Restaurant Feature: Tryn at Steenberg

Tryn (formerly Catharina’s) is the new contemporary dining space at Steenberg. Named after Steenberg’s 17th century founder, Catharina Ras, who was affectionately known as Tryn to family & friends, the Catharina’s to Tryn restaurant revamp was aimed at bringing more of her free & feisty spirit to life. Last Sunday, I finally got to experience it for myself…

First off, I have to say that I am completely OBSESSED with the decor. It’s right up my alley: Bold, bright colours, velvety textures, gold accents, and just a whole lot of fun really.

Let me give you a quick tour:

And for those wanting to take advantage of maximum sunshine, there’s also lots of outdoor seating out front & at the back with some really lovely views:

Due to the current alcohol ban under COVID Level 3, they unfortunately can’t serve any of their lovely wines (sad face), BUT please don’t let that be a reason to stay away. They currently offer a really nice menu of non-alcoholic options including non-alcoholic beer & virgin cocktails. That way you can still have something that resembles an “adult drink” while enjoying a gorgeous setting and incredible food.

Steenberg Executive Chef Kerry Kilpin, started us off with an extremely tasty amuse bouche which left us wanting more:

Then we decided to share two starters – the Pan-Fried Prawns (with cauliflower purée, parsley velouté, nori & potato crisps) and the Salt & Pepper Calamari (with a red cabbage slaw, citrus vinaigrette, lime gel & coriander mayo):

Then for mains we divided our lines… meat vs fish… but with a shared portion of Truffle & Parmesan Fries – because let’s face it, who doesn’t love fancy fries?? 😉

Then we simply had to make some space for dessert because the options just sounded too good to miss out on. The pièce de résistance for me was the Chocolate Marquise, but we also tried the Crème Brulee (served with a white chocolate biscotti) which was lovely too.

As a quick wrap up: Stunning space, delicious food, friendly & attentive service, and we felt totally comfortable and happy throughout… even though we couldn’t enjoy a glass of wine.

You can view their full menu online over here – including their lovely breakfast options, their kids menu as well as a more relaxed lunch menu for those not wanting to go too large.

Strict COVID protocols are adhered to including temperature checks upon arrival & wearing of masks by the team & by guests when moving around. Tables are also well spaced to ensure social distancing.

Current COVID Level 3 trading hours:

• Breakfast: Monday to Sunday: 08h30 -11:00
• Lunch: Monday to Sunday: 12h00 – 15h00
• Dinner: Thursday to Saturday: 15h00 – 19h00 (last orders at 18h30)

With the alcohol ban & 9pm curfew, the restaurant industry is really taking strain at the moment. If you are able to, please support as much as you can. As noted above, Tryn is working very hard to ensure a safe & welcoming experience for all guests. It’s such a relaxing space, you’ll definitely feel recharged & be glad that you were able to get out of the house for a bit.

For bookings, contact them on +27 21 713 7178 or email them at info@tryn.co.za.

You can also show your support by purchasing Steenberg’s beautiful wines online over here. They’ll deliver it straight to your door as soon as the alcohol ban lifts.

I’m no longer doing my Miss K Kiss-o-Meter rating scale for restaurant features. Why? A mix of reasons really… 1) I feel like I’ve outgrown it, 2) I was only ever featuring restaurants that I really loved, so scores always ended up being on the top end of the scale & therefore the whole scoring thing became a bit redundant, and 3) With the impacts of Covid 19 our restaurant industry needs all the love & support it can get. If I have a bad experience, I’d rather raise it with the restaurant directly. This is something I was doing before Covid anyway and something I’ll continue to do. But ja, long story short, please trust that if I feature a restaurant here on the blog it’s because I loved the experience & think it’s worth adding to your “must try” list. I will also always be upfront about review invites & gifted meals and will add this in the form of the hashtags you will see below.

#gifted #reviewinvite