dash - queen victoria hotel

i went for a 6 course dinner atdashlast night. oh my gosh! what a wonderful place, what wonderful food, what wonderful service!!! i can't believe that they were so empty, but it did mean that we had our own personal chef for the evening. the only "bad"' thing i can say about this place is that the portions are huge for a tasting menu, and it's so good, that it breaks ur heart to return any of the unfinished food. each and every course was delicious, with lots of extra surprises in between. please do yourself a favour and visit this place. arrancini, mushroom soup, sesame tuna, hock, lamb wellington, risotto, and wonderfully decadent chocolate desert. wow!

after finishing our martinis in the bar area, we were taken into the restaurant for dinner. whilst reading the menu, the chef welcomed us with a pork belly and bacon appetiser. we were also served parmesan flavoured bread and ciabatta, with three types of butter, plain, pesto and honey and sundried tomatoes. my favourite butter was the pesto and honey flavour, the texture was light and the combination of flavours was a marriage made in heaven! for starters, i ordered the beetroot cured salmon, horseradish apple slaw and bread crisps. my partner ordered the double baked gorgonzola soufflé, with biltong shavings and hazelnuts. the combination of flavours was amazing and presented beautifully!

read more about mydashexperience on, the authentic girl.

if you’ve ever wondered what heaven would taste like (you know, if you have weird thoughts like me), then you ought to be heading down to thedashrestaurant and bar at the queen victoria hotel at the v&a waterfront. i had the absolute honour of dining there this week, and i almost want to say that i’ll never have to eat again after that delectable culinary adventure, but we all know i’d be lying. but still, with delights such as pre-pre-starters, pre-desserts, and even post-desserts, this is certainly one hidden gem that everyone should go experience.

i had the privilege of dining atdashin celebration of my mom's birthday. i guess it's always difficult to give a restaurant five stars if your expectations are so high - with such a fantastic rating on zomato, they really did have to pull out all the stops to impress us. and they fell nothing short of their outstanding reputation!

before dinner, we decided to sample some cocktails in their bar area. we tasted their signature cocktail in both the pomegranate and eldeflower favors. both were amazing, but personally i preferred the eldeflower one - the pomegranate was a bit too bitter for me. bar snacks consisted of biltong, mixed nuts and some sort of dehydrated bowl of cherries. our drinks arrived promptly and we were able to relax and enjoy the setting sun and soft piano playing in the background before our dining experience begun.

moving from the lounge to the actual restaurant, we were seated at an elegant table in the middle and immediately offered water and given our menus. before our starters, we were given freshly baked bread and an amuse bouche of salmon tartare. the bread was melt-in-your-mouth soft, with a choice between rye or white (or both). the butters for the night were a type of sweet mustard mix and some sort of herbed butter. they really did add that extra bit of flavor to the bread without being overpowering. the salmon tartare was honestly one of the best flavor combinations i've ever tasted - that silky salmon with a slightly spicy sauce... amazing!

starters consisted of prawn tempura, gorgonzola cheese soufflé, asparagus salad and chicken liver. the only criticism i have is that the prawns could've been a bit more crispy, but this may just be a personal preference. my granddad on the other hand thought they were perfect. the stand outs were definitely the soufflé and the asparagus - interesting elements combined to form a taste sensation of note! the soufflé was like nothing i've ever tasted before. not too rich and cheesy, but rather light and airy. slightly crispy and complimented perfectly by biltong shavings, crushed hazelnuts and a raspberry sauce. i felt the biltong pieces on the side were a bit unnecessary as you can't really cut them with a knife, making them a bit awkward to eat at a fancy restaurant. the chicken liver was also delicious and for me the most beautifully presented of all the starters.

next up, the main event, consisting of linefish (salmon on this particular night), beef fillet and venison (springbok). the salmon was made just the way i like it - soft, well cooked meat with a tasty, crispy skin. what i found very interesting was the granadilla sauce it was paired with, which worked surprisingly well with the dish! the addition of green beans added a nice crunch and balanced out the salty flavors of the fish, but i feel the two prawns place on top of the fish was a bit unnecessary. they didn't add too much to the dish. the fillet was devine, but the winner for the night had to be the springbok. let's just say if my mom was raving about it, then you can take her word that it was something spectacular. my only criticism is that the carrots were perhaps a bit undercooked. other than that, portion sizes were generous, each dish tasted lovely and you definitely got your money's worth of food!

how can you end a special birthday dinner without dessert? we had the pleasure of sampling both the chocolate fondant and the banana parfait. the fondant was honestly the best i've ever tasted, truly perfection on a plate. toasty on the outside and as soon as my spoon broke through the spongy layer, rich, warm chocolate started oozing out of the center. you simply can't ask for anything better! the banana parfait was delicious as well and i loved the addition of the crunchy almond brittle and caramel sauce, which really went well with the banana flavors and added the perfect mixture of textures to the dessert. i felt the caramel popcorn was a bit of a pointless element, perhaps a bit too much on an already quite full plate.

along with dessert, our waitress made the evening extra special by bringing the birthday girl her very own birthday cupcake, which i thought was a wonderful surprise and very thoughtful of her. speaking of service, i must give special mention to the way dash's staff treat their customers. personally i feel what really makes a good restaurant is staff that are willing to go the extra mile. anddashdid indeed tick all the boxes. i really felt like we were being treated like royalty!

overall, an amazing experience and i highly recommend a visit to this gem of a restaurant! you simply can't go wrong with anything you order. furthermore, the ambiance is stunning with the piano playing softly in the background, the spacious yet cozy feel of the room and the beautiful interior of the hotel surrounding you. the staff really go out of their way to make your experience memorable and even though it's pricy, it's money well spent! undoubtedly deserving of a five star rating!

dash is good, but not deserving of its current rating in our opinion. i'm always a bit skeptical when there has been a foodies invitation night, it often throws the rating off.

the price and location listed are both incorrect.dashis right at the top of the price range, and not actually in the v&a more overlooking it. using the listed location we got very lost trying to find it and almost gave up.

the decor is interesting, plush chairs with rustic steel tables makes for a good contrast, but it also means your plate is not very stable on the surface. there is a large imposing painting of a black baby in the main dining area, not too my taste at all, but maybe that's just personal opinion. the live grand piano certainly adds some wonderful ambiance.

the beetroot cured salmon was great, the slightly mustardy apple slaw contrasts beautifully with the creamy cured salmon.

there were great textures in both starters.

i always like getting a sorbet to cleanse the pallet, but found the lemon slightly over powering, and the beautiful presentation was let down by the spoons not reaching the bottom of the glasses.

over all the portions were nice and big for a fine dining restaurant.

the springbok loin was delicious, served with a sweet jus and carrot pure. sunday roast flavors with a fine dining angle.

the crayfish was disappointing. tiny tails, over cooked and just not special, not what you expect at that price point.

the coconut panne cotta was completely over powered by the lime sorbet. the coconut lacked any kind of punch alone, so with the very strong sorbet you're left with only lime.

the desert tasting plate compliments of the chef was a lot better.

over all it was a good meal, but when you are spending almost r2000 for 2 people, i expect perfection.

dash is truly a special experience. the small amount of items on the menu are made up for by the attention to detail in each component of every dish. we had the springbok loin and fillet which were both cooked and presented brilliantly.

the outside area could do with some improving, but overalldashis a fantastic choice for a special occasion.

recently my plus 1 and i were invited to dine atdashrestaurant inside the luxurious 5 star queen victoria hotel. one of the gems in newmark hotel group‘s crown, located near the victoria & alfred waterfront in cape town. grand entrance foyer at the queen victoria hotel {read more on my blog}

as you step intodashyou feel like you are in some james bond- spy-thriller esque movie. the lighting is low, and the fireplace was roaring (it was chilly the night we went). the few tables have been set with crisp linen that is adorned with long stemmed wine glasses and sharp metal cutlery. i had gone to meet fellow foodie mark wijsman (alias dine guy) for dinner, we started at the bar, ordering a beer for him and a cosmopolitan for myself.

aside from having the luxury of trying many restaurants in the city of cape town, sometimes i get the opportunity for all my senses to get thoroughly pampered. last night was one of those nights, when i had an indulgent food experience atdashrestaurant at the newmark hotel at the v&a waterfront.

dash is one of the finer dining restaurants in the city, and offers 'delectable cuisine in an opulent setting', as they so themselves. and opulent it is indeed. the chique slick interior with modern flair, fine art, and a centered open fireplace all communicate exuberant luxury.

dash is a little bit tricky to locate (it's behind the portswood hotel and above dock road), but has a nice terrace and view over the harbour. upon arrival, i was greeted by an array of friendly staff. it all felt a bit presidential (which, might i add, is a good thing).

as i sat down with my dining partner, we were treated to some fresh bread with delightful butter. i normally skip the bread description (because, right?) but if you serve it with the option of fresh basil or berry butter that is so good you immediately order more, i feel it deserves a mention.

after an amuse bouche of a spicy meatball, i got a starter of tempura prawns, pickled soft vegetables and sesame emulsion. my friend had the asparagus, olive toast, nut crush and parmesan snow (snow!). she was generous enough to let me try both. aside from the stunning presentation (dash has a food artist in their kitchen), these dishes were delicious.

for our mains, we got served a pan fried loin of venison, parsley mash and carrot puree and a fish special of norwegian salmon, truffle mash and vegetables. the venison was a succulent delight, and i could not stop eating my friend's mash. i mean, if you put truffle in anything i already voluntarily plant my face in your plate, but this was a true treat.

for dessert, we were both presented with a coconut panacotta with lime sorbet and passion fruit coulis (see top image). finding some extra space in our stomachs, this plate was also emptied without too many words spoken. some chocolate truffle bonbons were presented as a final extra, becausedashseems to love to spoil their diners.

what deserves a special mention, is their service. we had a waitress who was so attentive and kind (also providing great suggestions!), it really adds another dimension to a night out. it was one of those experiences where they attend to you exactly before you even think of asking for assistance.

perhaps the only notes i could add is that thedashdoes not hold back on portion size (at all!). their dishes are beautifully presented and consist of great flavour combinations, but we both rolled our way out of the restaurant. our mains were meals by themselves and we had to really find some extra space for our desserts. the ambiance can feel a little stiff due to its chiqueness, but, in all fairness, probably livens up when visited on a busier night.

all in all, i was absolutely spoiled bydashrestaurant, and with exquisite food, gorgeous plates, top-notch service it definitely deserves a recommendation.

so last night i fell in love with a restaurant. we decided to celebrate our 4-year wedding anniversary here, and we could not have made a better choice! as we entered the restaurant we were serenaded with the most beautiful music coming from the grand piano. there was a roaring fire, completely eliminating the chill of the last winter evenings... the decor was warm and inviting, and the staff incredible friendly and helpful.
the food... oh my.
it all started with something as simple as the butter that came with the bread for tge table. have you ever had capers butter?? i need it in my life, every day...
we were served a beetroot amuche bouche which i loved, but my husband found too oily.
for starters i we had the beetroot cured salmon ( the salmon is cured for three days! ) , horseradish and apple slaw and salted bread crisps - it was delicious, beautifully presented and so fresh. i loved the combination of the salmon and apple gel garnish. we also had the seared foie grass with apples and shallot marmalade -dashrestaurant gets their foie grass from a local farmer that does not force feed his ducks, but rather lets them eat as much as they want (overfeeds). the flavours were exquisite and the portion just right.

for mains we opted for the grilled fillet of beef, served on mash potato and spinach puree with a melange of vegetables and jus. the beef was out of this world - three huge pieces of beef fillet, cooked to perfection and just melting away in your mouth. we also had the grilled crayfish tail with saffron orzo and rehydrated pineapple. the crayfish was a little overcooked, but still delicious. i did not care much for the saffron orzo, but loved the vegetables the chef served the meal with. both main dishes were huge - they were so filling that we could hardly finish the meal and there was no space for dessert so i cannot give you feedback on that!
what i love: great value for money, huge portions, delicious (mindblowingly so) food, incredible presentation, the chef present the dish to you in a way that you almost have a trail to follow as to what she wants you to pair, clean and fresh tastes, amazing combination of flavours... i am addicted. my best restaurant experience ever.

not so much: .... that i did not have space for desert 😭

dash is absolutely phenomenal: the food, the service, the venue, the location - it's pretty much impossible to fault anything. probably the only 'downside' is that it felt a little too stiff, too formal at times;dashis certainly not your friday-night-after-work dinner location.

i highly recommend the baby chicken for the main, though, truth be told, i would have been happy with a bowl of just the delectable jus.

for dessert, we tried the banana parfait, and the chocolate fondant. while the fondant was hot, oozy and delicious, i was a bit disappointed with the rest of the plate. the banana parfait dish, however, was top class from start to finish! banana parfait, rich vanilla ice cream, caramel popcorn, bruleed banana, and even banana caviar! truly divine, this was the dish of the night for me!

if you're an average joe like me,dashis definitely more of a special occasion restaurant, but it's definitely worth the quite steep price tag!

this past weekend i had the pleasure of indulging my senses , my taste buds and dining in the opulentdashrestaurant at the queen victoria hotel in the v & a waterfront.

i indulged in starters , mains and dessert and each course was more beautiful and decadent than the previous. we were served by the maitre 'd irene and our waitress was the lovely philiwe both of whom were exceptional.

our meal was peaceful , leisurely and left us with huge smiles and full bellies.

i absolutley adored my meal here and will definitely be back again.

this is one of the best meals i've ever had.dashtakes the concept of fine dining to the next level, and yet i still left so full (no teeny tiny gourmet portions here). everything from the cheesy souffle starter to the venison main was impeccable, and i loved the little "surprise" courses in between - a fantastic amuse bouche and a turkish delight sorbet later on. the restaurant's atmosphere is incredibly elegant, yet still warm and comfortable (amaaaaazing chairs). the piano player is also a lovely addition and something you don't really find in restaurants anymore. i had the chocolate fondant for dessert and it was unbelievable - it literally exploded into a river of gooey chocolatey-ness and the bitter orange touches brought out all the flavour. i cannot wait to go back to dash!

this little gem may be a bit tricky to find, but definitely worth the treasure hunt!dashoozes class and opulence, and the food lives up to the atmosphere. start in the lounge for a delicious cocktail before heading to the dining room. the meals are almost too beautiful to eat. try the melt-in-your-mouth fillet before finishing with the chocolate fondant. a feast for the senses, highly recommended.

dinner atdashrestaurant is an absolute feast for the senses. not only is the food beautiful to look at, but it is packed with flavour, texture and creativity. every single plate of food was incredible. the service was excellent and the wine pairings were fantastic. i honestly cannot fault a thing. location, service, food, vibe, comfort and drinks were bang-on.

we started with pomegranate martinis (yum) in the bar area before sitting down for dinner – which was a feast of note! we ate so much food… no complaints over here because everything was yummo! the chefs lamb bon bon was a perfect start to the evening and a great indication of what was to come. this was followed by a soft and creamy gorgonzola soufflé that was light and moreish. a sweet little apple sorbet cleanser came next and tasted just like apple pie. mains was one of the best fillet steaks i have ever had the pleasure of eating, soft as butter and accompanied by a beautiful selection of veggies and creamy-dreamy mash. dessert was a chocolate fondant with orange ice cream and it was phe-no-me-nal! gooey-chocolatey-orange heaven. 

all washed down with good wine, great company and amazing new friends.

i will definitely be back for more.