dash - queen victoria hotel

booked lunch as part of restaurant week. the restaurant is absolutely gorgeous with the most comfortable chairs (which serve you well after stuffing your face with their delicious menu options). stunning views of table mountain from the balcony.

the restaurant week menu allows you to pick a starter, main and dessert from the options presented.

for starters, i had the duck confit noodles. very lovely, but missing either soy sauce or fish sauce. had to add some salt for the missing sodium element.

white truffle you say! well of course i had to opt for the mushroom risotto for mains. very dense, very rich, all kinds of goodness! but the veggie crisps i felt were a bit misplaced.

for dessert i chose the green tea parfait. definitely an interesting mix of flavours. would've loved that apple sorbet in between the courses, it was so refreshing! the green tea parfait component was very creamy.

portion sizes of the courses are really big! i could not finish my dessert.

the food is good. not wow, but definitely above average.

the service is impeccable. monica, the waitress assigned to my table; was super attentive, gavegoodrecommendations and so warm.

special mention to the hostess, sasha, who was an absolute darl!

the food was surprisingly good. i had the vegetable terrine and had been quite worried initially because my choice of a main was one of exclusion. i enjoyed every mouthful and i thought the different textures and flavors worked really well together.

the service was very average. i attribute that to a lack of training. i was also very disappointed when i was brought dirty cutlery, which i pointed out to my server. he was very apologetic and replaced it and was definitely more attentive after that.

the ambiance was probably the highlight of this experience. the decor and lighting added a touch of glamour. it was also evident that they had paid attention to detail. we all appreciate beautiful spaces ☺️

overall, as this was at a hotel, there was ample parking at a reasonable rate. i'm not convinced that it wasgoodvalue for money but i definitely think there is that potential!

mutton or lamb?

with very high reviews, we were expecting a great dinner. the elegant décor of the hotel entrance heightened the sense of stylish fulfillment, as did the vogue cover blonde sitting in the lobby. perhaps the fact that she was eating salad from a tupperware should have been a warning.

in the restaurant the ambience was sophisticated but subdued, the whole place like a stifled sneeze, with people speaking in muted tones rather than diners animated by their food.

the menu was simple. a few courses for starters, main and desert. i don't mind that, even prefer fewer choices. but the choices were uninspiring. mains were the steak, chicken, venison, vegetarian, fish or lamb. alright, so they covered the bases. but the descriptions of the dishes left me unexcited, like they had been culled from my wife's dinner party go-to menu. nothing wrong with the choices your wife gives you. my wife for the record, is an excellent cook! but i expect dinner at a place with this type of price list and a gourmet chef (hopefully) in the kitchen, to be replete with a tingle of anticipation at something recognizable but also novel, like when the sweet new masseuse at the spa says "have you tried the cinnamon hot wax treatment?"

the amuse' bouche arrived. except it wasn't amusing and was best described as a blob of tuna mayonnaise with a finely diced teaspoon of side salad.

we decided to skip starters. everything was recognizable and instantly forgettable.

the mains came in due course. my wife's chicken with butternut confit and corn was tasty but dry. my fillet steak with spinach purée and veg wasgoodbut could have come off my own grill. the accompaniments were competent but unexceptional. the couple we were with were chewing thoughtfully on the fish and chicken but there were no exclamations of delight.

after that coffee rather than desert seemed a better ending.

just as well we enjoyed the wine and the company! and the décor. i left with a vague sense of letdown and decided based on the dinner that the blonde model with the long legs in the lobby was probably a dude.

this elegant restaurant in the queen victoria hotel is a pearl within the ocean of average restaurants.

we visited the restaurant at noon where only a limited selection of starters, main courses and deserts are served.

but the quality and creativity is amazing. we had

- the line fish with sticky soy glazed fish cake, apple chutney and apple-beetroot salad

- a lamb burger, halloumi, hummus and tomato jam

- chicken supreme with broccoli and walnut crush and blue cheese glaze

allgoodand all extraordinary.

to highlight is also the amazing staff - very friendly and efficient. you can't be served better!

i had the privilege of dining at dash in 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 agoodrestaurant is staff that are willing to go the extra mile. and dash did 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 has a wonderful ambience. the dark wooden floors and dim lighting set a soft, relaxed mood quite nicely.
the amouse bouche of lamb and pecan nuts with a honey soya glaze was fantastic and really set the tone for the rest of the meal. i had the starter anchovy caesar salad was tasty but could have done with a little more of the fish. i did like how it worked with the cheese and the dressing though.
my salmon main was sublime. i have not had any meal thatgoodin south africa yet. the fish was perfectly cooked and the presentation of the dish with the vibrant vegetables was masterful. the combination of the granadilla, fish and vegetables went together perfectly. though i did disagree somewhat with the addition of the prawns to the dish. i don't think it needed them.
the service throughout the meal was of great class. never invasive. rather disappointing was that the original choice of fish for the main had run out but the staff were most accommodating about this and a plan was made to substitute with norwegian salmon instead.
overall a heavily enjoyed meal in a beaitiful setting with classy service. only a little more live piano would be nice next time. this was a great addition to the atmosphere. well done, dash!

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. dash is 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 agoodcontrast, 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 agoodmeal, but when you are spending almost r2000 for 2 people, i expect perfection.

dash was the best overall dining experience that i have had in cape town thus far (although thanks to zomato the journey is far from over!). their balance between luxury dining and a relaxed environment is precisely to my liking. service is present but not invasive. the highlight, however, is the food! the menu is small, but there isgoodchoice and everything we had was excellent! i try not to mention specific dishes in reviews, but their gorgonzola soufflé, lamb and (especially!) chocolate fondant must be highlighted. capping the meal off with coffee overlooking table mountain is a must.

a beautiful, classy restaurant. arrive early and have cocktails to start outside on the balcony with a view of table mountain.

there isn't a huge variety of menu options, however you can tell that the kitchen focuses all its attention to the choices that are there.

snacks of nuts and olives were served with our cocktails and we received a complementary started of beef and pistachio crumble.you can select the bread from some freshly baked options and its served with salt and pepper butter, and creamy pesto which was a very nice touch. we had venison loin and beef fillet. both were so tender and cooked to perfection. i was impressed at the veg that came with the meal - unusual, plentiful and cooked with flavours to complement the meat. there's agoodselection of wines to accompany your meal. we were full after that so didn't select a dessert but we received a complementary dessert from the chef anyway.

whilst you eat, there is soft live piano music in the background. our waitress was friendly and all staff worked together as a team. i would only mark down the service at the beginning where he hostess seemed to forget about coming around for our drinks order. and the balcony can be a bit noisy as its above a v&a main road. but other than that a superb restaurant and experience

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 at dash restaurant 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 agoodthing).

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 sogoodyou 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, because dash seems 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 the dash does 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 by dash restaurant, and with exquisite food, gorgeous plates, top-notch service it definitely deserves a recommendation.

i was lucky enough to be taken here for my birthday and wow, what a treat it was! i was absolutely spoilt and impressed at the service we received. all the staff went above and beyond to ensure i had agoodexperience. can't wait to go back in summer!

dinner at dash restaurant 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 withgoodwine, great company and amazing new friends.

i will definitely be back for more.

made a reservation at dash for our anniversary. it was really a perfect evening. thanks guys it always helps when a beautiful setting is complimented by professional staff and verygoodfood. i will definitely recommend this venue, it's well worth the trip.

we ate at dash on numerous occasions and are always blown away by the artistic flair in which the food is presented by one of the most talented british chefs, jamie. the presentation is always immaculate and it tastes asgoodas it looks. it is just sad that during most of the the occasions we were the only people in the restaurant, i suggest the management and pr people of the hotel do something serious and market this incredible 5* restaurant.