We secured a booking (just) before it was awarded the Best restaurant of the year at the Inaugural Restaurant ceremony in February. (which I managed to drop into every conversation in the week leading up my trip).
Setting the stage from the moment you are greeted at the front door, the whitewashed fishermans cottage is perched just over the beachfront behind the Wolgat caves, and providing a perfect view of the Paternoster beaches.
The owner and chef, Kobus van der Merwe is charming and soft spoken and almost seems embarrassed by the spotlight that has been thrown on him and his 20 seater restaurant. Everything about the restaurant seems to echo this stillness from the décor, waiters outfits, the venue and the music played throughout lunch. Every detail has been considered, even to the point of requesting that guests place their mobile phones on silent (hurrah!)
Wolfgat’s ethos is centered on principles of sustainability, community, heritage seasonability, ‘strandveld’ foraging and keeping the produce pure and uncomplicated. The 7 course menu based on season and locally foraged ingredients. The courses represent all the seafood produce you would expect see with oysters, angelfish and mussels, pared with foraged sea vegetation, beautifully presented on varying crafted plates and boards.
It seems as if everyone was engaging with the guest as opposed to just traditional front of house staff. Kobus was serving the wines and courses along-side his servers and occasionally folk from the kitchen would peer out to check on things and help with serving.
The wine list is made up of some boutique alternative wines that on its own, requires another visit to Wolfgat. We had the option of a wine pairing, we chose own wine, but next time would definitely go with chef’s choice).
Being a typical Joberger, I went straight in for the post lunch espresso, only to be told by a bemused waiter ‘Ma’am, we only serve ‘moer coffee’(I secretly thinks he waits all day to tell guests that). Served in a classic (but upgrade) fire coffee pot along with the homemade herby vermouth digestif, which was insanely good.
Maybe it was the long weekend or the satiated contentedness a wonderful meal, but sitting overlooking the beach, Wolfgat that makes you feel as if everything is alright in the world, even if only for an afternoon. What a wonderful thing to be able to do everyday.
Winter bookings have just opened up if you want to make a trip to Paternoster