Tapas at La Mouette.
The restaurant opening of the year is happening this Saturday, May 1st.
La Mouette ( named after the seagulls that surf the skies down along the coast at Sea Point) will open its doors on Regent Road, Sea Point, and it promises to be something special.
The head chef, young, bright eyed and bushy tailed, is Henry Vigar. Michelin trained, he has arrived from the UK, with his South African wife, Mari Vermaak, to fulfill their dream of opening their own restaurant.
Henry is young, very young. Aged thirty, he has crammed a lot into his short career. He has done some serious stints at top end restaurants in London, including La Noisette, The Greenhouse and more recently, Kensington Place in Notting Hill.
He reinvigorated Kensington Place, and it became known for its modern British cuisine and the use of fresh local ingredients from farmers markets and the fish shop next door.
He is now in Cape Town, and chose the former Lord Mayor of Cape Towns grand old house on Regent Road to open his new venture.
The style of cooking will be modern French Mediterranean. Fresh locally sourced ingredients and Henry’s trademark inventive flair will
Roasted fish on a bed of spinach.
characterise the menu.
Dishes that have caught my eye on the menu are starters such as snails in garlic butter and prawns and ginger ravioli. The main courses promises such dishes as roasted kingklip with a provencale ratatouille. Rib of beef for two has me drooling already.
Henry made a name for himself with his playful interpretations of dessert items, and on this menu his mischievous streak emerges with peanut butter parfait and gin and tonic jelly.
I think La Mouette is set to make waves in Cape Town.
I’ll be trying out the menu tomorrow night and I’ll be giving my honest feedback, as usual.
La Mouette, 78 Regent Road, Seapoint. 021 433 0856.
www.lamouette-restaurant.co.za
Posted in 
Attended opening night.
Decor superb, matched by menu, food and the friendly laid back staff.
In the words of Arnie: “I’ll be back”
Hasta la vista Arnie, I was there too……. what a great new place. Mari is a treat, superb front of house, and Henry is a tonic.I am sure we wish them all the best. I loved the food, and the “house” is wonderful.
I was very impressed with the winelist. Enough solid reliable names and yet some very interesting choices. Reasonable mark-ups too. Its the kind of winelist one can really explore with Henry’s three dimensional cuisine.
Attended soft opening last night with about 40 other guests. Venue is superb, fresh sea air a treat. Outstanding, fresh, creative food – canapes are highly rated, as is the duck and the gin ‘n tonic ice cream. Chef very cool under pressure, Marie/Gerrit excellent hosts. Well done and good luck for the road ahead.
mmmm….their web site today shows 4 May as The Grand Opening so I phoned to book a table for dinner, but no, they are not going to be open, because there is a press launch tomorrow evening!
Dear Micheal
Sincere apologies for the misunderstanding in regards to our opening date – as with new openings, there are some things you can control and some you can’t – while that is absolutely no excuse on our part, we would love to welcome you to La Mouette from Thursday the 6th onwards and buy you a drink (or two or three) and some tapas on the house to apologise for the mishap.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Kindest regards
Mari and Team La Mouette
Just seen your kind reply Mari. No worries, I came 3 days later and realy enjoyed the evening – the space, the food, the service and especially your friendly welcome!
All the best!