Esther’s Country Lodge Restaurant in Hekpoort makes for an excellent lunch spot

This is not a place that serves itsy bitsy bite-size servings; here, you'll find home-cooked meals. There were two whole tilapia on my plate, grilled to perfection. The only thing I could complain about was that the fish was boney, but that’s what you get when you order whole tilapia, so it’s not a complaint, really, just an observation.

I had to ask about the tilapia as it is not seen much on menus and Esther told me they get the fish fresh from a place down the road. I did some digging and found it is called Integrated Aquaculture Group, a scalable biological farming operation whose website says that they “specialise in operating and building intensive, environmentally-conscious aquaponics solutions” and that they are “water-wise, organic-equivalent, zero-discharge, natural fertiliser-using food producers”. They are also members of Taasa — the Tilapia Aquaculture Association of South Africa — and are lobbying to grow the industry. So, yes, I felt pleased with myself for choosing this dish.

Two sides come with the meal so I chose veggies (tasty carrots and broccoli) and gnocchi. It stumped me to think of this as a side but I'm happy I chose it. It was the best hashbrown gnocchi combo ever. When I asked Esther about it she said she was experimenting with boiled potatoes one day and created this creamy disc of potato that is crunchy on the outside with pillowy goodness inside. It's heaven for potato lovers like me.

My husband had the beef lasagne, which, surprisingly, he ate most of. Surprisingly, because he gorged on the rolls served before, which they bake fresh every day.

All in all, it was a great eating experience. 

• Esther’s Country Lodge Restaurant is on the R560 in Hekpoort. Open Tuesday to Friday from 10am-7.30pm and from 8am-7.30pm on Sundays. Closed on Mondays. For reservations, phone 014-576-4000.