Char'd Grill & Wine Bar

Modern Steakhouse, Wine & Craft Bar

	Shop 4, Hermanus Waterfront
	https://chardhermanus.co.za
	info@chardhermanus.co.za
	@chardhermanus
	chardhermanus

One of the best steakhouses in town, Char’d Grill & Bar

Rare steaks like flat iron, Denver, Tomahawk, caveman rib…

Last updated: 20 May 2024

What do a caveman, flat iron and Denver have in common? They’re all rare cuts of steak that you’d be hard pressed to find anywhere but Char’d Grill & Bar.

This steakhouse is a meat lover’s mecca where everything is prepped and aged in-house, and the menu has tenderness and flavour scores. Plus there’s moreish veggie dishes like chipotle corn ribs or marinara and blue cheese roasted cauliflower.

Char’d has a beer garden that spills out into the street, and spirit tastings. Image: Char’d Grill & Bar

EVERY CUT PREPPED & AGED IN-HOUSE

Every step in the process from pasture to plate is thoughtfully considered at Char’d Grill & Bar, which is in the centre of the Hermanus Waterfront.

Owner Petri Hedricksz and his team tasted all kinds of beef – from Sussex and Black Angus to Wagyu – before deciding on Bovelder cows (“one of the best beef breeds in the country” for their yield and flavour, according to Farmers Weekly).

The cows are free range, hormone-free and grain-finished, which improves the quality and taste of the steak.

“We’re 100% in control of every cut from start to finish. We use the whole animal, from rendering the fat to using bones in sauces. And we brush the steak with fat afterwards so it gives you a full beefy taste,” says Petri.

Char’d promotes more sustainable meat consumption, as they use the whole animal. Image: Char’d Grill & Bar

FLAT IRON, DENVER, CAVEMAN, TOMAHAWK…

Set in between the industrial-chic decor of Char’d is a large glass locker where the meat is dry aged. Petri chooses to dry age the meat because it results in a more concentrated, deeper flavour (as moisture and fat evaporates from the meat over time).

The tenderness and flavour scores are super helpful in navigating the long list of cuts. Your waiter also brings a tray to your table and explains each one.

Petri recommends the flat iron (a steak from the shoulder bone with a metallic flavour), Denver (strong beefy flavour with nice marbling) or caveman rib (incredibly tender with rich layers of fat).

And for those that don’t like the strong taste of dry-aged steak, Petri suggests the skirt or sirloin as they’re both very tender with subtle flavours.

“Steak is like wine. You should start with something simple and mild and work your way up over time (in your steak journey).” This is especially the case in South Africa, where many of us are used to wet-aged steaks, which don’t have as strong of a flavour.

Char’d also has a deli where you can buy rare cuts to take home. Image: Char’d Grill & Bar

KNOWN FOR BEST BURGERS & MAC N CHEESE

There’s plenty on the menu that’s familiar, too. A crowd favourite is the smokey mac and cheese with brisket or pulled pork.

For burgers, you’ve got the smoked chipotle pork rib (with pulled pork, black beans, salsa and sriracha mayo); skud jou brisket (beef patty topped with pulled brisket and blue cheese); Cyril (topped with a jalapeno popper, avo puree and mayo); and six more.

Even the veg dishes are moreish. The corn ribs are coated in a sticky chipotle sauce; the baked cauliflower is served with marinara sauce, creamy blue cheese, parmesan and crispy onion. There’s also a vegan burger. Plus, if you’re vegetarian, you can order anything from the menu at Pear Tree (Char’d sister restaurant).

The mac and cheese is smokey and ultra creamy. Image: Char’d Grill & Bar

TASTE GIN, RUM, BRANDY & MORE

As if all the curious cuts aren’t enough, there’s also spirit tastings. The interactive gin tasting experience at Char’d is unlike anything you’d see at a regular distillery.

You can tinker at the gin atomiser station, which has several beakers filled with craft gin. You squeeze the balloon-like atomisers to smell the ingredients used to infuse the gins (like rose botanicals in Musgrave Pink or the toffee apples in Inverroche Amber). You then pick four gins to taste.

You can also taste brandy, tequila, and rum. The three brands on offer (Cape Brandy, Karoo Mezcal and Afrikanis rum) are all proudly South African labels.

Each tray is accompanied by three glasses. A standout is the Afrikanis Spiced Rum. With notes of caramelised pineapple and cinnamon, it tastes like Christmas in a bottle.

All the labels in the spirit tastings are local. Image: Char’d Grill & Bar

VISIT CHAR’D GRILL & BAR

Char’d Grill is open: Monday to Friday, 12pm - 10pm; Saturday to Sunday, 10.30am - 10pm
Find it: Shop 4, Hermanus Waterfront, Western Cape
Contact on: 028 312 1986, @chardhermanus, Char’d website

By Julia Rowley

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