Henry Vigar, who began his career in London, built a reputation as a promising young chef in restaurants in France and Australia before returning to England and excelling as a leading chef in several Michelin-starred restaurants on the British Isles. At one of these, Kensington Place in Notting Hill, he met his colleague Mari Vermaak. The two married, and in 2010 they decided to fulfill a dream: “to live in a place where the sun always shines.” During a trip to Cape Town, they came across an old, impressive building that had previously served as the mayor’s residence, and they decided this was the place to open their own gourmet restaurant.
Their friend, culinary expert Gerrit Bruwer, was enlisted for the task, and in May, the restaurant was opened, offering a glimpse into gourmet cuisine and style in the heart of the African continent. The menu changes with the seasons and is based on classic cuisine with fusion touches from around the world, with a great respect for fresh local produce. Sample dishes include: potato carpaccio with goat cheese mousse and truffles, mustard seeds, and capers in a hazelnut sauce; fresh cod from the bay in Malaysian fish curry with tempura courgette flower and tamarind glaze; ostrich fillet with pickled beets, herb mash, and yolk cream; raspberry chocolate parfait with compressed strawberries.
La Mouette does not have Michelin stars, for the simple reason that the Michelin Guide does not rate restaurants in Africa or Australia. Despite this, the high standard of the restaurant has been recognized by other notable sources. It was awarded the title of Best Restaurant in Cape Town by TripExpert and is also highly ranked among Africa’s fine dining establishments on TripAdvisor.
Bottom line: European elegance with global fusion flavors in the heart of the African continent.
Price: Three-course meal + wine – 775 Rand (approximately $52). A 12% service charge will be added directly to the bill.
