By Tiaan Booyens
Can’t decide where to eat for date night with your significant other? Skip the usual Maccy D’s delivery order and add some romance to your dinner plans. The following suggestions are guaranteed to add a variety of culinary options depending on your mood, and different atmospheres fit for an anniversary or even a first date!
Rome in a Bite
This little Italy in the heart of the town of oaks, and my personal favourite, deserves to be at the top of our list for its romantic ambiance alone, not to mention its extensive menu and wine list. According to their website, Rome in a Bite is “not just a restaurant, but a Roman experience” that is sure to transport you across the Mediterranean for an evening. Delve into some sizable pizza options to share or opt for a mouthwatering pasta dish: the tortellini prosciutto is always recommended. And if you’re celebrating a special occasion, be sure to splurge on a bottle of prosecco in true Italian fashion. It’s impossible not to fall deeper in love under the fairy lights overhead and good food in between you and your partner.
Vendetta’s Pizzeria
Vendetta’s will be sure to convince you that you can never have enough recommendations for good pizza. This pizzeria also seems to know the way to a lover’s heart – through a date night special on Tuesdays offering two full pizzas and a bottle of wine for just R200. However, the charming character of this place is sure to break the ice any night of the week. It’s a local recommendation that is surely worth the visit. Just make sure to sharpen up your chivalry and book a table in advance!
Fool’s Gold
This might seem like an unconventional suggestion for an intimate date night, but locals know that this social bar is more than just the backdrop to a jol with friends. Fool’s Gold offers a unique Asian fusion menu of incomparable quality and portion size. By now, all of my friends are tired of me raving about my go-to order of udon noodle soup (paired surprisingly well with a crisp cider) but absolutely nothing will keep me from telling everyone about it. The venue also has a range of seating options available, and all of them are conducive to an intimate date night albeit in the middle of a bar. Besides, afterwards, you and your date are right where the action is if you’re in the mood for some dancing.
Suki Thai
When the craving for sushi arrives, there are so many options in Stellenbosch. If you (and your wallet) are up to it, you could try sushi bar-hopping around with some good options from Simply Asia near the bottom of Dorp Street, further up to the new SushiGuru, the Sushi Box, and of course the famous Genki. This local’s top pick, however, would be Suki Thai’s buffet option. Not only does it offer you the sushi options of dreams, but included in the R189 per person, you also have access to any of the add-ons from the kitchen: sweet corn soup, sticky chicken strips, noodles, and even some more extravagant sushi options. To top it all off, you can also grab some free gelato, and treat your date to a fortune cookie.
Basic Bistro
Taking it back to the heart of town for our last recommendation, Basic Bistro is a special spot with a lot of sentimental value for many locals. Nowhere else in town beats this lovely sunset view over dinner, nor their quaintly cramped inside seating options. Good grills and numerous wine options round out our culinary options for this list, but what makes Basic Bistro stand out is that it makes you feel like you’re really in Stellenbosch. Ask the lovely waiters’ names and talk to the managers when they come to check in on your date night – become a local with us.
Lovebirds and homebirds alike will be happy to hear that all the above-mentioned restaurants can be found on Uber eats if you’d prefer to light some candles for a stay-at-home dinner date, but you’re not in the mood to cook. These romantic places will still be here for when you and your date want to go out next time. Bon appétit!
