perfectly cooked with a crisp and light melt-in-your-mouth pastry.

Quite possibly my fave was the heavenly Sesame-Crusted Seared Tuna on a bed of pak choi with spicy crisps. Although I adore salmon (I could literally have salmon EVERY DAY!), I would return to Osetra for this tuna dish alone!

Our evening ended on a decadent note with a choice of classic desserts such as Crème Brûlée, Vanilla Ice Cream with Chocolate Sauce and Biscotti. The Chocolate Fondant had a devilishly, oozy centre while the Vegan Waffle with Berry Compote also went down a treat. What’s that you say? Eating dessert? Well. Yes. I. Was. It would be quite rude to refuse such luscious treats wouldn’t it? Also, every now and then my sweet tooth comes out to play and I had a lot of fun tasting my way through the sticky, sweet yumminess! And no, I did not feel at all guilty about my indulgent consumption 😉

It was such a pleasure to sample their mouth-watering menu. If you haven’t figured it out yet, I’m a BIG fan of Osetra and will most certainly be back. I feel they tick all the right boxes and I thoroughly enjoyed my dining experience.  The unique and delicious Asian flavour combinations, all-round creativity, relaxed ambiance, fab location and friendly, attentive service will make you fall in love with this popular hot spot. I did.

DID YOU KNOW?  They offer incredible HALF-PRICE SUSHI AND COCKTAIL SPECIALS from Monday to Saturday (11am-7pm) and Sunday (11am-11pm), perfect for date night or meeting up with your girlfriends. Oh, who am I kidding? It’s perfect for any occasion! If you’re keen to start your day off the right way, you can as they are also open for breakfast (see opening times at the end of the post).

Craving some retail therapy? Be sure to check out their fully licensed Wine Boutique, Deli and Retail Shop for a bespoke shopping experience to stock up on your pantry and wine essentials. The amazing produce used in the restaurant, as well as specialty products made by other suppliers and artisans are all available to purchase on site. It’s also great to know that Osetra uses as much locally sourced produce as possible and they only serve sustainable seafood.

Fear not if you aren’t a fan of seafood. The menu includes a variety of chicken and beef curry dishes, burgers as well as steak, beef ribs and a number of vegetarian options.

Image courtesy of Google.

Are you hungry now? I hope I have tantalized your tastebuds with all of this delish foodie talk and that you’ll make your way to Osetra sooner rather than later. It was definitely worth the drive from Pinelands! If you happen to live much closer, then you really have no excuse not to go.

Have you been to Osetra yet? Let me know what nosh and drinks you indulged in (I’m nosy like that) and what you simply MUST order from their moreish menu. Till the next foodie adventure!

Yours in Food and Wine xoxo

Please note – This is not a sponsored post. I was invited by Letishia Charles of Queen Bee Marketing and Osetra Kalk Bay to attend a menu sampling for review purposes. All views are my own and based on personal experiences. Images are my own unless otherwise indicated.

CONTACT OSETRA KALK BAY

112 Main Road, Kalk Bay, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

THE RESTAURANT

Tel: 021 788 3680
Email: dine@osetra.co.za

THE SHOP

Tel: 021 788 3240
Email: shop@osetra.co.za

OPENING HOURS

Monday – Friday: 09h00 to 23h00
Saturday – Sunday: 07h00 to 23h00

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