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Serendipity

Contemporary Fine Dining Mediterranean South African
Freesia Ave, Wilderness, 6560, South Africa
(219 reviews)
RRR+

Attributes

  • Romantic
  • Outdoor Seating
  • Great Views
  • Sunsets
  • Wheelchair Friendly
  • WiFi
  • Fireplace
  • Gourmet Guide Plated

Serendipity Restaurant is a South African global winner of the World Luxury Restaurant Awards for South African cuisine and fine dining. It is also the top-rated Trip Advisor restaurant in Wilderness. It also featured under the Ten Best Restaurants in the Western Cape Province. It showcases the indigenous bounty from sustainable sources, organic where possible, always fresh, lovingly sourced and prepared by professionally trained and enthusiastic chefs.

Pre-dinner aperitifs are offered on the water- edge patio. Guests enjoy views of the Garden Route sunsets and the water-birds. Chef Lizelle or maître d’ Rudolf talk guests through the menu. Experience fine dining in an unforgettable setting!

Gourmet Guide Description

Guests from around the world return to this gem perched on the Touws River in the Garden Route. For nearly 24 years, patron chef Lizelle Stolze and her hunter extraordinaire husband, Rudolf, have been committed to showcasing exotic and humble South African ingredients.

Part of the charm is the storytelling around each dish and their still palpable enthusiasm. The duo were foraging and sourcing indigenous ingredients long before it became trendy. From the outset, mushrooms were picked in the nearby forests, and specific components like waterblommetjies became heroes on the menu, with Rudolf honing his penchant for hunting and deep-sea fishing as time went by. Expect popular and sometimes unusual venison like bushbuck, wild boar, and springbok to feature, although there’s always a vegetarian option and freshly caught seafood and shellfish. For local diners, the menu taps into a sense of nostalgia: it evokes memories of long-lost flavours and traditional foods.

The ‘With love from the kitchen’ amuse bouche conveys the chef’s food philosophy–a bushbuck salami ‘tartlet’ topped with quince preserve and a cheese foam. The lamb rib starter is reminiscent of a traditional braai – cooked on coals with salt and lemon and served with a smoky pea purée and amasi whey dressing. A highlight is the vegetarian main course option: madumbi (African potato) kluitjies (gnocchi) in a creamed charred leek sauce and topped with an artisanal matured Jersey Parmesan-style cheese.

Reviews (219)

4.7 out of 5.0
Based on the past 12 months
Food 4.7
Value 4.6
Service 4.8
Ambience 4.8
  • Margit F. Dined: 2 weeks ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Wed 23 Oct 24
    In Europe Lizelle would have a Michelin Star already, amazing food, great ideas and experiments with different techniques and textures, great interpretation of traditional dishes and an extraordinary presentation. it is such a warm and lovely place, and the staff is so lovely and has a great knowledge. You always feel the passion and the love the put in the food. You won’t miss the energetic and passionate presentation of the menu during the aperitif!! We highly recommend it!!!

  • Sabrina N. Dined: 2 months ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0
  • JOHST D. Dined: 6 months ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Fri 19 Apr 24
    This is "Fine Dining the South African Way" ... par excellence. No pretentious Fusion Kitchen or replicas of Ikebana food architecture or other wannabe chi-chi. A humorous introduction beforehand when the menu is explained. The highest quality local ingredients, which represent the region and its people in the best possible way, and the highest culinary art in the preparation of whatever the season has to offer. Warm, friendly, unobtrusive service - competent in every respect, especially when it comes to wine, introduced with sound knowledge and not imposed with blasé chatter. We felt very comfortable and well looked after as one can feel comfortable and well looked after, will certainly be back many times and have just one small suggestion for improvement: the glasses for full-bodied white and generally red wines could be a little more voluminous to help the flavours develop a touch more - J & J

  • Michael W. Dined: 8 months ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0
  • Yvo P. Dined: 8 months ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Wed 21 Feb 24
    Excellent venue for a great dinner. Creative tasteful dishes with beatiful pairing of wines. Even a shuttle service to the restaurant is available!

  • Vitaly D. Dined: 9 months ago
    4.5
    Food 4.0
    Value 4.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0
  • Joachim L. Dined: 9 months ago
    4.8
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 4.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Sun 14 Jan 24
    We enjoyed the evening very much!! Very good food, very nice hosts and a good service! Kitchen is really great and cosy atmosphere because it’s not too large! Next time we come definitely back.

  • Martina T. Dined: 9 months ago
    4.3
    Food 4.0
    Value 4.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 4.0
  • Susanne S. Dined: 10 months ago
    3.5
    Food 3.0
    Value 3.0
    Service 4.0
    Ambience 4.0

    Reviewed on: Sun 07 Jan 24
    Too much show. Focus is to sell drinks.

  • Sarah-Jane W. Dined: 10 months ago
    4.5
    Food 5.0
    Value 4.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 4.0

    Reviewed on: Tue 02 Jan 24
    Great restaurant and this was our second visit. The Christmas season eight course menu is way too much for us, but noted that we are not big eaters. Would be lovely if there was a reduced option.

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Opening Hours

  • Monday 17h30 - 22h00
  • Tuesday 17h30 - 22h00
  • Wednesday 17h30 - 22h00
  • Thursday 17h30 - 22h00
  • Friday 17h30 - 22h00
  • Saturday 17h30 - 22h00
  • Sunday CLOSED