Oasis Bistro at The Mount Nelson

Oasis Bistro at Mount Nelson Hotel

Breakfast: 7am - 11am
Lunch: Noon - 3pm
 
+27 (0)21 - 483 1948
Oasis at The Mount Nelson Gardens
www.mountnelson.co.za
restaurantreservations@mountnelson.co.za
TheMountNelson
Mount Nelson Hotel
belmondmountnelsonhotel

Oasis Bistro at Mount Nelson Hotel

Kick back poolside at this Cape Town institution

A warm breeze ruffles a newspaper at a table nearby; the white awning throws dappled sunlight across the long terrace, the light echoing the shimmering pool it overlooks. Oasis Bistro at Mount Nelson Hotel has undergone a complete transformation. The ambience is airy and bright, and the menu has changed from a buffet to à la carte.

Executive chef Rudi Liebenberg and sous chef Dion Vengatass have taken over the culinary reigns. Dion is on site daily and Rudi oversees the whole operation. The bistro will open for the spring/summer season only and its Mediterranean-inspired menu is a perfect match for the warmer months.

Lunch kicks off with the hotel’s freshly baked bread. My dining companion, a bread enthusiast, is suitably impressed and tries the baguette, ciabatta and focaccia. His verdict? The bakery is one of the best Cape Town has to offer. The bread has a gluten structure that’s chewy and textured, and its flavour sings of sour dough.

“The food speaks for itself,” says Dion. “It’s simple and made with high quality ingredients. There may just be four elements on a plate, but it’s the way that it’s cooked that matters.

“Why does your mother’s food always taste so good?” He asks before he answers himself: “Because she cooks it with love, just like we do.”

The starters include beautifully conceptualised dishes such as duck rillettes with grape jam, calamari and baby marrow salad, and a warm tomato and brinjal tart. Dion’s favourite is the ceviche of the day “made with fish straight from the harbour with Cajun spice, lime and avocado, and served with corn chips”.

The main courses are slightly heartier. There’s steak tartare and frites which you can order with whisky or cognac, a Cape Malay chicken curry, West Coast mussels steamed in white wine, and grilled meat dishes such as prime rib, ostrich fillet and roast rack of Karoo lamb. Plus, there’s a selection of salads and I’m told the seared tuna Niçoise is particularly good. The menu does not end there, though, and is diverse with a plate for most palates.

The atmosphere is informal yet elegant and attracts a wide clientele. At the table next to us a pair of dapper gents wearing fedoras are enjoying their oysters (the menu has three kinds to choose from), a young couple is lazily picking at their salad by the pool and a nearby table of jolly professionals happily order another round of G&Ts.

There’s also a special pool menu with colourful, tasty salads, gourmet sandwiches and thin-crust pizza.

Oasis: a fertile spot in a desert where water is found

Situated in the heart of Cape Town, the restaurant is aptly named. Positioned at the water’s edge (read pool) it’s a reprieve from a day in the city. And that’s exactly how the chefs want you to feel, as if you’re taking a trip somewhere special.

Dion and Rudi’s relationship goes back seven years to the Saxon Hotel in Johannesburg where both were working at the time. When Rudi made the move to Cape Town, he brought Dion with. “It blew me away,” says Dion. “We weren’t tight, but I think he saw something in me. That’s what he’s like. Rudi’s a really nurturing mentor and he gives you the tools to be successful and for your abilities to shine.”

Dion describes his style as “passionate, colourful, flavourful and sometimes a little bit crazy”. His love for cooking is evident. “I’m Indian and in our culture food is very much a part of our home life. From the age of four I’d be in my grandmother’s kitchen. I went from a toddler peeling potatoes to making my own curries and atchar as a teenager.”

How does he want his guests to feel? “When you eat one of my dishes I want it to take you back, to a special memory, like the chicken tortellini I created to resemble a Sunday roast. The food has to leave you with a warm feeling.”

We polish off our lunch of mussels and steak tartare, and leave the restaurant feeling sun-warmed and suitably heart-warmed too.

Bill: Starters begin at R85 and mains at R130.

Tip: Take a stroll through the hotel’s beautiful garden, which plays gallery to sculptures from Everard Read Gallery.

---

Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, join our Google+ circle and check out our Pinterest boards for updates.

Cape Town Events Calendar
November 2024
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30

HintHunt AfricaGet over the midweek hump with a ...

Easy spot for team building, midweek date night, & more

Mavericks celebrity skinDance and dinner theatre at Mavericks

High-end, choreographed burlesque cabaret

AroundAboutCars 3 Car rental specials in Cape Town

Free upgrades, free data, 10% off luxury vehicles & more

Palm House Boutique Hotel and Spa August 2024Sublime dining at Palm House Boutique ...

Friday Night Steak Club, Afternoon Tea, 6-course tasting menu & more

The Barracks accommodation city centre Cape Town accommodation special for a ...

20% off, free breakfast, access to rooftop pool

mischu 2024Reasons to have lunch at mischu

Where else in Sea Point can you have lunch for under R100?

Trail's End Bike HotelTeam building, stylish conferencing & ...

Ultimate work-play-and-stay hub, Trail’s End

Milk on the beach wafflesOur team’s top picks at the Waffle ...

Loaded hotdogs, caramel popcorn G&Ts, waffle churros

Pear TreeThe hidden seaside bistro on the ...

Sushi calamari, miso sirloin & rice krispies milkshakes

mischu 2024Weekends are for mischu

You can get breakfast and coffee with the R99 brunch special

Cannibisters 2024Cape Town’s very own cannabis club, ...

Now with over 90 strains of weed and The Serenity Room

Off-road adventure at Scootours BanhoekBest day ever? Monster Mountain ...

Scootours Banhoek has scooters, vine bikes and archery

Escape rooms Cape TownPossibly the best escape room in the ...

HintHunt’s Marble is being called “the king of escape rooms”

Char'd Grill & Wine BarSpirit tastings and unique cuts at ...

Gin atomiser, brandy tastings and chef recommendations

Milk on the Beach 2024Reasons to visit this beach-side family ...

Ramen by the sea, a build-your-own waffle bar & 5 more

Palm House Boutique Hotel and Spa August 2024This boutique 5-star hotel offers ...

The signature Palm Journey includes a 3-course lunch

GiveawaysTravel Tips