Mar 22, 2025 7 min read South Africa

South Africa | Fine Dining at La Petite Colombe in Franschhoek (with video)

"Yellowfish, tuna, dhanya, coconut" dish from La Petite Colombe, Cape Town

My husband loves gifts. Giving them, receiving them. For my birthday, I never make a fuss - I have never had a birthday party in my adult life! - but I love to enjoy this moment to disconnect, travel and enjoy my husband's company on a special day. Since we met, we have spent my birthday in New York in the United States, Riviera Maya in Mexico, Lisbon in Portugal, Mykonos in Greece, the Algarve, Glasgow in Scotland and more recently, in Cape Town in South Africa.

And we did something we had just done a year prior for Bruno's birthday week, we went to La Petite Colombe restaurant at the Leeu Estates. Such a stunning place it was entrenched in our memories and the place I wanted to be at, give my money too and enjoy the superb service, drinks, food and overall vibe.

We are always welcomed in an indoors patio area where we can have a drink and the first amuse bouches of the day, that come in the most wonderful triple basket. Nothing says spring like a picnic basket, we takes me way back to life in Paris, where as soon as the sun would come out, my friends and I would head to a park with wine, cheeses, fruits and laughter.

As October is Spring season in South Africa, we were greeted with the Spring Lunch Experience. When we went in 2023 for Bruno's birthday in July, it was Winter, so it was a gem to taste what would be the same in the menu and what would be seasonal. No matter the changes, we knew it would be delicious and we were not disappointed.

Here are a few pictures from our Winter Experience in July 2023:

*The snowy mountains surround the Lee Estates in Winter*

After the gorgeous amuse bouche at the terrace and the bread experience when we sat, we had "oyster, carne asada, grapefruit", "grass fed beed, dhanya, coconut", "seabass, squid, chorizo, parsnip", "petit poussin, tarragon, celeriac", "langbaken cheese, jerusalem artichocke, local beer, mustard" and for dessert, "guava, blood orange, hibiscus" and the sweets trolley. We had a few of these moments again in the Spring Menu below...

Now onto our 2024 Spring Experience...

Bread

We started with fresh bread with the hexagon couvert, with marmelade, cheese, olive oil, balsamic, foie gras and the most gorgeous flavours. And when in Cape Town, you have to go for the Cap Classique sparkling wine. We always bring a few (many) bottles back home from this gorgeous bubbly nectar. We opted for a bottle of Blanc de Blancs 2018 by Pieter Ferreira.

Cray fish, peri-peri, ponzu

This was the first entrée, it was the freshest bowl of yumminess.

Yellowfin, tuna, dhanya, coconut

A just divine and colourful double take on fish. Similar to the dish we had in the winter, but it used to be with red meat. This is very pleasant too.

*The crayfish and the yellowfin&tuna dishes*

Linefish, viskop, chowder

Same as in the Winter menu, so we were glad to enjoy this experience again. You get the line fish and you cook it at the table, confit style. Then veggies, spices and the most fragrant chowder is added to created a travel-worthy soup. I mean, how does this restaurant no have a Michelin star yet?

Coal Roasted Lamb, Celeriac, Kapokbos (for me)

Does it look good and like it would melt in your mouth? It's because it did.

Wagyu, Sweet Potato, Truffle (for the husband)

Very similar with my lamb, but with fresh truffle on top. Make it fancy and takes it to another level.

Stone fruit, Almond, Crème Fraîche aka Mama's Pride

This dessert was a journey in itself. It comes covered in a can - which can frighten you at first, how can a fine dining experience end with canned goods? - and then you discover the most spectacular dessert, which reminds the chef - Peter Duncan - of his mother, her work and how he wanted to honour her with the freshest dessert ever. Spectacular.

Sweets Trolley

When you feel you are fully satisfied and cannot take it any longer, there comes the sweets trolley with the most incredible array of homemade sweets. I am not the biggest fan of sweets - my husband is! - but we just can't resist. And it very nice that we get to take some home in the most gorgeous of packages.

I hope that no matter the season in South Africa, this review has made you want to make the journey right to the south of the world to have the most gorgeous experience, that honours South African's craftmanship, produce, farming and winelands. A moment to remember that was so stellar we had to go twice. And count on us to head there again in our next trip to Cape Town.