Review Pierneef A La Motte - Franschhoek

Great farm to come on a sunny weekend with the family. We had lunch at their café and took some bread home. Unfortunately, most of the area was not open due to reconstruction. But I’m sure after they open it’s going to be stunning!

Enjoyed the wine tasting much. Good wines, especially liked the Pierneef range. Great service from Tyron. Beautiful tranquil wine farm.

My wife and I went to the newly opened restaurant and bakery. The food was amazing and the service was fantastic. The staff were professional, efficient and friendly. The menu is well thought out and has great variety. The gardens and pathways are stunning! Highly recommended you visit!

Stopped at La Motte Wine Farm on the way to elsewhere, and had to change the plan the moment we got out of the car. The staff was welcoming and highly professional from the moment we arrived. The wine tasting menu is great and at very affordable prices with a great selection of wines to taste. The staff were knowledgeable and very friendly. We tried the bakery on the premises, which had a great selection of freshly baked goods and wines. La Motte Wine Farm should definitely be on everyone's list when in the area.

We had such a lovely brunch here at this beautiful La Motte bakery. Great views, real good quality food (and sweets). Special thanks to Freedom for his hospitality.

Went for wine tasting with friends and colleagues. Amazing experience. Staff are friendly and knowledgeable. The grounds are beautiful and scenic. Definitely a wine farm to visit if you’re that side.

Lovely wine estate just before Franschhoek town...may not look like much outside but once in the estate it's beautiful with lots of trees & gardens etc...the wines are excellent & we were well treated by our somilier...we would have preferred sitting outside but was told it was closed because of the time although there were a few people sampling wines outside...there is a lovely restaurant & bakery...but the bakery does not offer much was very limited...they are renovating so would be great to see what the place looks like after the work has been done...

Excellent spot with stunning gardens. Recommend the hike through the estate before a stop at the bakery for lunch and a drink. The hike is reasonably difficult so would recommend good footwear.

Great experience for a wine tasting with Ross! He was very friendly and knowledgeable about all the wines we tried. He gave us lots of information about foods to pair with the wines, as well as aging potential of the wines. He entertained all of our questions, and we had a lot of questions! My partner and I had two different tastings on their menu, so there was even more information he offered to us. Of course the wine and the atmosphere were amazing, as most wineries in Franschhoek are. However, the service we received really separated our experience from the others. We cannot recommend La Motte enough!

Staff were friendly, engaging and very accommodating. I was very impressed with the thought given to decor, which felt light but purposeful. I love the furniture and friends were fascinated by the chandeliers, which seemed to have been carefully crafted. The food was bursting with flavour. Such thought given to complimentary flavours in perfect proportions, shines through with every bite; one I haven't experienced in a long time. Wow to a unique fusion of flavours crafted by the Chef! The portions served also made it well worth the culinary experience. Highly recommend it.

We were running extremely late for our appointment, the manager tirelessly called us to find out about our whereabouts. When we finally got there, we were welcomed with complementary sparkling wine as it was my birthday. The manager still improvised and accommodated us, pleading with the chef to whip up something as the à la carte lunch was closed. As if that wasn’t enough trouble, I still got a complementary dessert for my birthday, with a touch of signature card. Thank to our waiter Fortuin for attentively filling up our glasses and explaining each and every dish served. Thank to the chef for troubling yourself and providing us with food after hours. Thank you so much to Pierre Theron such a wonderful hospitality. <br/>I can not wait to comeback for a full experience.

The restaurant is grand and I love the subtle richness of the decor, from the frames on the walls to the plates handing from the ceilings. As you walk in, you see the open kitchen with chefs preparing dishes. There’s a lot to see on a visit here, from the shop to the nature and museum. The menu is small and far more adventurous than I am, so I opted for the chicken, which looked and tasted incredible! The poached pear dessert was a winner too.

I was so lucky to receive an invite from Executive Chef Michelle Theron, to come and try her new summer menu at Pierneef à La Motte! Before I continue, I would like to apologize for my overuse of exclamation marks up there - I am just THAT excited to be writing this review.As mentioned, I met with Executive Chef Michelle, to come and try her new summer menu at Pierneef à La Motte in Franschhoek. This was such a pleasant surprise, and of course I said yes. The setting was a one-on-one tasting where I could ask questions and compliment the meals. To be honest I was so nervous to start off with, but Michelle is so warm and friendly. It was as if I was invited into her home! The food at Pierneef à La Motte was mouthwatering and flavourful. There were some firm South African favourites, with Michelle's fresh twist, as well as exciting new dishes new to me. I was offered a bread board which included delicious beetroot flat bread served with a smooth carrot spread. For the starter I chose the tongue with beetroot, cheese and fresh herbs. I loved how well the different flavours fused together and the colour pallet it created. My mains were chicken and guinea fowl with pureed peas, served with a cake of potato. This was my first time trying guinea fowl and I was happy that the taste and texture was delectable. With the combination of the peas and potato, it melted in my mouth. I was stuffed by the time I got to dessert, and pleased that my option was not too sweet. I opted for a citrus jelly glass, with a biscuit to add some crunch to the texture.

All four of us thoroughly enjoyed our entre. Two of us had gazpacho and agreed it was the best ever! Our mains were delicious with unusual touches. I am vegetarian and had a really good main after 4 disappointing meals this vacation. So why not 5? The air-conditioning was substandard despite the temperature being 36 degrees.

Absolutely EVERYTHING about this place is sensational !! Being outdoors in the summertime gives it a fresh, picnic feel with a fine dining twist. The crispness of a glass of white wine paired with a dish of beautifully, fresh sourced fish truly makes for one wonderful holiday lunch. The bread offering with the assortment of butters had an artistic feel and was a divine start that I couldn't get enough of.

Had lunch here in peak season. We only ordered from their mains, but it delicious and enough to satisfy. Service was warm and friendly, and outside seating in the summer was lovely.

Really stunning. Five of us had three different courses each and couldn't fault anything. Good value for money and beautiful, delicious food.

The beautiful art, attentive service and exceptional food all come together to create a brilliant experience.<br/>I've visited this restaurant twice now and was blown away each time. More recently I visited Pierneef a La Motte after going to two of Eat Out Magazine's repeat top 10 restaurants. Pierneef was honestly better than Potluck Club and at least on par with my excellent experience at Overture.<br/>Make sure to pop in at the wonderful museum afterwards.

Ive been waiting for so long to give another 5 star review and at last! What an unbelievable and unforgettable experience. Everything is perfect. From the service, to the setting to the food to the innovation. And to get this from a female chef! Its about time. Have a look at my pictures and you will see why.

The Starter and dessert was good.<br/><br/>Unfortunately, I decided to order the beef (I believe, "Grass Fed Short Rib) as my main. Even more unfortunately, the ladies all followed my lead. When the dish arrived, it was immediately clear that it had been burnt. It was extremely dry and had a strong, unmistakable burnt meat taste. <br/><br/>I still can't believe that they served it to us. The accompanying "smoked potato cream", which had apparently been prepared using some extract of the burnt meat, was even more pronounced. I don't like using this word in describing food, but it was revolting. <br/><br/>It is the worst dish ever served to me, anywhere. The manager appeared quite indignant at receiving our complaint. It is the most disappointed and insulted I've ever felt in a restaurant, more so for having suggested the place and the dish to the ladies accompanying me, who had, for weeks, looked forward to going to this restaurant.

We thoroughly enjoyed our experience, and I call it an experience because from start to finish you are relaxed and truly trying new foodie things.<br/><br/>The bread course is just beautiful :) <br/><br/>If you have the a la carte menu, be aware that the portions are huge!! We could hardly finish 3 courses (and no take sways).<br/><br/>I recently went back to La Motte for the Sunday feast, and I was blown away by the entire afternoon! So so so worth it! <br/>

Beautiful gardens and the most amazing meals. Glad we stopped there. Nothing could be faulted with the entire lunch experience. Very busy on the weekends so reservations are essential.

Beautiful grounds. The waiting staff were not exactly the most welcoming to two patrons just looking for a coffee and glass of wine. However from a distance their service to eating customers looked excellent.

We went there for Sunday lunch. <br/>The ambience and service could not have been better. <br/>It is not a cheap restaurant and was R275 a head. I did not think this good value for what we got. <br/>The food was good but the wagu beef on the menu was certainly not wagu! !<br/>All in all worth a visit.

Magnificently set restaurant at the Winery.<br/>Upmarket with impeccable, friendly service and a well set table. However I felt that the menu was a difficult one to navigate. It doesn't happen often that I can't find something that appeals to me! The food is beautifully presented, fine dining at its best, and a tad expensive!

One of my favorite restaurants of all time. The staff are so lovely and the food is just divine. After a very enjoyable wine tasting at the cellar we went for a Lucy at the restaurant. Everything was just divine. Can't wait to go back!

High Tea at La Motte is quite the gastronomical experience, my friends and I decided to treat ourselves to Winelands Tea on the "Stoep" and it was quite an exquisite gastronomical experience. <br/><br/>We were served a layered salmon pancake filled with cream cheese and chives topped off with a generous portion of smoked salmon (my personal favourite), a choux pastry bun filled with a sort of savoury biltong infused custard topped with biltong shavings, a rose water macaroon (which I found to be a little bit to sweet) and a choice o any cake - I went with the carrot and walnut cake. <br/><br/>Unlike a lot of the other teas in and around the province, It's not a buffet style high tea you receive your tea played, but trust me it is plenty and enough. And I didn't walk away feeling like I could have eaten any more. <br/><br/>We were also presented with a wide selection of TWG teas, tea is of the highest quality - leaves bagged in muslin cloth and served without milk or sugar (which is how you should be drinking your tea anyway) and I opted for the black chai, which is quite an if flavour intense blend - which I loved. <br/><br/>La Motte is scenic and it doesn't matter where you are seated; it is all so beautiful. The decor in the is elegant and I loved the feel of it. <br/><br/>The serving staff are friendly and efficient and knowledgeable of their products, which I appreciated. <br/><br/>There is a wine tasting room and a home living store worth popping into@

We stopped over at La Motte for coffee and desert. We say outside facing the water feature. What a great way to enjoy and relax good food. We had the baked cheesecake and the choc brownie. Beautifully presented and oh so delicious. Loved this absolutely beautiful restaurant.

Our first evening in Franschhoek was spent at this restaurant. The grounds are lovely and the Pierneef pictures around the room were impressive. The service was friendly and good but at times a bit slow. <br/><br/>We opted to have the 5 course meal, Stuart did it with the wine paring. While the parings were well chosen, there wasn't a huge amount of info given about why the wines matched so well. So for the 5 course meal, you choose three dishes and are surprised by two others. My favorite was definitely the angel fish, it looked and tasted beautiful. Stuart enjoyed the lamb the most. The desserts were also delicious, we had the chocolate mousse and the mango ice cream/sorbet. Overall we had a lovely evening. Be sure to book as the are often very busy.

I was lucky enough to have dinner at la Motte's Pierneef resultant to celebrate my birthday. We had the 5 course chefs menu paired with La Motte's wine for each course. Michelle Theron and her team in the kitchen did a fantastic job and we had some delicious - from the grilled seafood to the snoek risotto which the best I've had. The butter chicken for mains was full of flavours that exploded in your mouth. The beautiful setting and collection of Pierneef artwork in the restaurant created an elegant dining experience. This is one of my best food experiences and was a great way to celebrate my birthday.

Family lunch at la motte is a treat. The food is varied although it was quite a wintery meal for summer. Furthermore ensure you book well in advance and ask if you can order off the menu or if it's set. Otherwise it's definitely worth the visit if you are in franschhoek

Average food experience compared to the renowned restaurants in the area. Expected much more from the La Motte brand and the magnificent setting and gardens.

This place! What a wonderful lunch experience. It was so delicious, and I'm so glad we did it. Beautiful, if not slightly odd, interior. We requested to sit next to the big glass windows which was really lovely, especially as it was a slightly rainy grey day. I ordered the black sourdough trout, and my boyfriend ordered the fish special which was an angel fish with mussel tempura and a really incredible sauce. We both loved our meals, and enjoyed the sauvignon blanc pairing. All in all a great experience and I can't wait to go back! <br/><br/>The pros: The food! The service! The weird but fun interior! The wine!<br/><br/>The cons: They are able to accommodate big groups which is nice, unless you're sitting next to some screaming children. Alas.

I have had La Motte wine in the past and I thoroughly enjoyed it, so needless to say I was very excited to have lunch at Pierneef on the estate. <br/>Before lunch we all sat outside and had pre-lunch drinks. I opted for a gin and tonic and was quite upset when then only Gin on the menu was Bombay Sapphire (in itself a very nice gin, but I would've expected another option for such a nice establishment) <br/>I ordered a duck and pistachio sausage which was very bland and boring. Pretty, but boring. Around the table there was a bokkom salad, pan friend venison salad and fermented mushrooms, the latter being the best on the table. <br/>Main course was the catch of the day, angel fish with calamari, sauteed mussels on a celeriac and fennel sauce. Very nice, fresh and exactly what I was in the mood for. However, the beef short rib and lamb ravioli was the winner of the day.<br/>Desert was desert. Chocolate mousse. Cheesecake. Bread and butter puddings. After one bite I was over it. <br/>A beautiful restaurant with incredible decor and wonderful staff. Food left something to be desired but the company made up for it.

The first time I visited La Motte it was a disaster. I decided to give it another shot, but unfortunately my second lunch there was even worse than the first! First off, we specifically booked a table inside as we wanted to avoid the summer heat. Upon arriving we were told there was no space for us inside and that we had to sit outside. I was sweating through the entire lunch and it was all very uncomfortable. The worst was that no one ever came to sit inside, so we could've sat inside without a problem - I don't understand what the hang up was? After waiting nearly an hour for our food, it finally arrived. I had the line fish. The fish itself was nice, but the squid ink risotto was tasteless and there were other "pieces" of seafood and vegetables on the plate that I feel were unnecessary and did not compliment the dish at all. When we asked why they took so long with the food, we were told that they were very busy and the chefs were having problems keeping up. This is unacceptable for a fine dining restaurant! The kitchen is open and you can see in, so I had a look for myself and it all seemed very disorganized. And there were only 2 other tables occupied while we were there - hardly a busy day at all! How does this restaurant manage at all during a peak season day?! Perhaps the only thing that saved the day was the waiter, who was very friendly and helpful, but obviously he could do nothing about the other poor service we recieved. La Motte will definitely not see me again!

Excellent service. Classy yet relaxed setup. The food stands out...Explosion of flavours and great tasting. Food presentation is clean and creative. Loved this place. Would return!

Awesome venue but in my opinion, dinner is way better than lunch- more relaxed and far more special. This doesn't take anything away from the service and food though...those be amaziiiiiiing!

Pierneef is the restaurant on the la motte wine estate and like the wine is quite a serious affair. Although the dishes in the light menu were relatively uncomplicated they were still packed with awesome flavor. <br/><br/>My friends and I didn't sit in the main restaurant instead enjoying the fresh air out on the deck. It was just so great hey, kids were running around having the time of their life, people walking past every now and again happy from the wine tastings and other guests beaming at their food. Although outside, we were still very well looked after by our waitress. The food was so tasty, perfectly balanced simple flavours and just enough to hit the spot. We ordered the country loaf with Bree and a beautiful coleslaw. Also, do yourself a favour and get some coffee cause it's absolutely spectacular. <br/><br/>The only problem is that pierneef is at Cape Town! And not in Johannesburg. Wish I could come back sooner.

In a mood for a light lunch/snack and opted to got to La Motte. The outdoor deck was a lovely seeing to while away the afternoon, with a lot of greenery surrounding it. We were presented with the light lunch menu, and chose the cheese board. The camembert was particularly good and very buttery. The other cheeses were also quite nice. The crackers and breads served with the cheeses were very good. <br/><br/>The other food coming out of the kitchen looked very good, and the open kitchen seemed very well run. <br/><br/>They should look at improving service, though. Waiters should know what they're serving, and be more present. We only got the full lunch menu when requesting it, and the waitress disappeared for a while after that, so we opted not to order more as it had gotten quite late and we didn't want to ruin dinner.

Wow wow wow!!!!!!! Amazing food, wine, setting, ambiance, menu selection, service!! Worth every penny! Definitely worth a visit for a special occasion. Do remember to book in advance.

Attended a wedding function and the service and attention to detail was perfect. The chandeliers are very awesome!! Each course was brought at the perfect time and wine was flowing constantly. The small things such as the different crockery for each course and friendly staff make this a stand out restaurant.

Absolutely superb experience. The service is excellent, friendly and helpful. There are no superior airs and graces here as one sometimes expects from top class restaurants. <br/>The food is presented like art on a plate. The taste combinations are cleverly put together and delicious. Portions are just right. <br/>The decor is just beautiful. You feel pampered and special and just want to come back again!

While I was in Cape Town last month I decided to treat myself by visiting Pierneef which is meant to be one of the top rated restaurants in the Cape. The décor is simple but the chandeliers are so awesome - they are blue and white cups, saucers and plates. I couldn't stop looking at them. Then in the section we sat...the roof was made of old wine barrels. It really add to the cosy atmosphere. <br/><br/>Now for the food, as I was with friends we decided to try the Chef's menu with paired wine (the only disadvantage is that they will only allow you have this menu if everyone at your table does it). What an experience...the food was divine...that actually doesn't even explain how much we enjoyed our food and we are well versed in good food...having been to many good and highly rated restaurants.<br/><br/>The highlight of the meal was between the smoked and confit pork belly, crayfish caramel, vanilla pomme purée with raspberry sherbet pork skin (mouth watering) and the bitter sweet Vahlrona and berry fondant, brandy and Ivoire veloute, rose petal ice cream and honey comb dessert (decadent and heavenly).<br/><br/>I cannot put into words how good the food was - Pierneef is just totally worth a visit so the next time you are in Franchhoek, be sure to book at table.

The best of Cape Winelands cuisine. Modern interpretation of 150 recipes that was researched from the early period in South Africa.<br/>Truly South African cuisine