Charcoal is a beautiful little dinner restaurant hidden behind huge wooden doors in Gardens, Cape Town. The décor is really eclectic and moody and lends an exciting ambiance to the dark dining room. The best aspect of the diverse décor is the beautiful collection of artwork coating the walls—paintings, photography, and sculptures—all for sale. The restaurant is mostly European themed but the influence of Africa is clearly present, and the artists on show span the globe.

Charcoal’s small menu focuses on local seasonal produce, using free range and organic supplies where possible, and the menu changes frequently reflecting what is fresh on the market. For a starter, I opted for the fresh tuna ceviche with spring onion, lemon grass, tomato, lime, ginger, chili, and soy sauce. It was really flavorful and refreshing, and the large chunks of fresh tuna were amazing. The options for main meals tilt heavily towards red meat, with three steak options, one kudu, and one ostrich. There are also a few pasta and fish dishes. I opted for the grilled ostrich fillet medallions with orange, ginger, dates, and cranberries served with potato dauphinoise and seasonal vegetables. Perfectly cooked ostrich is one of my favorites, and this dish didn’t disappoint; the fruity and sweet sauce paired really well with the steak. For dessert I couldn’t resist trying the dark chocolate pecan tart served with a hot chocolate sauce, organic orange sorbet and Grand Marnier. What a winner! You can’t go wrong with dark chocolate and orange.

The restaurant itself has a beautiful ambiance and it’s a really nice place to enjoy a meal. The dining room was a lot less busy than some other top Cape Town restaurants I have visited, but a reservation would still be a good idea because there aren’t many tables. Service was extremely efficient and friendly and all the waitress’s recommendations were spot on. Give Charcoal a try for a special occasion dinner.