A favourite place of us near Cape Town (Noordhoek) is The Foodbarn. It’s a true hidden gem, so I’m not sure if I should share (and spoil this “secret place”) or not. While most eat out awarded restaurants as for example La Colombe, Test Kitchen and Green House are often fully booked week in advance, one can be lucky at this less crowded hotspot: The Foodbarn. As I wrote, the Foodbarn restaurant located in Noordhoek, not far from Long beach (great for walking), and close to the well know Chapman’s Peak Drive. If you like to go for a beautiful drive in the weekend, and want to convince your wife for joining you; book a table at the Foodbarn for lunch and she will join! Success guaranteed, as Franck Dangereux is an excellent chef. At The Foodbarn one can eat inside or outside. I love to sit on their stoep (Afrikaans for terrace/veranda) during spring and summer, and sometimes even on a warm and sunny winter’s day!
At The Foodbarn one can choose à la carte, or go for the 4 or 5 course surprise menu.
This is a raw tuna tartan with wasabi mayo, tomato, avocado and delicious mussel fritters.
Sustainable fish, asian style.
French style onion soup, with a grilled bruschetta with Gruyère cheese! Other starters (all around R90) were 1. creamy fish soup with grilled fish, prawn, clam, mussel, saffron & garlic potato mousseline, 2. duck liver parfait, 3. mussel fritters with flash fried noodles with basil & peanuts, lemongrass and galangal cream, 4. the classic steak tartare and 5. baked mozzarella cups with balsamic, tomato and rucola. (scroll down for images).
I forgot what this was, but I see calamari, vegetables, chili and coriander! Yum!
Walk off the calories and go for a beach walk to ‘Long Beach’, very near to The Foodbarn and Chapman’s Peak.
Oven baked mozzarella ‘cups’ with chili, balsamic, rucola and tomato. Very tasty!
Steak tartare! Always a winner.
Grilled fresh tuna!
Fresh sustainable fish in an Asian broth, with garden peas, tomato and coriander. Other main courses (all around R190) were risotto, Karoo lamb rack or slow braised ox tripe.
Passion fruit (granadilla) sorbet with vanilla, red fruit and munt! Other desserts (all around R80) were citrus and passion fruit with almond sabayon, poached pear in verbena syrup with strawberries and hazelnut ice cream, or the apple thyme and olive oil gateau with olive oil ice cream and milk panna cotta. Chef Dangereux is very (I repeat: VERY) good in his desserts. You can taste he was born in France (Cannes) and has an eye and taste for patisserie. While most chefs hate patisserie, he loves it. Usually I never take a dessert in a South African restaurant (too sweet, too much sugar, sorry sweet South Africans), and prefer cheese… But at The Foodbarn I ALWAYS keep some space for dessert. And so far it never was a disappointment!

An old AGA stove as interior ‘decoration’ piece inside the restaurant.
Food Feast at the Foodbarn.
The restaurant, inside. I prefer the outside stoep but for winter the restaurant inside is fine too (imagine when tables are laid and full of people.

The Facts

The Foodbarn Restaurant is located in the Noordhoek Farm Village, Corner Village Lane and Noordhoek Main Road. It’s open for lunch every day and for dinner on Tuesday to Saturday evening. Average prices are R90 for a starter, R190 for main course and R80 for dessert. 5 course menu with wine pairings costs R695, without wine pairings R545. Click here for the website.

*Note: I have not been asked, invited or paid to write about Foodbarn Noordhoek. It was my own idea. All images are mine, made with an iPhone (forgot my good camera that day).