Christmas food guide

No room at the inn - where to eat out on Christmas day if you just can’t face the idea of cooking…

If you like the idea of eating, drinking and being merry but you just can’t face the idea of cooking there still some restaurant based festive food options open to you and yours.

Be warned, you have left it very late and there are seriously slim pickings out there.

Those places I did find were all almost full when I phoned this morning so you will need to act fast…

This is not necessarily the best of the best but the best of what is still available.

Given the serious no room at the inn state of affairs I think we need help from listeners as to which treasures can still seat a family.

If you are in the Cape posh nosh is out …

Basically you are a bit stuffed if you have no booking and your heart is set on classy Cape Town kos. I phoned around all the big name posh nosh venues in Cape Town and the surrounding towns and they are all fully booked for Christmas day – Aubergine, La Colombe, Food Barn, etc nothing doing…

THE ONLY POSH NOSH OPTION THAT HAS ANY SPACE (and even that was only for 24th not 25th ) - Ici Bistro at Le Quartier Francais (16 Huguenot Road, Franschhoek. Tel 021 876 2151).

Despite the super posh location they are super lovely with kids and well worth a visit.
I recently had a lovely meal with my two year old at Ici – he had proper chips with smoked sea salt and I had a perfect wild mushroom risotto.
The staff were sweet to him and a good time was had by all.

With posh not an option its time to explore the delicious under belly of Cape Town and its surrounding areas.

THE CHEEP AS CHIPS BUT MUCH NICER OPTION – Biesmillah (2 Upper Wale Street, Bo-Kaap. Tel 021 423 0850).

This Cape Malay classic is open and has space on both 24 and 25th.
The food is fabulous and it is absurdly cheep.
The denningvleis stew with smoky rooti breads toasted over an open flame are beyond heavenly. The curries are aromatic not hot so they are kid accessible.
The table cloths are plastic so spilling etc isn’t a problem.
The waitresses are lovely and motherly.

THE RETRO FABULOUS OPTION - The Wembley Roadhouse; 23 Belgravia Road (cnr. Denchworth); Belgravia, Athlone, Cape Town. Tel: 021 697 1435

This 1950s style halaal roadhouse serves up classic Cape fast food at its finest.
Superb Masala steak sandwiches, fiery vegetable curries, cracklingly crisp samoosas and coconut covered koesisters from heaven.

If you are in Gauteng there is slightly more room at the inn…

LITTLE BOY HEAVEN – Villa San Giovanni, Wonderboom National Airport (main terminal building), Linvelt Street, Wonderboom. Tel 012 543 0501.

Villa San Giovanni at the Wonderboom airport, Pretoria is little boy heaven and open on both 24th and 25th and still has space!!!
Pizza, pasta and planes all at once.
The terrace tables are right next to the run way – so you can see small planes and helicopters take off and land.
There is also a bouncy castle and a superb climbing frame with slides so scary they will terrify parents and delight kids. There are pilots at the bar for big girls and small boys.
The bizarre thing is that the inside section of this restaurant is surprisingly fine dining.
On Christmas day they have a set menu which you can see on www.vsg.co.za R270 adults R130 for kids and an antipasti style buffet on the terrace R230 adult and R130 kids.

ADVENTUROUS CHEEP AS CHIPS BUT NICER OPTION - Abysinia restaurant cnr Queens and Langerman, Kensington – open 24th and 25th 011 615 3128/ 072 918 8824

Ethiopian cuisine is one of the world’s great ancient food genres.
Chef Amsale Debela runs easily the best Ethiopian restaurant in South Africa.
Her flavours are subtle, aromatic and accessible but always absolutely authentic.
There is Tej honey wine (which is sometimes sparkling – depending how late in the fermentation process it is).
Great with kids - my little boy loves the food and the Ethiopians love that he loves it so he gets lots of kisses and cuddles. Often Ethiopian kids to play with.
In addition to the fabulousness of the story there is the feel good factor of the chef’s story – she is a former refugee who walked all the way to South Africa.

THE GAUTENG GOURMET BLING OPTION – The Monarch Hotel in Rosebank 011 341 2000.

They are in the neo-classical old post office building in Rosebank.
In the wake of the burning of the Jeppe Street post office we need to be super grateful to this young team who rescued, restored and renovated this beautiful building.
The Monarch is open for the coolest Christmas kos on both 24, 25th.
Their Christmas menu includes langoustine, caviar and gold leaf and pinenut crusted salmon.
It is R500 per person but if you don’t mind paying that for your whipper snappers they don’t mind seating them.
Remember R500 sounds like a lot but you get to sit in what is effectively a South African modern art gallery - Corné Joubert sculptures on the way to the lavatory, David Koloane oil painting hanging in the dining room etc, etc.
And you get Isadora the fabulous Croatian front of house manager who is easily the best maitre d’ in South Africa