Since his return to South Africa with his wife, Lana, Ryan Smith has been working towards the current incarnation of his eponymous restaurant, Ryan’s Kitchen.

Recently reopened, the restaurant sits in Franschhoek’s Place Vendôme, a heritage building that has been carefully renovated to complement Smith’s culinary creations and create a unique dining experience. 

While Franschhoek is no stranger to fine dining, it’s never had something quite like this – a quiet and classy spot in a relaxed, home-style atmosphere.

Image: Christoff Van Der Walt @ One League

Its food is exotic both in texture and presentation (Smith is known for his soufflés and experiments with foam and other texture) and familiar due to the indigenous flavours and Malay spices threaded through the menu. Ryan’s 
Kitchen manages to serve fine dining food in an atmosphere that is refined without being pretentious, both classic and modern, and family-focused without being sloppy.

The soft blue dining room provides an elegant backdrop in which the couple have fused traditional and contemporary elements, and is filled with sparking glassware and artisanal crockery that shows off the food coming out of the open kitchen. Looking out onto a sun-speckled courtyard is a cosy club bar where friends can mingle after lunch or solo diners can snack. 

Lana, who Ryan met while working at St Petersburg’s Royal Astoria, works front-of-house to ensure a faultless, family-feel guest experience. She has brought her expert hand in hospitality to curating the wine list, on which diners will find a variety of choices from the region to suit every dish.  

Ryan’s Kitchen, Place Vendôme, Huguenot Rd, Franschhoek
021 876 4598.
ryanskitchen.co.za

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