Just days after opening an outpost of Culture Wine Bar at the Time Out Market Cape Town, chef Matt Manning is at it again, unveiling his brand-new Grub & Vine restaurant at the Norval Foundation in Constantia.
For the past five years, Grub & Vine has been a much-loved fixture of Bree Street, in the city centre, serving up a concise menu of refined French bistro plates, and bringing a dollop of continental charm to the bustle of the city’s restaurant boulevard
And while the original Grub & Vine is a popular after-hours haunt – 'It’s a sexy, vibey space. There’s a hustle and bustle, like a New York-style French bistro,' says Manning – the new Grub & Vine Norval will be a more sophisticated alternative. Though open for early dinners, it’s likely to draw a lunchtime crowd stepping out of the gallery, or locals looking for an elegant bistro without driving into the city.
'Grub & Vine Norval will be what I call refined dining,' says Manning. 'Good honest cooking, with proper sauces. That’s the style we do, and we do it well. And we serve it with a great wine list that we’re known for, at reasonable price points.'
Wine was the catalyst for the new restaurant too, with Manning and gallery founder Louis Norval bonding over a love of fine wine at wine tastings and charity auctions.
'He showed me around the space at Norval, where he was looking to revamp the restaurant, and I was interested. But when I saw the wine cellar he has hidden beneath the gallery? Then I knew we had to do this,' says Manning.
Grub & Vine is certainly a perfect fit for the Norval Foundation, one of the city’s leading art institutions with a focus on contemporary African artists across its indoor gallery spaces and an outdoor sculpture garden. Once you’ve had your fill of the art, the new Grub & Vine promises a dining experience drawing on the inspired bistro-style cuisine Manning is famous for.
The menu at Grub & Vine Norval will follow a similar structure to the Bree Street original, with around a dozen dishes available as a menu d’jour of two or three courses, with the option for a longer tasting menu.
'But at Norval we’ll also offer the menu à la carte, with a reduced bar menu for people who just want to stop in for a glass of wine with a starter plate, or perhaps a platter of charcuterie,' says Manning.
That will certainly be the appeal of the sophisticated private bar area upstairs, while tables out on the wide terrace overlook the Norval sculpture garden that’s home to pieces by some of South Africa’s most famous sculptors; the likes of Brett Murray, William Kentridge and Angus Taylor.
It’s one of Cape Town’s most celebrated art destinations, cementing the city’s position as the cultural capital of the continent. And now, with Manning and his team of chefs in the kitchen, it’s about to become a gourmet go-to as well.
Grub & Vine Norval opened on November 30, 2023. Opening hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 12pm - 9pm
Love your art? Check out our guide to the best galleries and museums in Cape Town.