The Return To Glamorous Dining

The Return To Glamorous Dining
South Africa, Cape Town, October 2005; Believing that ‘dining is like good theatre – about creating the glamour, which you want to come back to time and again,’ previous owners of the Vilamoura restaurant group, Victor and Naldo Gonçalves, have created Pigalle – Cape Town’s most stylish dinner-dance venue.

Named after the area in Paris renown for its exuberant surroundings and ladies of easy virtue, Pigalle restaurant masterfully captures the same sense of joie de vivre through its plush décor, sumptuous dishes and seductive jazz numbers performed by some of Cape Town’s best musicians including Ian Smith, Richard Caesar and Kevin Gibson.

Previously the rather tacky but much-loved home of the Green Point ice rink, interior designer Deborah Witkin has skilfully transformed the entire venue. Upon arrival at Pigalle, a stainless steel porte-cochére and 1930s style artwork hints at the glamour and lifestyle embraced within. Inside, the blend of decadent furnishings, in dramatic combinations of red, black, silver and white, together with delicately exposed warehouse architecture reflects the multi-functional nature of the restaurant – by day, a relaxed lunchtime hotspot and by night, a chic dinner-dance venue.

Whilst Pigalle’s ornate balcony offers the ideal spot for quick lunches and sundowners, its red-carpeted, split-level floor divides this vast 250-seater restaurant into intimate dining areas, all boasting views of bandstand and dance floor. Here, guests can enjoy pre-dinner drinks at the expansive mahogany bar whilst banquettes in rich fabrics, wingback chairs, elegantly dressed tables and over-sized French Provençal chandeliers provide the ideal setting from which to indulge in sumptuous dishes from Pigalle’s internationally inspired menu. After dinner the elegant glass-enclosed cigar lounge entices guests to indulge in a cognac and Cuban.

As far as cuisine is concerned, Pigalle boasts a time-honoured recipe for success. ‘At Pigalle, we’ve taken our bestsellers from all our other restaurants, so there is something for everyone,’ enthuses Naldo. Signature starters include ‘Caramelised sticky Pear & Almond flake salad’ and the ‘Mezze Platter – a gourmet combination of chouriço (Portugese sausage), trinchato (cubes of beef pan-fried in olive oil, wine and garlic), grilled calamari tubes with lemon and garlic and crispy grilled chicken livers.’ As the Gonçalves brother’s prawns have gained international acclaim, Main Course must-tries include ‘Mozambiquan shell-fish – langoustines and prawns butterflied and grilled’ and their ‘Mozambiquan prawn curry,’ whilst meat-lovers can revel in succulent dishes like the ‘Ala Klefta – roast lamb served with potato and vegetables and garnished with Rosemary.’ Those with a penchant for the sweeter things in life are sure to be up on the dance floor swinging the night away after indulging in treats like the ‘Baklava served with fig ice cream’ and the ever-so-decadent ‘Chocolate-topped Cheese Cake’

Pigalle – Cape Town 57A Somerset road
Green Point
Tel: 021 421 4848
Email: capetown@pigallerestaurants.co.za
Website: www.pigallerestaurants.co.za
Trading hours: Lunch – 12h00 until 15h00 and Dinner – 18h30 until 22h30. Open every day except Sunday’s.