Little Brak River’s Stonehill Restaurant – which received a Diamond rating in the Western Cape section of the Diner’s Club 2008 Wine List Awards and was listed as one of the country’s top 100 restaurants for this year – recently garnered another prestigious accolade when it received a Diner’s Club 2009 Fine Dining Award.According to Vanessa Singh, Head of American Express Card Marketing, Fine Dining Awards are presented to “restaurants that commit themselves to satisfying the superior dining expectations of a discerning clientele.”

“And this is exactly what Stonehill does offer – which is why we’re delighted that they’ve been recognised for their efforts,” said Mossel Bay Tourism’s marketing manager, Debra Bouwer.

“Stonehill strives to be a world-class restaurant and what sets it apart is that it has its own farm where all its vegetables and herbs are organically grown,” said the restaurant’s owner, Alan Robertson.

“This is a slow process but it ensures that our chefs have the finest ingredients with which to prepare the most delicious food.”

The menu at Stonehill – Provencal and Mediterranean with a modern South African twist – is supported by a comprehensive wine list which features top local producers as well as a small selection of French names.

Uniquely, the restaurant makes both its organic vegetables and its wines available for sale to guests.

Stonehill is open from Monday to Saturday from 5:00 p.m. to close and on Sunday for lunch from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. Breakfast is available for groups of 10 or more by prior arrangements. It is conveniently situated close to the N2 and boasts ample parking as well as a helicopter landing area at coordinates S34° 4` 46.19`; E22° 8` 25.21`.

Facilities for conferences of up to 30 delegates are also available.

“These awards recognise Stonehill as a leader in fine dining but they also point to the fact that Mossel Bay is moving towards a greater awareness of the importance of this kind of experience,” said Ms Bouwer.

“We’re very proud of Stonehill for leading the way.”