3 Courses & a Roaring Fire: Lean Into Comfort Food with Tryn’s Winter Menu
Tryn is taking cosy dining very seriously this winter. With a 3-course winter menu designed to encourage guests to linger longer, this charming upmarket winelands bistro should top your list for places to be when the weather is not-so-delightful. While Cape Town thrives in the summer months, winter brings an an opportunity for locals to enjoy the hot spots without the maddening crowd. I love exploring the beauty of our city out of peak season, and no place is more beautiful in the winter months than the winelands.
In winter the Cape winelands comes alive. There’s nothing quite like the smell of freshly rained on vineyards as you enter a winery on a cold winter’s day. Looking out at a winelands winter scene, from inside a fire-warmed restaurant, the greens are greener and the landscape sparkles under the winter sun. The Constantia wine valley is one of my favourite areas to visit in the winter months. Not only is it closer to the city centre for spur-of-the-moment winelands adventures but the spectacular mountains that flank the Constantia Valley winelands make it one of the most beautiful places to be in Cape Town when it’s raining.
There’s no better restaurant to celebrate the winter beauty of the Constantia winelands than Steenberg’s Tryn. Situated on the edge of the idyllic Constantia Winelands, sandwiched between the dramatic False Bay coastline and Constantiaberg Mountain, Steenberg Farm is a dream destination come rain or shine. Tryn’s location on Steenberg puts you right in the midst of the vineyards. Flanked by vines and breathtaking mountain views, the scene that unfolds when looking through the large glass doors of the restaurant make the food taste finer and the wines a little sweeter.
3 courses and a roaring fire
When it comes to refined winter dining, Tryn at Steenberg ticks all the boxes. Elegant bistro-style cuisine, majestic views, and sophisticated interiors. Add in a crackling fire and you have the makings of a perfect winter’s day. Chef Kerry Kilpin and her team devise seasonal menus with a varied array of dishes to suit every dietary desire (from meat to plant-based, to sustainably sourced fish). The dishes blend classic French techniques, Asian and Middle Eastern flavours and local ingredients for a truly remarkable dining experience.
Now, in the cooler months, Tryn’s 3-course winter menu offering allows guests to choose a starter, main, and dessert from the à la carte lunch or dinner menus. The courses are flanked by an amuse bouche and a chocolate truffle, in a setting made for lingering a little longer. At R695 per person, the seasonal menu offers locals a chance to fully experience the beauty of dining at Tryn at a more accessible price point. The menu is valid for tables of up to 10 people, with a few of the dishes having a supplement charge. It’s worth noting, the supplement charge on these dishes is minimal, and there’s plenty to choose from without these dishes.
Our lunch at Tryn was truly exceptional, from the amuse-bouche to the last mouthful of chocolate truffle. Our meal started with the Kataifi Prawns (usually R189) and the Duck Breast (usually R188, there is a R20 supplement added for the winter menu). The crispy prawns are served with a bourbon-charred pineapple salsa, creamy avocado, and jalapeno aioli, and finished with a passionfruit and lime glaze. I order prawns every chance I get and this was one of the best prawn dishes I have ever had. The flavours and textures are masterfully balanced, so you get a smoky sweetness, juicy acidity, and a gentle kick of tropical sourness with every bite. Trust me, this is a must-order for any seafood lover.
For mains we tucked into the Flame Grilled Venison (usually R360, there is a R45 supplement added for the winter menu) and the Herb and Dijon Mustard Crusted Lamb Rack (usually R360, there is a R40 supplement added for the winter menu). The refined venison dish is a cold weather classic. Served with Pomme Anna, roasted carrot puree, tender greens, and finished with a Syrah jus infused with dark chocolate, it has all the makings of the perfect comfort food dish. Deep, earthy, robust flavours are married with rich, velvety textures and dark, bitter undertones to complement the gamey flavours in the venison.
Our meal came to a close with the Warm Chocolate Sphere (usually R168) and the Crème Brûlée (usually R144). The Warm Chocolate Sphere is a standout dish on the menu that simply cannot be missed. A decadent warm chocolate sphere is served with a peanut whipped ganache and toasted marshmallow and finished with a white miso ice cream and lime gel. The umami-sweet dessert takes nostalgic comfort food elements of chocolate, peanut butter and marshamallow and elevates them with unexpected Asian elements for a flavour bomb you won’t want to share. This salty, nutty, chocolately dish is perfectly balanced with a deep umami undertone in every mouthful and I’m still thinking about it weeks later!
But the experience didn’t end there. After dessert we stayed a while to soak up the ambiance with cappuccinos and a Steenberg chocolate truffle. It was the perfect end to a masterclass in seasonal menus, where every detail is carefully considered. If you’re searching for the perfect date experience with your special someone this winter then you can’t go wrong with booking a table at Tryn. The winter menu offering is a steal for the quality of each plate and you’ll struggle to find a better setting and experience in the Constantia winelands this season.
The 3-course winter menu is valid until 30 September 2026 and is available Monday – Sunday for lunch (12pm – 3pm) and dinner (6pm – 10pm). Booking is essential.
