Jordan Restaurant

Food:

Anybody who needs convincing that sometimes less is more should visit Jordan. There are no tricks, just incredible food put together with enough flair to make it stand out from the ever-growing winelands crowd. Indeed, the simplicity of the menu means there is nowhere to hide and the fact that chef George Jardine nails every dish so perfectly is a tribute to his ability. The menu changes daily, but options that (luckily) re-surface are mussels steamed with lemongrass, coconut milk, ginger and garlic, and beautiful aged sirloin, topped with a bone marrow and bordelaise sauce. The chocolate soufflé will stop you in your tracks – it’s as light as candyfloss.

Wine:

Like the food, the wine list changes constantly. The Jordan Estate’s wines feature heavily, with a handful of other local wines on offer. It’s not a big list, but it’s nicely put-together.

Service:

Everything you need it to be. Warm, genuine and knowledgeable.

Ambience:

The terrace, with views over a lush lawn and a beautiful lake, is where you want to be in summer. With this standard of food you’d be forgiven for thinking it might be a bit stiff, but that’s not the case at all. Instead it’s quite common to see kids playing with the resident border collie, while parents happily knock back an extra glass under the shade of a nearby tree.

And...:

Take a trip to their cheese room for your dessert. You are walked through a selection of artisanal suppliers to pick out your favourites. Paired with something like quince jam, or the ginger and apple chutney made on-site, it’s a cracking way to end a meal. (AF, October 2011)

Check out chef George Jardine's recipe for white bean and truffle veloute on our sister site, Eat In.

Tim
14-Feb-2012

Had a bad service experienced with my wife this afternoon - waiters are not enough at lunch time. Requested salt and pepper - had to wait five minutes, no one asked "how is the food?" Ordered a wrong dessert, we requested to change another one, our waitress refused and she said the restaurant will either charge her or the customer for the wrong order, if I like the other one, I can order another one again. She had a very bad attitude.

I complainted to the manager after I paid my bill, the manager said this is not their restaurant's policy, if the customer's not happy with the food, they will change it.

The front line waitrons must have more customer service training, otherwise no customer will come again.

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Geraldine Redfern
14-Feb-2012

A six course set menu which was delightful. The portions were perfectly judged, the service was outstanding and the setting outstanding. Excellent food is alive and well in South Africa!

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Marianne Engvall
12-Feb-2012

We now have a new favourite restaurant in the winelands for long lazy Sunday lunches. It is Jordan Restaurant! The whole family, including friends to the children went for the first time this Sunday for a late lunch. We expected fine, but unpretentious, good tasting food, made from the best seasonal produce. And good wines to go with. In a beautiful and relaxed environment. And that is exactly what we had. Plus fantastic service with a smile and one of the best wine knowledge we have had so far. The children were offered steak (done the way we wanted) or fried fish. Served with yummie handcut fries and fresh veggies. Totally good! The rest of us smiled us through mussels in coconut creme Thai style, buffalo mozzarella with grilled figs, loads of fresh bread (couldn't stop eating), awesome osso bucco with polenta, monkfish with porcini veloute made for the gods, porkbelly so tender you could eat it with a spoon. And some extra handcut chips! We had to take an outing to the famous cheese room and came back with four delicious local cheeses and some vintage port. And some ordered the souffle with poppy seeds and vanilla ice cream. All I can say - we'll be back, soon.

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Dave Bakker
9-Feb-2012

Had another amazing food and wine experience last night at Jordan with some good friends. Thanks and well done to George, Louise and staff.

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