Fodor's Expert Review The Tasting Room

You can't go anywhere in Franschhoek without somebody mentioning Margot Janse, Africa’s only female Grand Chef and the culinary genius behind Le Quartier Francais's signature restaurant, the Tasting Room. Set aside three and a half hours to enjoy an eight-course “surprise” menu. Janse is passionate about using local ingredients, like amasi (sour milk), baobab (pod from a tree), buchu (an indigenous herb), and maize (corn). You might be served cornbread with caramelized brown butter baked in a tin can; a salad of local foraged greens; lamb cheek and tongue with eggplant and black garlic; or quail with amasi, sweet corn, and granola. The decor is designed to complement the cuisine; tables are simply decorated and unadorned, with custom-made crockery. You can expect to pay R850 for the meal alone, and an extra R450 for the tasting menu paired with local wines. Booking is essential, and so is an open mind.