I have just got home from a dear friends birthday lunch … when she turned 40 last year she convinced a group of us to go camping at Mt Splendour in the Drakensberg but luckily for us this year the celebration was a bit closer to home and didn’t involve setting up a tent. It was instead a long, leisurely carvery lunch at The Fig Tree restaurant at Simbithi in Ballito.
Part of the Simbithi Country Club located in the Simbithi Eco Estate, the Fig Tree Restaurant takes its name from the majestic fig tree which is situated in the centre of the club house. The restaurant is gorgeous; recently refurbished it is light, airy and the floor to ceiling glass sliding doors affords diners stunning views of the golf course. There is a large wooden deck beneath the fig tree; the perfect spot of al fresco meals!
Although there is a terrace menu for during the day and something slightly more formal for dinners, on a Sunday only the carvery is available for adults. Not that this was a disappointment; in fact for a birthday lunch I am of the opinion that it’s the perfect meal allowing for lots of eating and lots of chatting!
We arrived at 12 noon and shortly thereafter made our way to the soup and salad bar. The soup was a very tasty mixed vegetable creation that was served with ciabatta. As an alternative to soup were a selection of rocket and salad leaves as well as sliced peppers, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, olives, feta, gherkins, walnuts, peppadews, onions, olive tapenade and the normal selection of balsamic vinegar, olive oil and a creamy salad dressing.
The main course was substantial and I most certainly won’t need any dinner as a result of the hefty portion I had! On offer were both roast pork (with crackling) and roast beef with Yorkshire puddings. As accompaniments there was a selection of rice, roasted potato wedges, steamed vegetables, green beans, cauliflower and broccoli in a cheese sauce as well as a vegetable lasagne for those who don’t eat meat.
I was a bit too slow in getting to the pudding station because when I did the pavlova had been finished so I made do instead with the decadent chocolate mousse, meringues and ice cream. There was also a chocolate pudding but this was deemed as ‘not that great’ so I declined and also passed on the fruit salad.
We had a great afternoon; the service was impeccable, the atmosphere relaxed and for those with children, there was a play area and enough outside space to keep them entertained.
I will definitely be back to The Fig Tree restaurant. I am interested to see what other meals are on the menu and at R120 per head the carvery is well worth it. A great way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
Destination Information:
Contact Details:
Simbithi Country Club – +27 (0)32 946-5407
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