Weekend lunches at a little gem in Stellenbosch

Rozendal Farm’s pet-friendly restaurant only takes 35 people per lunch

Down a gravel road in the suburb of Rozendal, in Stellenbosch, you’ll find a farm with a quaint restaurant that only serves 35 people at a time. This restaurant runs out of a vinegar-tasting room. Tables are set in the courtyard area on warm summer days, where you can enjoy a three-course meal with a glass (or bottle) of wine, completely undisturbed. This is Good to Gather. 

Good to Gather is situated on Rozendal Farm near Lanzerac in Stellenbosch. Image: Lara van Zyl 

EXPERIENCE RURAL ITALY IN STELLENBOSCH

Good to Gather started as a pop-up restaurant  on Rozendal Farm in 2020. It soon extended its stay and is now open every weekend from Friday to Sunday. As a pop-up, founders Luke and Jess Shepherd use whatever furniture they could find in storage on the farm.

The restaurant is a little haven in this suburban area of Stellenbosch. It caters in all weather. Photo: Lara van Zyl

The setup allows for a cosy winter dinners in what is usually the Vinegar Tasting Room, while in summer, the restaurant is set up in the courtyard under the trees, where there is also a beautiful little pond. Book in advance to secure your spot, as it only serves 35 people at a time. The cost  is R400 per person for a three-course meal. No deposit needs to be paid. Just book on dineplan.

The courtyard area is ideal for warm sunny days. You can enjoy your meal under the trees next to a pond. Image: Good to Gather. 

BE SURPRISED BY THE EVER-CHANGING MENU

You’ll never experience the same menu twice as it changes weekly, depending on seasonality and availability of ingredients. Dishes have included slow-cooked Karoo lamb with mint and crème fraîche salsa as a main, and a garden chamomile ice cream with lemon curd, almonds crumble and torched meringue for dessert. The restaurant offers vegan and vegetarian options. 
The buttermilk panna cotta with berries and sorbet (left) and the garden chamomile ice cream dessert (right). Image: Good to Gather

All ingredients are sourced directly from farms and small producers in South Africa. The fruit and vegetables are sourced from Vredenhof Organic Farm in Somerset West or Her Harvest in Elgin, the jersey cow butter and other dairy products from Dalewood Fromage and the local pasture-raised beef or lamb from the Karoo. 

The Karoo lamb with mint and crème fraîche salsa. The restaurant also caters to different dietary requirements. Image: Lara van Zyl

BRING A BLANKET AND YOUR FURRY FRIENDS

The restaurant is pet friendly and has its own furry friends roaming around the farm. You can see some alpacas, horses, chickens and even a puppy. The farm also has grassy areas for you to sit in the shade and spend time with your fur babies.

The alpacas are part of Rozendal Farm, and guests of Good to Gather can spot them from the parking area. If you’re lucky, they’ll move closer and you can get a snapshot of them. Image: Good to Gather. 

ORDER A PROVISIONS BOX

Subscribe to the Good to Gather mailing list and order a weekly provision box filled with all the pantry essentials, delivered to your door every Thursday. Included are locally sourced organic fruit and vegetables, dairy, eggs and more. The provisions box ranges in price, depending on what people order (it's a build-your-own). The selection of organic produce is R250. 

The provisions boxes were born out of the initial Level 5 lockdown. Co-owner Jessica Shepherd connected with local farmers who were struggling during this time and started the weekly box. Image: Good to Gather.  

OPENING HOURS + CONTACT

Location: Omega Road | Rozendal Farm | Stellenbosch

Opening hours: Friday: 6pm - 10.30pm | Saturday - Sunday: 12:00 - 5pm

Price: R400 per person. No deposit. Book on dineplan. 

Contact details: 071 610 0855 | Instagram

HOW TO GET THERE 

• Drive up Merriman Avenue towards Jonkershoek Road
• Turn left onto Omega Road
• Drive all the way down Omega and continue onto the gravel road
• Turn left by the sign that says “Reception - Vinaigrier - Deliveries”
• Drive straight until you find the parking area next to the alpacas

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By Lara van Zyl

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