The Wine Glass (Hermanus) Review (9/10)

12 September 2020

Disclaimer: I am not a professional food critic, and this review is written for an everyday customer from the everyday customer.

The Wine Glass was closed down during national lockdown. We are currently on Level 2 Lockdown, and for a wine bar, that is lifesaving news since alcohol can now be served. I was wondering how they were holding up, all things considered.

We received a promotional WhatsApp from The Wine Glass the previous evening, and it sounded just too good to pass up.

It is 8:30 on a Saturday morning, and Hermanus is still waking up. We are the very first patrons.

As we enter the restaurant, a friendly waitress greets us and takes our temperatures. We choose where we would like to sit.

Once seated, the waitress gave us each a small laminated card with a SnapScan code. Scanned, up pops their menu! I thought that this is quite a smart COVID-19 precaution, without having to waste paper by discarding menus after each use as a few other restaurants are opting for.

My companion went to use the restroom and reported a super clean and beautifully decorated space.

The Wine Glass has a spectacular menu that includes many unique dishes and an unprecedented selection of the best wines of our area. The wine-menu is aesthetically pleasingly displayed with mounted bottles of wine – I think it is very original and adds to the upmarket style of this restaurant.

We ordered two cappuccinos and an espresso. The cappuccinos looked gorgeous in their colourful cups. I am a bit of a coffee snob, and like cappuccinos to be at the right temperature when served to the table and the correct amount of coffee versus milk and milk foam. These guys are genuinely knowledgeable and classy when it comes to these details. My coffee was perfect.

We each ordered Eggs Benedict (which was The Special of the day at R40!). My Eggs Benedict Salmon was a slice of buttery ciabatta toast topped with salmon, soft poached eggs and a thick, perfectly balanced, Benedict Sauce. I am a Benedict fan, and this one was perfect!

My companions had the Kassler Benedict, which has, instead of the customary salmon or bacon, a Kassler chop, topped with soft poached eggs and benedict sauce; toast on the side. They also liked their breakfast, but both commented that the Kassler chop was a bit underdone and therefore the delicious fat of the chop, too chewy.

After breakfast, I ordered The Beautiful (virgin) gin and tonic. It is a gin (not!) served in Fitch&Leeds Pink Tonic with grapefruit notes (slice left in) and served with a spring of Rosemary. Classy and beautiful and I enjoyed it.

Satisfied and bill settled, I feel calm and relaxed after this pleasant experience and can't wait to go again.

Overall this was a fantastic dining-out experience, and I want to congratulate The Wine Glass on their classy, upmarket restaurant and fabulous food.

I highly recommend The Wine Glass.