Restaurant gold is struck when great food meets a great view.
Enter Vue Shortmarket Rooftop Restaurant and Bar, with not only panoramic City Bowl and mountain vistas from its Heritage Square rooftop setting, but a stand-out menu of winter warmers and approachable globally inspired dishes as well, created by new chef Darren Allsopp. Ideal for easy-going lunches, casual dinners, sundowners, all around grazing and a new Sunday afternoon lunch with a vibe, it’s aiming to be your new neighbourhood restaurant, which just happens to have a birds-eye view of the Mother City.
When Vue Shortmarket opened last summer, it was an immediate hit, with its urban chic Art Deco-inspired indoor/outdoor space, menu emphasising light wine-friendly dishes like oysters, crudo and tartare, sexy champagne partnership with Piaff — one of France’s newest champagne houses — and of course views for miles. Yet as crop tops have given way to jerseys, it’s become clear it’s also one of the CBD’s coziest restaurants, by day or night. Whether the winter sun is pouring in through floor-to-ceiling glass doors or the room is gently warmed by heaters on a rainy day, it’s an elegant space that feels comfortable even as temperatures drop.
There are three ways to experience oysters, which are always fresh from the West Coast. I tried the classic option topped with lemon and shallot mignonette and a fermented hot sauce that Allsop makes with his neighbour, an avid grower of unusual varieties of chillies.
Light and delicious sums up the traditional Nordic beetroot three-day cured trout with thin slices served with tea-smoked salmon roe, dill crème fraiche, dill oil and crispy shards of trout skin.
If you’re a tad tentative about eating raw meat, the Beef Fillet Sliders are a great choice. With the seasoned meat between small brioche buns, with burnt butter thyme mayonnaise, mature cheddar lightly blowtorched to keep the meat raw, it is the perfect gateway to tartare eating and a nice change for afficionados.
There are some great options for vegetarians too. Top of my recommendation list has to be the light and simple butternut gnocchi with burnt butter, sage and caramelised pinenuts.
Confit Line Fish is an unusual dish.
Juicy and buttery this line fish is served with a side teapot of harissa broth to pour over the dish, with homemade zucchini noodles (not the spiralised ones) and a delicately designed squid ink crisp – almost too pretty to eat.
The meat dishes are pure comfort food, starting with the family-inspired sirloin which is paired with a caramelized onion Espuma and a red wine sauce.
My favourite dish is the beef shin osso buco-style, simmered in white wine and served with gremolata, a traditional parmesan and beef fat biscuit and light parmesan dumplings.
Moreish sides are equally wonderful for snacking, especially the Hasselback Bravas, potatoes that are crunchy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, tossed in a spicy buttery sauce.
If you have room for dessert, try the dark and fudgy chocolate torte; it’s a deliciously decadent treat.
Pumping up the Sunday Vibes in the City and Other Special Events
From Sunday 30 June, Vue Shortmarket will host its first monthly Late Lunch at Vue, a leisurely Sunday lunch with an à la carte menu, great food and music by DJ Dino Moran, from 1:00 pm til early evening. “Sundays can be sleepy in the CBD,” explains co-owner Aidan Mautschke. “The idea is to revive the city on a Sunday afternoon, creating a relaxing setting with good music, lunch and drinks with friends”. A little more up tempo and social than Vue’s regular offering, Late Lunch at Vue will offer the same quality food and drinks, with lots of oysters and bubby. Look for a similar event on First Thursdays: an upmarket and vibey experience with a million-dollar view.
Speaking of events, Vue Shortmarket is also a plum events space for business or personal occasions. The restaurant can accommodate up to 50 people seated with set menu service, and up to 100 people standing with canapés and drinks service.
Vue Shortmarket Rooftop Restaurant & Bar is located at 108 Shortmarket Street, Heritage Square, Cape Town.
Lunch – Wednesday to Saturday and late Sunday lunch
Dinner – Monday to Saturday
Book online via: https://vue-shortmarket.co.za/