The setting
I have long been a fan of Sinn’s, ever since I stumbled happily upon their terribly delicious bouillabaisse (best EVER!) a few years back. I am not big on in-mall dining, so I was glad this time to be seated in the glassed-off restaurant area, rather than in the middle of admittedly very vibey Wembley Square. (Actually, Wembley Square is more of a food court than a mall.)
The food
We reviewed five courses of the 2010 Winter Menu, paired with Excelsior wines. Check out the gallery.
In short? The wild mushroom risotto was seriously good, the paella a little too al dente for my taste, while the pecorino chicken, served with a butternut lasagne and light Gorgonzola sauce was the highlight of the evening. I made the rookie error of gobbling down the entire tasting portion, which left me unable to fully appreciate either the springbok pie or Karan sirloin, both of which were delicious.
The wine
We had the pleasure of sitting next to the winemaker and his wife, which was a great bonus when it came to discussing the pairings. Cathy, our wine editor, tells me that Excelsior, a family-owned winery, is known for its good-value restaurant favourites, with uncomplicated, straight forward flavours. After sampling their 2009 Paddock Viognier and their 2009 Chardonnay, I have to say that I agree with her.
Their reserve range is also very palatable and their Viognier is probably the best-value one around. Uncomplicated, straightforward flavours which do exactly what they say on the tin!
Price range
I think Sinn’s deserves a goal for this 2010 Winter special: R95 will get you any one of these 5 dishes, paired with a glass of wine. Not bad, methinks.
Perfect for
A nice mid-week dinner for two before you head back to the suburbs, and possibly, if you’re good, as a treat after gymming upstairs.