Choose a location

Or use your current location

Select
Voucher Partner

Le coin Francais

Fine Dining French
17 Huguenot St, Franschhoek, 7690, South Africa
(647 reviews)
RRR

Attributes

  • Outdoor Seating
  • Gourmet Guide Plated

The newest edition to the Franschhoek scene is a restaurant really and truly for Franschhoek. Both in concept and in name, the aptly named “Le coin Francais” , which literally means Franschhoek, will embody the essence of the valley in heritage, cuisine, art and wine. It will feature cutting edge methods meeting time tested French elegance in cuisine, a carefully selected locally themed wine list to showcase the best local wines, a French sommeliers selection, and an ever evolving collaboration of art in the theme of photography.

Gourmet Guide Description

Here is a fine-dining establishment that has become an institution on Franschhoek’s main road. It’s where locals celebrate and visitors are introduced to the heritage of the French Huguenots. The intimate space, with fewer than 30 seats, offers a cosy and romantic atmosphere with a roaring fire in winter and verandah seating in summer. French music playing in the background gives it an almost Parisian café feel, but the comparison ends there. Sophisticated, first-class fine dining is the order of the day.

Chef Darren Badenhorst’s first restaurant remains his ‘baby’, but head chef Miguel de Caries holding the fort has the space to express himself. Food seems simple but is complex, well-executed, and artfully plated. Wines are flawlessly paired with dishes and confidence. A playful touch includes palate cleansers where diners identify wine in black glasses and inventive twists on classic cocktails. Friendly and genuine hospitality is offered by Ephraim Gomani, the front-of-house manager who has been with the restaurant for over seven years.

One popular starter is the veal tartare, presented in two ways. It combines finely chopped venison with layers of venison carpaccio and is impeccably paired with two different Pinot Noirs – one from Hemel-en-Aarde and the other from Elgin. Another notable dish is the duck, an underrated ingredient that shines with thoughtful texture and flavour. It gets glowing reviews, deservedly so.

Reviews (647)

4.6 out of 5.0
Based on the past 12 months
Food 4.7
Value 4.4
Service 4.8
Ambience 4.6
  • Yoka T. Dined: 1 week ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Thu 27 Mar 25
    Needed a special location to celebrate my husband's 80th birthday and Le Coin Francais proved to be the perfect place in all respects. I am always stunned to discover how chefs can come up with new ways to present their creations, different looks, different flavours. Chef Darren Badenhorst definitely ticked all those boxes.. We liked the quiet restaurant's'ambiance, staff was efficient in explaining the various dishes. Wine choices were excellent. A very nice ending was the dessert, two truffles flowing on dry ice.

  • Stuart J. Dined: 1 week ago
    2.5
    Food 2.0
    Value 2.0
    Service 4.0
    Ambience 2.0

    Reviewed on: Sun 23 Mar 25
    I’m sorry to say this restaurant was a disappointment. The taster menu lacked punch and taste. My own menu was brought out lukewarm and inconsistently hot and lukewarm which for a fine dining restaurant is not acceptable. My wife’s vegetarian menu was in her own words unimaginative and tasteless. The restaurant similarly lacked energy and there was nothing the serving staff could do to make this up who worked hard but I felt could sense we were underwhelmed. Wine by the glass was uninspired and certainly did not showcase the region or the food. Hitherto our experience of restaurants in Cape Town had blown us away. It’s a shame as we had such high expectations.

  • Mark P. Dined: 3 weeks ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Thu 20 Mar 25
    Superb food

  • Axel Y. Dined: 1 week ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Thu 20 Mar 25
    Verry nice Resto, top

  • Guy M. Dined: 2 weeks ago
    4.8
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 4.0

    Reviewed on: Thu 13 Mar 25
    lovely food, nice presentation, good staff, matching ambiance (light, music, furniture...), Sex on a plate!

  • Dagmar K. Dined: 2 weeks ago
    4.8
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 4.0

    Reviewed on: Wed 12 Mar 25
    Food was beautiful. We loved the peaceful kitchen.

  • Werner Schmitt Dined: 2 weeks ago
    4.8
    Food 5.0
    Value 4.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Mon 10 Mar 25
    Excellent food and great service

Show More

Book a table

Favourite

Opening Hours

  • Monday CLOSED
  • Tuesday 19h00 - 20h30
  • Wednesday 19h00 - 20h30
  • Thursday 12h00 - 14h00, 19h00 - 20h30
  • Friday 12h00 - 14h00, 19h00 - 20h30
  • Saturday 12h00 - 14h00, 19h00 - 20h30
  • Sunday 12h00 - 14h00, 19h00 - 20h30