On a warm Monday evening, my partner and I were welcomed at Peddlars & Co, a popular destination in the heart of Constantia, for tourists and locals alike.
The recent renovations at Peddlars have enabled the establishment to have dining options to suit any individual, with four different types of restaurants housed under the same roof. Volaré Ristorante is the upmarket indoor restaurant, serving contemporary Italian cuisine. The Local is the cosy, vibrant, indoor local pub – think refreshing beer and great pub food. The Oak Terrace can be found on the patio outside and locals flock to this particular spot for after-work drinks, lengthy lunches and celebratory gatherings.
We were seated outside at the Oak Terrace and were warmly welcomed by Admire, our waiter. It was a lovely warm evening, so we enjoyed a drink while the sun set. We browsed through the menu but there were so many delicious options to choose from that we decided to request suggestions from Admire. Starters arrived quickly and we tucked into Grilled Calamari Tubes & Tentacles smothered in Salsa Verde served with Homemade Tartar Sauce as well as West Coast Mussels done Thai style with Coconut Milk, Ginger, Chilli, Coriander & Limes. The Calamari was tender and the dish had a lovely combination of flavours and colours. The Mussels were beautifully prepared and had just the right amount of heat.
By the time we were ready for Mains, the sun had set and there was a slight chill in the air. Luckily, we were seated under elevated heaters which provided warmth and a soft romantic glow over our table.
For Mains, Admire recommended the Apple Smoked Ribs with handcut Chips for my partner and The Local Burger with Bacon Jam, Bacon, a juicy Beef Patty, Lettuce, Copa and handcut Chips for myself. We were very pleased with his suggestions! Both meals were generous in size and we couldn't wait to tuck in. The ribs were tender and the basting, delicious. The burger was a definite winner as the flavours blended together beautifully. Handcut chips were the perfect side for both dishes.
For Dessert, we ordered the Raspberry Cheesecake to share. The manager encouraged us to order the Semifreddo (Almond, Honey, Nut Granola and Cherries) – clearly a Peddlars speciality. Seeing as we are both cheesecake fans, we stuck with our order but vowed to return to The Oak Terrace for the Semifreddo. The cheesecake was light, creamy and just the right size for us to share; a perfect end to a perfect evening.
Admire was very professional and both him and the manager checked on us throughout the evening. We even had a personal tour of the various restaurants after dinner and the manager was able to show us the structural and décor renovations in detail. We were also informed that the fourth restaurant is soon to open and by the sounds of things, it will definitely be worth a visit! Our thanks to Chef Brad Ball and his team for a lovely evening.
Dining-OUT Review Team 30 Mar 2015