bellgables

a real hidden gem in a beautiful setting away from the hustle and bustle.

decor and ambience is stunning, way different from the norm with unusual seating. my husband and i were seated at a larger than normal table that’s definitely not for 2 yet tastefully decorated.

we were treated with freshly baked bread and butter. starters, main course and dessert was reallygoodand so was the service.

beautiful and very unique yet novel experience for both food and art lovers. food was prepared exceptionallygood(starters: beef carpaccio & blac mushroom, mains: springbok & prawn and chicken curry, desert: creme brulee) and the waiter was trained in serving etiquette, which was lovely. would go back again anytime.

had lunch here today, after looking forward to trying bellgables for a long time. the decor is opulent and does transport you to a different world. the food was very disappointing though, started with a trio of soups, the potato and leek soup was very good, the butternut was ok, the onion soup was very sour and almost reminded me of an onion marmelade, i left both the onion and the butternut. the duck and cherry pie was massive, way to big for one person and was very sweet with an overwhelming game taste.

after writing the review and mentioning the lack of action regarding complaints, management contacted me directly and apologised. i was also refunded for the meals. verygoodafter customer service, rating adjusted

the creme brûlée is out of this world. astoundinglygood!. great venue for a romantic evening or long leisurely luncheons. service isgoodwith attentive and friendly staff.

dined at bellgables for the third time last night. previous time the experience was prettygoodbut latlst night it was poor to say the least. firstly the wine we ordered was warm. our waitresa then put it "on ice" only to discover it was just in water when it was still warm 30mins later. my springbok loin was served on some kind of white sauce that was so sweet is could have been custard. and the veggies were cold. my wife ordered salmon and specifically asked it be served pink in the middle. it arrived over done and with some type of lumpy gravy with mushrooms. horrible combination. with the prices they charge it is close to extortion. needless to say we will not return.

upon entering the bellgables property, it was breath taking. it felt like a wine farm by the looks of things. the inside of the restaurant was in my opinion a little over the top. but i have never been one for many trinkets and decorations. i went there with my fiance , parents and soon to be parents in law. the service was verygoodand if you want to feel like royalty it is a must. rarely find restaurants south africa mainly up towards joburg that has service like this. water globlets with the opion of freshley cut lemons. a+ for service. the was delicous but again the garnishes a bit over the top for me. the springbok loin, perfectley cooked. the sauce a tad bit sweet. the black mushroom starter amazing. my fiance had the creme brule which was slighty disapointing. it was refridgerated a bit long, could see it from the water condensation under the custard in the ramekin. really thought that they would use your real vanilla beans in the brulé. but defnitly a place to visit.

the venue itself is breathtaking..fountains in the entrance and pre dinner drinks on the patio outside the gallery with its weatherbeaten walls, aging columns, cherubs and elephants..vintage opulence comes to mind. with a glass of champagne to start the festivities we then moved into the restuarant. the tables are large and the chairs oversized and comfy..and a fair amount of time was spent looking at all of the table decorations. glad i don't have to dust them...
our starters were the highlight of the meal for me..brinjal stack and salmon carpaccio.
for mains we had the lamb shank and the fillet. i found the lamb shank to be too peppery but swapped meals and enjoyed the fillet instead. only criticism was that the little bowl of veggies tasted like mccains with packet cheese sauce.
dessert was a selection of chocolate mousse, sorbet, creme brule and carrot cake- too many different tastes on one plate..

the evening was a great success,goodfood, sublime sav blanc and amazing company..

will i recommend this place? definitely. but for me i would liken the experience to eating a lindt chocolate. you can't eat it every day, it should be kept for special ocassions.

this gem is out in muldersdrift. the manor type building is beautiful, it's such a pity they don't offer accommodation. it would be wonderful to go for dinner and then just stay over. the restaurant is large, but so full of ornaments and furniture it can't accommodate too many people. it feels like you're having dinner in an antique shop, which is a novel experience. the service wasgoodand the food delicious. definitely worth the drive and even a second visit.

the best thing about this place is the very different baroque décor which is superb. even the table settings are very creative, different and special. a fabulous place for a special lunch, however, booking is essential, as they appear not to always be open eg some saturday lunch times in winter. the venue is quite far out of town, hence the lunch recommendation, the food isgoodbut pricey. we had the soup starter, delicious with homemade bread, and then fillet, beautifully cooked with a red wine sauce

very pretentious. i felt like i was eating in a museum, the tables are overloaded with decor. the food wasgoodbut the menu was quite plain and underwhelming. twice as many starters to select as opposed to a handful of main meals.

on a second visit i was served partially frozen carpaccio on a cold winters night. very unpleasant.

belgables is really a unique experience! so unique that it can really take you back when you first walk into the doors. one of my friends arrived before we did and sent me the following message "what is this place? it's like something out of a horror movie". to be honest the place isn't scary but i'm sure they could film a scary movie here. the place is filled with so many decorative items - not only on the walls and around the room but all over your table.

when you first arrive (after the long drive and subsequent dirt road) there was already a lady waiting for us in the parking lot and escorted us through a path in the garden filled with lit candles - beautiful! but i somehow felt like lurch from adams family was escorting us in to their house, hehe.

we were first seated at a waiting area where we were served drinks until the full party had arrived. we were then taken to our table. our massive table. it felt like we were in one of those grand dining tables you seen in castle. this table could probably seat 20 people - there were 7 of us and we filled the table. the chairs are over the top and the table is filled with paraphernalia. you will spend a while just admiring everything before even looking at the menu.

the menu has agoodvariety - more starters to choose from than mains though. service was adequate and nothing really stood out. had the black mushroom for starters which was mouth watering and i found myself wanting to lick the plate. my wife had the potato and leek soup which was delicious.

when i saw the duck and black cherry pie on the menu i stopped looking at the menu. both my wife and i had this. i enjoyed it a lot, but just felt that the portion was just too big - it was basically a pie the size for 4 people. my wife did however felt it was a little too sweet for her liking.

dessert. i opted for the strawberry freeze which was almost like a strawberry tiramisu. this was ok. the menu said it contained frozen strawberries, which it genuinely did have. full pieces of frozen strawberry which made the dish somewhat unpleasant. my wife had the dessert trio which she raved on about.

all in all, don't know if do again for the food itself but the experience is well worth it. go with a group of friends and just enjoy watching them soak in the atmosphere and watch the pool of changing colours.