The Kove Collection’s newest restaurant The White Rabbit has opened alongside Dalliance, also a Kove Collection restaurant, in the V&A Waterfront. It is a feminine coffee shop and bar in a quiet section of the Waterfront, a place of respite from shopping in the mall.
The White Rabbit is one of fourteen restaurants in the Kove Collection, with its newest restaurant and bar Bilboa and Chinchilla, respectively, opening in Camps Bay today.
The White Rabbit is a unique coffee shop, more focused than La Belle Bistro & Bakery (in Camps Bay 
and at the Alphen Hotel), in that it only offers coffee, sandwiches, cakes, and other sweet treats. The coffee shop is a small space in the walkway outside Dalliance restaurant, with a bar counter, as well as seven tables. Tables are white topped with white metal legs, and white chairs and light wood legs. Each table has a holder of sugar sticks, and a pink flower to pick up the pink and white theme of the coffee shop. A red and white striped canopy adds colour, whilst a Veuve Clicquot yellow sweet treat trolley with a matching yellow umbrella, attract attention, being closest 
to the passageway on ‘Millionaire’s Mile’ in the Waterfront. The counter has a bunny lamp, fitting in with the theme, while large glass jars are filled with marshmallows, to reinforce the pink and white decor theme, a special treat intended for children.
Inside the sweet treat trolley the following was displayed, delivered fresh to the coffee shop every morning in time for its opening at 9h00:
:
# a delicious vegan carrot cake, of which I had a slice with my Illy cappuccino, offered with a black paper serviette and a rose gold cake fork (R40)
# macarons (R35 for two)
# a triple chocolate Bundt cake (R35)
# cupcakes in pink and yellow and pink (R25)
# gluten-free brownies (R45)
# chocolate chip cookies (R10 for two)
# milk tarts (R35)
# gluten-free caramel cheesecake (R60)
# fudge
# lemon meringue tarts (R35)
# s’mores (R35)
# lammingtons (R25)
# Greek shortbread (R25 for two)
# scones, with butter, cheese, cream, and jam (R55)
The menu is attractive in an unusual purple cover with gold lettering. One can also order ‘Tea Sandwiches’, with egg tartar, capers, cornichons, dijon mustard, dill, and crème fraîche, at R60; with Tuna, olives, sundries tomato, cucumber, and aioli, at R65; and with cucumber, avocado, cream cheese, and aioli, at R50. Plain croissants cost R55; smoked salmon croissant with horseradish, crème fraîche, pickled shallots, and capers costs R110; and pastrami croissant with hot English mustard, slaw, and garlic aioli is charged at R75. Three wrap types are offered, with lemon chicken; bacon, lettuce, and tomato; and a Caesar salad one, priced between R60 and R75. A healthy granola breakfast with fruit, honey, and yoghurt costs R70.
Beverages offered in addition to cappuccinos and twelve speciality teas are iced coffees, hot chocolate, and milkshakes. Four speciality Gin & Tonics cost between R60 and R70. Dom Pérignon, Veuve Clicquot, and Billecart – Salmon champagne can be ordered by the 
bottle, in a price range of R1600 to R5000. Local bubblies offered are Graham Beck and Villiera ‘Traditional’ (sic), the former by the glass at R90. A range of house wines (made by Waterford, Diemersdal, Diemersfontein, and Thelema) as well as branded wines are offered, all by the glass and the bottle (with the exception of Rupert & Rothschild, Stellenrust Cornerstone, ‘Plaisir de Merie’ Merlot, Rijk’s Shiraz, and Creation Pinot Noir). Wines are reasonably priced, from R30 per glass of white wine and R35 per glass of red.
Typing errors in the winelist detract from the otherwise excellent presentation of The White Rabbit. The service from Annlissah was friendly and professional, despite her having lost her voice on the day that I visited. Staff look sweet in their white shirts, white aprons, and pink bow ties, reflecting the colour scheme of The White Rabbit. The manager told me that the staff work at both The White Rabbit and Dalliance, and they change aprons and bow ties (blue for Dalliance), depending on which restaurant they work at.
The White Rabbit, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town. Tel (021) 418-1037 www.kovecollection.com Twitter:@kovecollection Instagram: @kovecollection
Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.chrisvonulmenstein.com/blog Tel 082 55 11 323 Twitter: @Ulmenstein Facebook: click here Instagram: @Chris_Ulmenstein
————————————————————————————————————————————————
Review procedure: In general I pay for all meals, and such restaurant feedback is denoted with ‘Restaurant Review’ in the headline. Should I be asked during my time in the restaurant, I will share my feedback with the restaurant manager and/or chef. I evaluate the booking procedure prior to arrival, the arrival welcome, the water offer, the decor, the table decor, the menu appearance and accuracy, the winelist appearance and accuracy, the meal, the making of the dry cappuccino, the bill accuracy, and any other feedback which may be of use to both the restaurant and the diner. Should I be invited to try a new restaurant or a new seasonal menu, I will disclose this and the Blogpost will not be called a Review.
My policy is to be honest at all times in what I document, without malice or agenda, as I experienced the restaurant. I openly make notes in my book, and photograph the dishes, often at the pass to obtain the best lighting. I do not wear disguises (yet). I do not use aliases if I have to reserve a table. Meeting and speaking to the Chef is a highlight of a restaurant visit. I am happy to meet with a restaurant to discuss my feedback.
I do not make any income from my Blog, and therefore can never be compromised in a Review or story. I would not charge for any interaction with a restaurant, wine estate, or other supplier. I Instagram most of my photographs and use these in my posts. I Tweet and Facebook links to my Blogposts after publication.
