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Why to visit Totties Farm Kitchen near Knysna

22/3/2017

4 Comments

 
Totties Farm Kitchen, Knysna, Garden Route
By Roxanne Reid
If ever you get a chance to explore the Rheenendal Ramble – an informal lucky packet of stops along the Rheenendal Road 15km west of Knysna on South Africa’s Garden Route – make sure you visit Totties Farm Kitchen for lunch or tea. You’ll get good food in charmingly old-fashioned surroundings. 

When we visited in summer the garden was a blaze of colourful flowers. There were pink roses tumbling over the entrance, succulents planted vertically in a box, chairs hanging from the fence, and a big galvanised bath with flowers in it above the gate. Don’t miss the fun of exploring the garden with its pond and waterfall, its gazebo and white tables in the shade. 
Totties Farm Kitchen, Knysna, Garden Route
Totties Farm Kitchen, Knysna, Garden Route
​We chose to sit inside the historical old house so we could enjoy the pictures of tractors on the walls and ceiling, the sepia tones of ruined buildings, an ox-wagon and an ancient car passing each other on the road, woodcutters and windmills. 
Totties Farm Kitchen, Knysna, Garden Route
Granny’s doilies got a second wind as place-mats, a candle crouched in an elegant bone china teacup, dolls and old bric a brac made themselves at home in the entrance and the guestbook rested on an old ironing board. ​
Totties Farm Kitchen, Knysna, Garden Route
Totties Farm Kitchen, Knysna, Garden Route
​Expect huge portions of tasty food beautifully presented with rosebuds and a smile. I enjoyed my veggie wrap, which was stuffed full of veggies and tasty pesto, while the side salad could have been a meal on its own. One of the other diners declared his gigantic burger delicious. Although he looked like a farmer with a big appetite, he confessed that he couldn’t finish it and asked for a doggie bag.
Totties Farm Kitchen, Knysna, Garden Route
Totties Farm Kitchen also does Sunday lunch (and weddings) in a big function room next door that looks out over another tumble of roses and a play area for kids. There were books for browsing on the tables, while rusty bedsprings, old suitcases, a rusted hoe and a blue-and-white door hung suspended from the ceiling. Elsewhere was an old treadle sewing machine, rusted saw blades reminiscent of Knysna’s woodcutter days and photos of the first steam train in town.
Totties Farm Kitchen, Knysna, Garden Route
Totties Farm Kitchen, Knysna, Garden Route
Totties Farm Kitchen, Knysna, Garden Route
​How did it get its name?
The restaurant is named after Florence Eleanor van Reenen, nicknamed ‘Tottie’ because she used to call her grandchildren ‘Little Tots’. Born in New Zealand in 1878, she came to South Africa as a nurse during the Anglo-Boer War. She started a general dealer and butcher here in 1922 to supply the staff from her husband’s sawmill. Part of the restaurant used to be her house, and today it’s run by descendants of her family.
Totties Farm Kitchen, Knysna, Garden Route
Totties Farm Kitchen, Knysna, Garden Route
Go to enjoy the garden, the food or the bric a brac; just don’t pitch up on a Monday or Tuesday, when you'll be disappointed to find it closed.

[2022 update: Sadly, Totties Farm Kitchen was a casualty of the pandemic but you can still visit the historic space and enjoy the weekly Totties Country Market on Sundays from 10:00 till 15:00.]

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Copyright © Roxanne Reid - No words or photographs on this site may be used without permission from roxannereid.co.za
Why to visit Totties Farm Kitchen restaurant on the Rheenendal Ramble in Knysna, Garden Route, South Africa
Why to visit Totties Farm Kitchen restaurant on the Rheenendal Ramble in Knysna, Garden Route, South Africa
4 Comments
Carrie Hampton link
24/3/2017 12:01:37 pm

Thanks Roxanne, I'm on my way to Knysna very soon and will definitely make a stop here at Totties. What other great suggestions have you got?

Reply
Roxanne
24/3/2017 01:27:58 pm

Thanks for reading ,Carrie. Have a look at my other post about things to do here: http://www.roxannereid.co.za/blog/15-things-to-do-near-knysna-on-the-garden-route. As far as foodie places, East Head Cafe and Ile de Pain get a big thumbs up too.

Reply
Gillian
26/3/2017 08:57:36 am

That's what a call soul food. From the pics it looks like a real gem.
It's strange as I have many times travelled along the Rheenendaal road and not seen it.
It's a must for next time. Lovely blog.

Reply
Roxanne
26/3/2017 09:05:04 am

It's a lovely place, Gillian, thanks. If you're driving from the south it's harder to spot that when you approach from the north. Just look out for the fuel station and it's behind that.

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