Hooray for Hussar Grill in Hermanus
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Have you done yourself a favour of flavour recently? Do you love a good quality cut of meat, flame-grilled to perfection? With prime Class-A grain-fed beef that is matured for no less than 28 days, Hussar Grill more than makes the cut for a savourable steak. If you're not that into beef, they also have delectably-prepared game, ostrich or - if you prefer lighter meats - scrumptious seafood and chicken. They even have divine vegetarian options - there's something to tantalise everyone's taste buds!
From the moment you arrive at the door, you feel ever so welcome. Friendly staff greet and seat you at tables or booths. The atmosphere is romantic yet vibey with the chatter of fellow patrons. The trademark design of the restaurant is a nice mix of old-school grand and homey décor. Black and white photography adorns the walls with friendly faces that tell stories and hold cherished memories.
Celebrating over 50 years of excellence (opening their first grill room in 1964), you're in for a meat treat. Diving into their menu, their house specialities are divine! From one food-lover to another, try the Chateaubriand. This is a succulent cut of fillet, topped with brandy and flambéed at your table - the smell alone is enough to make you salivate. It's served with a delicious Béarnaise sauce on the side.
Another delightful beef recommendation is from their Classics section, the Madagascan Pepper Fillet which is served with a cream and green peppercorn reduction. Their maturation policy on their beef translates into the wonderful flavour and tenderness of the meat.
Every grilled main meal comes with a side of your choice, and the options are impressive. From pub-grub style creamed spinach and cinnamon-infused butternut, fries, mashed potatoes, or sautéed green beans, to gratinated corn (which is delectably cheesy), oven-roasted veg or a simple refreshing side salad.
To be honest, every item on the menu sounds heavenly and it will take many visits to find out what the ultimate favourite of such a flavoursome selection will be. Having a glance at their starters they have a nice and varied selection, from Springbok Carpaccio, Calamari & Chorizo, to saucy Chicken Livers, Snails, and Mussel Pot. Or, how about Bitterballen (a tasty meaty deep-fried Dutch snack), Fried Crumbed Camembert, Black Mushroom topped with spinach and feta cheese/ tomato, feta and caramelised onion, or a fresh Prawn and Avocado Cocktail?
For those who like something on the wilder side, how about Game Steaks (subject to the hunt), or Grilled Ostrich Fillet? Their other House Specialities include Lamb Shanks with a delightful deep red wine jus, Fillet Béarnaise, or the ultimate Hussar Carpetbagger - which is a fillet mignon stuffed with a combination of smoked oysters, Cheddar cheese and topped off with a brandy and wholegrain mustard sauce.
Further goodness includes Blue Cheese Sirloin, Fillet Moutarde (with a double cream and mustard sauce), as well as a Hollandse Biefstuk which is a fillet studded with coarse black pepper and flambéed in brandy and butter. If you like extras you've come to the right place with their great selection of sauces, compound butters and sides. Their range of meat options includes Spare Ribs and Pork Belly (perfectly crispy on the outside).
On the lighter side, for perhaps a light lunch, they have a divine ground beef burger, chicken breast burger, or steak roll. Or would you prefer something caught from the water? How about Kingklip, Calamari or Salmon? All of these come with a side of your choosing. As for land-based light meat, their poultry options include Parmesan Chicken Breasts - tastefully crumbed and encrusted with Parmesan, with mashed potato and a creamy mustard sauce.
There's always room for a decent dessert and they have traditional down to a tee. Baked Cheesecake, Crème Brûlée, Chocolate Fondant, Malva Pudding or the good old classic Vanilla Ice Cream and Decadent Chocolate Sauce, anyone? For something sweetly different, try their Hussar Grill Ice Cream Dessert which consists of vanilla ice cream, peanut brittle, marshmallow, nougat, honeycomb and sprinkled nuts - drizzled with their signature dark chocolate sauce. Yum!
Have you had their oh-so-decadent Chocolate Vodka Martini? This is an after-dinner tradition which is a tasty rounding off to the perfect dining experience. It's chocolatey heaven, I assure you. Hussar Grill also offers digestifs, or for a cold sweet drink, Dom Pedros.
As for accompanying beverages, this restaurant boasts a decent wine selection from top regions, including a few award-winners from our Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. You're welcome to bring your own bottle without paying for corkage. On tap, you'll find Darling Brew or Castle Lite, or local and international beers by the bottle, a wonderful selection of cocktails, as well as a great range of brandies, cognac, liquors, gin, vodka, rums, bourbons, and of course an extensive range of whiskies and bourbon. Or would you prefer a warming port, sherry or grappa?
Need I say more? Another fine restaurant addition to our town of excellent gastronomy. One of the most loved destinations in the world just keeps getting better!
Author: Ruché Ten Have
