Noop Restaurant
Where stories of food and wine await
The restaurant is in a beautiful heritage building on the Paarl High Street and the food is utterly subliminal. All the ingredients are local and fresh and the menu changes often depending on what is available. According to Zian, Chef and Owner, nothing comes out of a tin, so if something isn’t available, it is because that ingredient wasn’t available that day!
The food is rustic yet has a sophisticated elegance. There is a strong philosophy of simplicity - the kitchen likes to respect the purity of the ingredients. The result, food that tastes better. With dishes that don’t overcomplicate, it is essential each is just perfect in order to hero the produce. This was exactly how we experienced Noop.
From the warm greeting, to the friendly goodbye we had the most delectable supper and it will be savoured long after the last course was served. Truly superb! I loved how beautiful the restaurant was and how simple yet elegant the food was. And of course I was spoilt for choice with my love of seafood. It was rather difficult making our choice from the specials board, as I wanted to try everything. Specials are listed on a black board and change daily but if you don’t fancy any of these, you can always choose from the menu - a beautiful linen book.
We settled on a pork belly starter, abalone with lemon and a beurre blanc, and a green house salad. All to die for. Although the abalone was farmed from Hermanus, it was indeed what seafood dreams are made of. Next the husband ordered his obligatory steak (32-day aged grass fed Chalmar beef) with hand cut chips, a green peppercorn sauce, onion rings and a side of dauphinoise – all sumptuous. In an effort to try as many of the specials as I could, I ordered the yellowfin tuna tartare with chilli, garlic, soya, sesame, red onion, pickled ginger, wasabi mayo and wonton crisps. Fresh and fragrant. Next I had the seafood risotto with fish, prawns, mussels, salmon, calamari, lemon, garlic, herbs and cream. It was quite divine - my only regret was that I ordered a starter portion. Each dish more sublime than the last and guaranteed to tantalize your taste buds, leaving you wanting more.
With over 350 wines on the wine list, there will be something to suit your palate. Whether from the leather bound highly sought after and rare cellar list or from the regular wine list, it will be a difficult choice. Local producers, in old and new world styles have been carefully selected to ensure a quaffable experience.
Noop is unpretentious, often spontaneous and always delicious.
Until next time, Lucie
