Choose a location

Or use your current location

Select

ARKESTE

Reviewers' Choice 2024 - Top 50 Reviewers' Choice 2023 - Top 50
Bistro Fine Dining French South African
42 Uitkyk St, Franschhoek, 7690, South Africa
(1832 reviews)
RRR

Attributes

  • Romantic
  • Outdoor Seating
  • Wine Estate
  • Gourmet Guide Plated
  • Reviewers' Choice 2022 - Top 100
  • Reviewers' Choice 2023 - Top 50
  • Reviewers' Choice 2024 - Top 50

At ARKESTE we present seasonal ingredients by revisiting classic techniques in a contemporary, modern way.

Chef Richard Carstens has returned to the Franschhoek Valley and Chamonix where he was head chef during the mid 90s to showcase to diners his modern take on seasonal ingredients.

Voted Chef of the Year by EatOut in the past and chef de cuisine at numerous top 10 and top 20 restaurants in South Africa. For the past eight years, Richard dazzled diners at the award-winning Tokara Winery and restaurant.

Gourmet Guide Description

Chamonix Wine Farm in Franschhoek is the perfect backdrop for Richard Carsten’s culinary ability. The forest setting is serene and the heritage building charming, but diners come for the food. Richard has returned to Chamonix after 30 years of notching up an impressive pedigree at top restaurants that included a successful tenure at Tokara, giving him time to cement his reputation and following. Known for his modern twists on classics, Carstens creates dishes that celebrate the seasons and heralds local.

Choose from an a la carte menu with inventive starters like the squid, either with togarashi, dashi black rice, wakame, cucumber and chili garam or a rendition with risotto, parsnip, wakame and a yuzu-ginger sauce.

Mains could be a citrus-glazed linefish with pommes, greens, rouille, heerenboon and a sauce bouillabaisse, showing chef’s love of traditional, notched up with a contemporary flair. Or the kapokbos-glazed springbok with creamy and dreamy Robuchon pomme, greens, sake-pears, and a sauce that he calls ‘Cape senses’. Dishes are sure to appeal to all your senses. His signature baked Alaska of rainbow trout and the Franco-Jap interpretation of seafood are a must. Vegetarians are well respeced and catered for. Be sure to order a delectable dessert – watch out for the gorgonzola ice cream with walnut, pears and honeycombe – and your appetite for deliciousness will be sated. The wine list reflects wines of the estate and the Cape. Here’s casual fine dining at its best.

Reviews (1832)

4.8 out of 5.0
Based on the past 12 months
Food 4.9
Value 4.8
Service 4.8
Ambience 4.7
  • Jennifer R. Dined: 2 days ago
    4.5
    Food 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 4.0
    Ambience 5.0
  • Anne D. Dined: 3 days ago
    4.8
    Food 5.0
    Value 4.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Mon 18 Nov 24
    Great food and service, again!!!

  • Warren B. Dined: 4 days ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Sun 17 Nov 24
    Hosting my husbands 50th birthday here was the best decision we could have made. From the word go they were obliging, happy to help, put up with our 100 questions and make sure our day was the best that it could be. I could bring in my own cake and they dressed it up and sliced it for everyone too. Really really memorable spot for a delicious lunch in a gorgeous setting. Congrats and thx to Anneline and brilliant staff for making our dag such a special one! We will be back.

  • Gary T. Dined: 2 weeks ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Sun 17 Nov 24
    Simply the best dinner experience during our culinary trip around the area. Great food, especially the baked Alaska with salmon ice cream special !! Will be back for our anniversary dinner in a week's time

  • Junger S. Dined: 5 days ago
    4.8
    Food 5.0
    Value 4.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0
  • Ruth M. Dined: 6 days ago
    3.3
    Food 3.0
    Value 4.0
    Service 2.0
    Ambience 4.0
  • Andrew B. Dined: 1 week ago
    4.5
    Food 5.0
    Value 4.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 4.0
  • Christiaan V. Dined: 1 week ago
    4.5
    Food 5.0
    Value 4.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 4.0

    Reviewed on: Thu 14 Nov 24
    Great restaurant, great wine !!! Food was excellent !!

  • Martin A. Dined: 1 week ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Wed 13 Nov 24
    First time visit to the area from the UK and this restaurant did not disappoint. Quality of food, presentation and service was excellent. We asked the maitre de to choose wines for our courses and they paired perfectly. Would thoroughly recommend

Show More

Book a table

Favourite
Menu

Opening Hours

  • Monday 12h00 - 14h30, 18h00 - 20h15
  • Tuesday 12h00 - 14h30, 18h00 - 20h15
  • Wednesday 12h00 - 14h30, 18h00 - 20h15
  • Thursday 12h00 - 14h30, 18h00 - 20h15
  • Friday 12h00 - 14h30, 18h00 - 20h15
  • Saturday 12h00 - 14h30, 18h00 - 20h15
  • Sunday 12h00 - 14h30, 18h00 - 20h15