On a wine estate edging towards the rural end of the Southern Suburbs, this is among Cape Town's finest restaurants, having racked up some impressive accolades and much critical mention. Filling out the innards of a chicly redesigned Cape Dutch farmhouse, Catharina's does fine dining extremely well, with minimal pretense and  maximum flavor. Chef Garth Almazan's reputation is for developing a truly modern South African cuisine; his flavors are complex, although his approach is unfussy. Besides the signature risotto (perhaps with asparagus, goat cheese, watercress, and shimeji mushrooms), Almazan's menu offers a small but diverse selection that inevitably includes seafood (for instance, locally inspired Malay fish with a calamari and potato samosa—itself a delicious surprise), Karoo lamb, and venison (served, for example, with beetroot purée, walnuts, root vegetables, vegetable crisps, sultanas, and spinach spätzle). Everything is carefully sourced and highly seasonal. On Sundays, there's a "family feast" set menu with a few mix 'n' match choices for vegetarians and those with a preference for fish. Beyond the culinary experience, guests here enjoy the restorative countryside-in-the-city atmosphere. By day, there's a superb vantage across the vineyards. At night, the groomed and chic interior design brings the indoor dinner experience a romantic charge, with subtle African elements.