Bouchon Bistro: Fresh, yummy & rich food that feels just-a-bit boujie.
Cozy and intimate, with a wine-y feel. This wine bar and bistro is a must if you enjoy a cellar setting with a focus on both the wine and food.
The entrance
Opened in 2015, this urban wine bar and bistro follows seasonal food trends to create delicious dishes to pair with memorable wines.
Slow cooked oxtail gnocchi - baby tomatoes & peas and freshly grated pecorino
The gnocchi was soft and tender not gooey, it tasted like my Oma’s kitchen (flour and butter and boiling water). I could roasted garlic, fiery peppercorns, all contributing to the deep rich concentrated flavors in the soft oxtail. Hot and fresh. Buttery, savory brown bits amplified by the roasted garlic and contrasted with soft peas. + The gnocchi is made fresh in house! My favourite dish of the night.
Marinated Chicken Tostada with salsa asada & sour cream
Really nice chicken - it was cooked but not tough and had a hint of salty lime flavour. Served with fresh and tasty salsa - could be spicier - but yum. The fried tostada wasn’t too heavy either and was contrasted by the tomato and onion in the salsa.
Paella with pulled rabbit and & spicy Chorizo
I was disappointed that they didn’t use paella rice. But the rice wasn’t overcooked so that kind of made up for it I guess. It was vvv spicy. Fine for me but maybe not for others. There was a strong flavor of peppers which contributed to the Spanish theme. The Rabbit was pretty gamy so it’s maybe good that it was overpowered by the spice. The main flavors were chili and pepper and some Gamy meat so overall not that impressive or enjoyable. BUT the chorizo was soo yum and Spanish and was the highlight of the dish.
Pork ribs
The ribs (I try not to eat pork but my friends aren’t easily persuaded) weren’t anything out of this world but they were nicely cooked and enjoyably decadent to eat. The sauce was sweet and tangy. It could maybe have been homemade bbq sauce as one could taste the ketchup and smell the molasses mixed with vinegar. I enjoyed these despite my moral standing.
Venison ravioli - wild mushroom ragu and freshly grated pecorino
The pasta obviously homemade but way too thick and chewy. The flavour of the filling was yumm and the meaty roasted mushroom was very nice. I also loved the creamy sauce which had strong notes and flavours of rosemary which I often find makes a dish taste even richer. The actual pasta dough in this dish was what let it down but it was otherwise very tasty and decadent.
My overall experience here was just really positive. It felt cozy and intimate, with a wine-y feel. Our waiter was great, and the food was fresh and flavoursome and deliberate in each dish's execution. I Recommended if you wanna feel like you’re eating fresh yummy rich food that feels just slightly boujie, and enjoy drinking great wine.
Menu items I shared with my dining companions:
Tostada R79.50 ; Gnocchi R84 ; Paella R85 ; Pork Ribs R79 ; Ravioli R88
95 Hout Street, Cape Town https://www.bouchon.co.za/
