Ever been to Den Anker? It’s time you went, especially to discover their wonderful annual Winter Specials. This famous Waterfront restaurant serves Belgian food, beer and great wines, spanking fresh fish and seafood specialities plus choice cuts of beef and other meaty treats. (Still my #1 place for steak tartare and frites.) Their puddings are wickedly rich and delicious and the vibe is always great.
This winter’s special is a meal to share between two, aptly called The Perfect Share. Choose your platter from Fish & Chips/Mussel Pot with Frites/Bone-in Matured Sirloin Steak and Chips. Ranging from R185 to R295 per platter, the price includes two glasses of Jordan Chardonnay or two Den Anker’s very own Anker Brew.
Den Anker Perfect Share Winter Special Fish and Chips with two glasses of Jordan Chardonnay at R185
Perfect Share Den Anker Winter Special Mussel Pot and frites with two glasses of Jordan Chardonnay or 2 Anker Brews at R235
Perfect Share Den Anker Winter Special 2018 Bone-in Sirloin Steak and chips with 2 glasses of Anker Brew at R295
Hearty portions and decent prices mean lunch at Den Anker can easily become a weekly institution. And why not? From its position in the harbour it boasts one of the most spectacular views of Table Mountain (Instagram opps galore); the food is always delicious, service smooth and gracious and the atmosphere unbeatable.
POST SCRIPT:
My son and I visited Den Anker last Friday for lunch, to celebrate the end of term.
Here is my account of our experience:
Anyone who has ever been to Den Anker in the V&A Waterfront knows just how wonderful it is.
Everything about it. From the moment you walk in and are greeted by the floor staff like long-lost family, to the sublime food (it’s perfection) to the spectacular view of Table Mountain across the marina…Den Anker has magic.
Add to that the vast selection of Belgian beers, Jordan Estate wines and bubbly, of course!
I took Gila for lunch at Den Anker yesterday, to celebrate end of term, ostensibly, but really more just to have uninterrupted time with my beautiful child.
Den Anker famously do incredible Winter Specials for lunch, and this year’s is Perfect Share.
So that’s what we ordered. Well, Gila polished off the entire 600g sirloin on the bone with those damn perfect skinny Belgian frites you can just never have enough of; Mother Cabano opted for her favourite treat of 6 oysters with a glass of ice cold Villiera brut MCC for a mere R152.
Manager Brandon first surprised me with a delicious raspberry Liefmans Fruitesse, and they made Gila his favourite mocktail, an alcohol-free mojito he calls a Mosquito 😁.
Effortlessly. Nothing is too much trouble. That’s Den Anker for you.
We went overboard and ordered a lot more, like my exquisite lobster bisque and Gila’s goat’s cheese, walnut, endive & pear salad with honey dressing. (The kitchen left the pear out at Gila’s request, since he doesn’t eat raw fruit.)
I ordered a double portion of the Bitterballen to take home for Sabs, because Bitterballen are her favourite thing to eat at the moment.
We were spoiled with a little pre-lunch treat of seared Sesame Tuna Tataki with Wasabi Mayo, courtesy of the kitchen. I damn near licked the plate. Actually, I did wipe the plate clean with the last of the freshly baked @den_anker bread rolls 😋.
Service was impeccable: warm, friendly, super efficient, just amazing. Every person on floor staff wears a discreet little earphone, presumably to stay in touch with the rest of the team and the kitchen.
It was an extraordinary experience with utterly delicious food.
And when it was time to settle the bill, the manager just smiled back and said: ‘We loved having you here, please come back soon.’
Wow.
WOW.
We’re going back next weekend, for sure!
And hey, book that table at Den Anker. Because you’re worth it 😁
Here’s what they say about themselves on their website:
Take an umbrella shaded table on our terrace, at the African Queen bar, or in our streamlined interior, where wall-to-wall windows make the most of the picture – postcard backdrop of Table Mountain.
Described by restaurant critics as ‘one of the Waterfront’s most popular pioneers’ we’re now celebrating our 21st anniversary. Enjoy the friendly ambience . . . our serving staff is attentive and smiling.
Menus revolve round fresh, seasonal dishes like just-caught crayfish or shrimps flown in from Europe. Specialities range from generous pots of mussels and frites to traditional South African fare; gourmet temptations from foiegrasbrulee to velvet-smooth chocolate.
We import beers from small Belgian breweries to ensure a spread of different flavours and styles. six of these are served on tap: De Koninck, Vedett Extra White, LiefmansFruitesse, La Chouffe, Maredsous Blond and of course Anker beer, brewed exclusively for us in Lochristi to a personal recipe from Den Anker’s Belgian founder, Denis Bouckaert.
For visitors wanting to try something local, tasty South African specialities change weekly. To avert a riot by regulars, best-sellers remain constant.
