dash - queen victoria hotel

excellent ambience (live piano) andgreatservice. the starters, mains and deserts was excellent. i highly recommend this restaurant. the sorbet to cleanse the plate was also fantastic.

located at agreatplace the waterfront,dash is pretty classy,fairly diverse but small menu,what i need to mention at the first is the banana parfait!!!!a beauty on the plate,delicately made and served melts into the mouth,one can feel the flavours distinctively,the foodbwas served fast and tasted equally good!!!the view,the atmosphere was excellent and the air has something magical about it!!!!

food, service & beverage excellent as is the ambience. the piano and bassist rounds off agreatrestaurant. thanks for wonderful evening. highly recommended, will certainly be back!

had agreatbreakfast here-food was good, servicegreatbut views were the best part. lovely hotel - stunning decor and i like that the hotel is small and most of the time quiet and tranquil.

what agreatexperience. made reservations, was a tad late, but the table was still kept for us until we arrived. staff is very friendly, welcoming, the food isgreatand loving atmosphere.

mutton or lamb?

with very high reviews, we were expecting agreatdinner. 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 was good but 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.

excellent,greatatmosphere!greatfood, wine and superb service. highly recommend. menu is fairly small but still diverse. excellent location at waterfront without being in the touristic locations.

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 that good in 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 ofgreatclass. 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 agreataddition 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 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 weregreattextures 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.

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 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, 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 providinggreatsuggestions!), 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 ofgreatflavour 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.

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 - dash restaurant 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:greatvalue 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 😭

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 agreatindication 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,greatcompany and amazing new friends.

i will definitely be back for more.