Located in the Clock Towers Silo District, Saray is the only 100% Halaal restaurant at the V&A Waterfront.
The ambiance at Saray is inviting and cosy, evoking the authentic charm of a traditional Turkish eatery.
The soft lighting immediately creates a warm and inviting atmosphere, setting the stage for an exceptional experience of Turkish hospitality to the restaurant, with decor depicting the rich cultural history with traditional Turkish cuisine, making it the perfect choice for a few hours of delectable dining and relaxed conversation.
With no alcohol being served, it is popular with the Muslim Halaal community, serving both Cape Town locals and international visitors. I visited on a stormy Thursday evening and the 150-seater restaurant was full.
The first thing that struck me was the enormity of the menu, with pictures for those who are not familiar with middle-eastern food.
Saray’s meze menu offers a variety of meze, all at affordable prices.
All meals start with a serving of home-baked traditional Turkish baked bread. The menu offers middle-eastern delights such as Haydari, a yoghurt and garlic starter with a touch of dill served with warm bread, and Falafel balls served with hummus on the side.
My favourite was the Patlcan - pureed smoked aubergine topped with pomegranate seeds, served with warm baked bread. Most of the meze are priced at R85.
The full meze platter, which could comfortably serve 2-3 people includes a selection from the meze menu is R280 and has something for everyone.
For mains, manager Mohammed, who hails from Damascus, recommended the lamb shank served with mashed potatoes and vegetables – which was quite possibly the tastiest I have ever had.
I sampled the Hashhash kebab – beef lamb served on a bed of humus and Pirzola, traditional grilled lamb chops and Kofte, which is Turkish style meatballs.
For dessert Mohammed recommended the Kunefe, is a traditional Turkish dessert, made with spun pastry, soaked in a sweet, sugar-based syrup, layered with cheese, served with vanilla ice cream and pistachio nuts. To say it was heavenly is an understatement.
Murat K.demir, General Manager at Saray says; “Saray combines being halaal-friendly and fully halaal. We are committed to preserving the core essence of our brand, which is why we seized the opportunity to serve Cape Town’s now over 2 million strong vibrant Muslim community.
“It’s been rewarding to witness this community’s growth and diversity. Whether guests are enjoying our Mediterranean-inspired starters, specialised main grill dishes, or Turkish dessert delicacies, it’s gratifying to cater to a wide range of tastes while pioneering excellence in the halaal restaurant industry by being the V&A’s very first fully halaal restaurant.”
For anyone seeking an authentic taste of Istanbul in the heart of Cape Town, Saray is a must-visit destination.
IOL Lifestyle