Bella Beluga and Sexy Sevruga

How a former factory and pick-up joint transformed into two of Cape Town's most exclusive restaurants

Sevruga and Beluga are the two most expensive types of caviar in the world. The price of Beluga – from the Caspian, Black and Adriatic seas – varies between $7,000–10,000/kg. So when South African restaurateur Oscar Kotzé named a couple of restaurants after these rare delicacies, you knew we were in store for a treat. Indeed, dining at Beluga or Sevruga offers one of the more special eating occasions in Cape Town, but it won’t break the bank.

So don’t let the expensive sounding names scare you. It’s true that rich and famous dine here, but they’re not alone. Locals and tourists enjoy the places just as much. Although they look like smart-casual places, you’d be just as well received in your jeans and sneakers. (They let us in, didn’t they!)

Around the corner, in the alley... where?

Beluga is situated on Cape Town’s Waterkant district, a trendy area that’s been gentrified over the years. But you’ve got to know where Beluga is to find it: turn in this street, turn around that corner, enter this alley, and so on. Despite being relatively hidden (on Prestwich Street), it’s packed even on weeknights. So book in advance.

Beluga is architecturally fascinating. In the past, it was a foundry. But now it’s a big, yet intimate restaurant and bar. It includes a private dining area and wine cellar (where Prince Harry’s girlfriend Chelsea celebrated her 21st birthday, and the boys from Manchester United chowed down). “What was that like?” we asked. Our waitress giggled, “What happens in Beluga, stays in Beluga.”

The owners maintain their own unique style too. When you’re seated, you don’t get a menu, you’re handed “Caviar Dreams – The Cookbook.” It’s 176 pages of dishes, secrets of the chef, recipes, the philosophy of the owners and the history of the Beluga Caviar Group. But if Beluga is industrial chic, Sevruga is dockside shimmer. When we sat down and looked over the harbour, the waitress whispered to us, "Don’t tell anyone, but this used to be a brothel.” Located in the Waterfront in the old “Cantina’s Tequila,” it used to be popular for sailors and tourists in search of nocturnal delights. Nowadays, you can still get plenty of oral pleasure at Sevruga, but it’s all legal, we assure you.

One word: yummy

We enjoyed the privilege of having dinner in both Beluga and Sevruga. Waitrons are fresh out of (or still in) the School of Hospitality: clean, accurate and friendly, without being “too much.” More importantly - they know the menu inside out, as well as the daily specials. They could tell us from which part of the Atlantic our oysters were caught, as well as the number of calories per dessert. (Don’t ask.)

After a minty Mojito we started off with oysters (caught near Durban) with Tabasco and black pepper-jelly. Then my mate had the Springbok Carpaccio with sweet onion chutney and honey-glazed berries, while I got an absolute killer, the Lindt Chocolate Springbok. It had super tender meat in chocolate and port sauce. Funky, but great for men or women.

More of a fish lover? Take the salmon Wellington (salmon in puff pastry) or the seared tuna. Then finish off the culinary adventure with Chocolate Fondant – white chocolate ice cream. (Plenty o’ calories. Indulge.)

We enjoyed our meals at Beluga and Sevruga. Now we look forward to the opening of Blonde, the latest trophy of the Caviar cabinet, scheduled for March this year. To paraphrase the Governator of California: “We'll be back.”

Tip of the week: Enjoy half-price sushi every day during lunchtime and on Sundays!

Beluga
The Foundry
Prestwich Street
Green point, Cape Town
+ 27 (0) 21 418 2948
www.beluga.co.za

Sevruga
Shop 4, Quay, 5
V & A Waterfront
+ 27 (0) 21 421 5134
www.sevruga.co.za

CapeTownMagazine.com is eating its way through Cape Town. We check out luxury, low key, and mid-range joints. Subscribe to our free monthly Editor’s Picks Newsletter and follow us via @capetownmag on Twitter to follow us in this culinary journey.