sunday lunch out in the winelands unexpectedly ended up in the beautiful gardens of morgenhof after our not so food-inspired friends proclaimed that a three course meal at overture was a bit too over the top for them. after boldly suggesting that we go to morgenhof, i would be lying if i said i wasn't slightly nervous and afraid that i may have chosen the wrong place for a family get together. but i can now happily report that i was proven wrong!
firstly, what a beautiful setting! i can see why so many people rave about their picnics - blue mountains in the background, surrounded by lush lawns, blooming flowers (even in the onset of winter) and shady trees. i was quite surprised that they were still choosing to let people sit outside, since end of may in cape town is usually quite cold. luckily it was a warm day and we had no problem with the seating arrangement.
our waiter promptly brought us some water for the table, our drinks and some wine, along with a basket of some of the freshest bread i've ever tasted. warm, fluffy bread rolls and chunky health bread topped with sesame seeds. i was in bread heaven!
for starters, we had the butternut soup, chicken livers and the deep fried cheese with beetroot. the butternut soup was delicious and just the right amount, being thick and creamy, but not too rich. the most beautiful dish was definitely the beetroot, which seemed to go down quite well, as did the chicken livers.
not too long after our starters, our mains of salmon, oxtail pie andlambshoulder arrived. the salmon was served with black rice, which could also be substituted for chips. the fish itself was mediocre, being a bit dry without the accompanying sauce and the skin not quite crispy enough, but satisfactory nonetheless. thelambshoulder got the thumbs up, but the standout dish was definitely the oxtail pie. cooked to perfection, crispy pastry and served with a delicious polenta, it was south african cuisine at its best!
we waited quite a while to be asked if we'd like dessert, and by that time it was too late to order as we had to be on our way. a pity, because their fondant, cheesecake and carrot cake cupcakes would've gone down quite well.
overall, a lovely dining experience at a decent price! very relaxed vibe out on the lawns and absolutely perfect for a family outing. especially for the kids, since there's a jumping castle and plenty of space to run around. i would recommend it for a family lunch or a lazy sunday picnic on a nice day. be warned that service is quite slow, so preferably don't come here if you're in a rush. otherwise, i was pleasantly surprised and will definitely be returning some day for a picnic!