Nostalgie restaurant in Oudtshoorn, Klein Karoo

By Roxanne Reid
Completely bald and dressed in bright purple, she’s standing at the garden gate waiting to welcome us. We’ve come to Nostalgie restaurant in Oudtshoorn, Klein Karoo, to see why Tripadvisor lists it as number one of nearly 30 in the town.

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The red banners and purple-dressed shop mannequin at the gate of Nostalgie restaurant are just a hint of what lies beyond. There are lace cloths on tables under the trees in the garden and on the stoep. We choose a table on the stoep among fresh flowers, a battered suitcase full of hats, a crate of old cooldrink bottles and a random display of old shoes.

A couple of vintage dresses are on display too; the one hanging on the window next to me is coral-pink guipure lace, fully lined with satin and hemmed by hand. Our place mats are old LP records that provide a few minutes of wistfulness as we read the titles of songs from the 1970s or beyond.

The garden has shady nooks and a number of unusual objects d'art

Inside on a cold day, a fire is burning in the grate and a mom and child are warming themselves and enjoying a bowl of soup. There’s also a small shop full of big old glass jars of brandy snaps, crunchies and brownies. Jars of jam, preserves and honey line the shelves underneath a display of old tins and soda siphons, things I remember from when I visited my granny as a child.

The friendly owner, Aurora Weideman, tells us that she and her daughter May run the place together. She smiles when I tell her how much I love the nostalgic space they have created, a delightful retreat into a bygone era.

Walls of busy shelves and glass jars of goodies evoke the idea of a general dealer from long ago

Not surprisingly for a restaurant in the Klein Karoo, the menu includes ostrich in various forms from steak, kebabs and burgers to wraps, pies and salads. I order the old-fashioned bobotie, which comes with yellow rice, chutney, stewed peaches, and a dish of veggies: sweet potato cooked like boerekos should be, with butter and sugar, broccoli cheese, and spinach with onion and mushroom. Hubby declares his Moroccan-style lamb shank, served with mash and veggies, equally delicious. 

The decor touches, place mats and old fireplace make you love Nostalgie even before you taste the food

For dessert we choose peppermint tart and the lemon meringue, which comes in its own individual dish with a huge head of meringue. Really satisfying, even for hubby who is a bit of a lemon meringue nut and can never get enough.

Read the signs, smell the fresh flowers and remember a time when people sewed their own dresses

At Nostalgie you get good food, efficient and friendly service without making you feel rushed, and an enjoyable venue with something to catch your eye and provide conversation wherever you look. Even prices are nostalgic – a throwback from the past that would make a Cape Town restaurateur weep; for instance, R60 for bobotie, R90 for lamb shank, R60 for chicken schnitzel, R60 for an ostrich fillet burger with potato wedges or chips. A kids portion of spaghetti bolognaise is R25.

I stupidly didn't think to ask if everything was for sale or just for decor

Next time you’re in the Klein Karoo, take a trip down memory lane at Nostalgie and enjoy good food at yesterday’s prices. Nostalgie is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can also stay over at the Nostalgie B&B.

Need to know
Nostalgie
74 Baron van Reede Street
Tel 044-2724085, cell 072-3240448 or 084-4426792
Email: aronaweideman@gmail.com
Website: http://www.nostalgiebnb.co.za/restaurant.php  

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