In Franschhoek, the name on everybody's lips is Reuben's:
Q: Where should we eat?
A: Reuben's.
Q: Best restaurant in town?
A: Reuben's.
Q: YOUR favorite restaurant?
A: Reuben's.
A: Reuben's.
Either Reuben's is sleeping with everyone in town or it really is the best.
It's the best restaurant in town. Immediately, from the very first sip of the Hot and Sour Prawn and Tomato Soup, I can see and taste the real deal. The sour sets my mouth on fire, and the hot is a glorious burn. There's a real passion in this soup, from the slurpable al dente udon to the succulent shrimp, and the tomato tang just amplifies the explosion.
For those who are weak, there is a side dish of coconut sorbet, an icy salve to soothe the sting.
The Poke Bowl is lighter starter, a fresh feast of cured Franschhoek salmon trout, sweet like teriyaki with a fresh breath of wasabi. They fry the ball of sesame-coated sushi rice, and it really pops against fish roe and all sorts of pickles.
Full disclosure: we ordered the Josper Roasted Cod for the asparagus, and it turned out to be so much more than just a veggie fix. The tender cod is fresh like I've never seen, and the skin is a delicate crisp. This dish is a showcase of both creativity and skill; the cod could stand alone, but add a velvety champagne basil cream draping over sweet pea puree, soft mussels, and spongy gnocchi, and there is not a single spot on this plate you won't be licking clean.
Surf n' turf with the entrees; the Asian Braised Beef Cheek and Oxtail is the land to the roasted-cod sea. The cheek is marbled with fat, and the tail is so rich it's falls off the bone in gooey ribbons of gristle. The cauliflower creme enriches and lightens the fondant potatoes all at once, a silky bed for a hoisin-sauce sensation.
In Franschoek, you don't look for good food. This proud small town self-identifies as a food hub, and they have the cred to back up their claim. It's not so much about looking for good food; it's about looking for different food after a few days of FrenchFrenchFrench. Reuben's manages to be both. The dishes are exquisitely made, and the Asian fusion adds an element of spontaneity, an unexpected extra to the tried-and-true. Each dish holds a spark of imagination, a hint of ingenuity, and fusion of originality that we didn't find anywhere else. Almost every restaurant is good in Franschhoek, but Reuben's really is better.
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