Oudtshoorn Restaurants

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In April/2010 I drove to Oudtshoorn for the sole purpose of trying an Ostrich steak for lunch. My ride to Oudtshoorn was fro over one hour and once I got in town, parked the parked and search for a casual restaurant that was serving Ostrich. It was Sunday, several restaurants were open but my choice was for Bronco's Steak Ranch. The name was quite appealing, the location was very good and all else looked nice from the outside. The staff's welcome turn out to be good as well, who immediately drove me to a table on the outside patio.

Started then exploring the menu. Chicken, Mexican food, grilled beef steaks, Seafood and Pasta, all that was available to be chosen but my sole interest was for Ostrich meat and found it listed in the "African Specialities". Great. The category itself is also quite suggesting: African Specialities !!

Ostrich burger was listed for R55 -and- a 200g Ostrich (steak) for R99.

I ordered the Ostrich steak (pictured on this Tip) for, additionally to the fact that my mind that was already set for it, in the menu I could also read that it was "Grilled to perfection with our Bronco's basting sauce". Great. That sounds quite promising as well.

Also on the menu (all the following was in capitals): OSTRICH: GO WILD! EXPERIENCE AFRICA BY TASTING THE BIGGEST BIRD IN THE WORLD.

I only got a slightly disappointed when I found out that the ostrich steak was not as big as what I was expecting. This was also my very first time that I was enjoying ostrich steak. I like it very much but confess I wondered whether if cooked medium rare it would taste even better. Overall, I was positively happy with the gastronomic experience but feel ostrich could be even better than the taste I have experienced on this very first try.

- Mário Ferreira in Oudtshoorn, Western Cape, South Africa (2010).

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Early 20th century sandstone mill,lovingly and appositely restored to a bygone splendor,with its sunny wrap around veranda is nowadays this little restaurant. The concept here is that you dish what you want, they then weigh your plate and you pay according to the weight. I found them a bit on the expensive side, but the food was good and very tasty.

Favorite Dish: Pumpkin fritters

The original house has been converted to a very charming restaurant with seating indoors, in the front garden and a terrace overlooking the back garden.

The emphasis is on fine food from local produce, well prepared and presented. The staff are friendly and efficient and knowledable about the food, its origin, the way it has been prepared etc.

This is one of my favourite restaurants, it is such a pity it is in such a remote town.

Favorite Dish: The duck liver pate is sublime.

Pasta dishes are excellent.

They do a great Bobotie for lunch.

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This is a typical restaurant ina tourist area... they cater for all tastes... but also have typically South African dishes... like crocodile, ostrich etc.

The restaurant is clean and modern, the view gorgeous, over the mountains!

The service was slow but friendly.

The food was fine, we had a snack for lunch, two toasted sandwiches, with side salads and crinkly hot chips. The day was really hot, so we just had a coke.

Costs are definately higher than other, non-tourist places, but not too bad.

I have put the photo of my husband first as I really like it ;)... the second photo is of the food!

This is a very smart restaurant in the Queens Hotel. The food here was excellent, but by SA standards quite pricey. However the atmosphere in the restaurant seemed very formal, but you do get great service.
As usual in South Africa the menu is very meat oriented.

Favorite Dish: In Oudtshoorn what else but ostrich steak.

"De Oude Meul Country Estate and Game Farm" is in fact a hotel with a restaurant also open to non-residents.
Food was OK but nothing special.
We just went here because it was across from our guesthouse.

Favorite Dish: He: butternut soup, kudu steak with garlic sauce
Me: chicken breast with mushroom sauce
Drinks: half bottle of wine and coffee
Price: 128 ZAR.

There are several ostrich show farms which still sell the beautiful downy feathers but now make more money out of the desirable soft strong knobbly leather. There is also an export demand for the eggs, one of which makes an omelette for 20 people. At the show farms you can ride the birds in an ungainly and embarrassing manner or eat them in the restaurant. The meat is deliciously tender and contains no cholesterol.

Try Ostrich. It is wonderful, tastes like beef but has no cholesterol. It is as healthy as eating turkey.