PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIAOnde has been surfing the tide of local favour for nearly a decade. With its French inspired menu, simple decor and great service, what’s not to like? The large window at the front of the restaurant reveals a sparse yet comfortable interior. The transparency continues inside with an open bar and kitchen showing the trials and tribulations of the busy staff. The menu is recorded on large blackboards adjacent to the interesting sculpted feature wall.
Executive chef Laif Etournard achieves where so many neighbourhood restaurants fail; he has created a menu full of modern favourites, perfected them, and (this is where the surprise kicks in) continued to serve them. There is terrine made with rabbit and duck, duck liver parfait served with crusty bread and cornichons, or pork rillettes. The steaks are fabulous, served with chips and red wine butter or try the duck confit salad, delicious served with walnuts, caramelised apple and mesclun. Soft pillows of gnocchi are combined with delicately shredded rabbit, plump green olives and smoky pancetta to form a beautiful main course. The wine list offers a good selection of moderately priced wines – the perfect accompaniment for the delicious bistro food.