voila! for tea connoisseur's, and everyone in between

Having lunch in a mall is not really a part of the Cape Town restaurant culture as much as it is in Jozi, but if you are going to do it, the Square at the Cape Quarter extension is a really nice option.

Voila! tucked in the corner is a fab place to meet for lunch, or breakfast or tea.

I went last week for a much needed girlfriend catch up lunch and we were both rather impressed.

The menu is comprehensive and has a bit of everything – from seafood to burgers, to salads and steak. It was difficult to choose.

Voila! has a tea menu that is highly innovative and unique. They have selected an extensive range of the most exoctic rooibos, green and black tea blends from Theodor in France. I have never seen anything quite like it on a menu before and the breakfast menu includes recommended tea pairings by a Parisienne tea master.

I so enjoy a nice tea ceremony and at Voila! the process is quite interactive. First you read the menu and smell all the tea blends in small jars, taking the experience from the nose to the palate. The tea is then served in hand made cast iron pots at the perfect strength and temperature.

I will need to go back a few more times to really embrace this extraordinary feature of the restaurant, and paired with one of their delicious baked treats from their patisserie.