By Prashirwin Naidu
While meandering around Mpumalanga for the Volkswagen Transporter launch, we found ourselves taking a detour through Graskop, home to the famed God’s Window. It’s the kind of place that makes you pull over, take a deep breath, and marvel at nature’s handiwork — a view so serene it makes you pause and reflect on life itself. Nestled among those winding roads and misty valleys, we discovered a restaurant with a promise as lofty as its name: Divine Foods.
And indeed, divine it was at least when it came to location. Perched high above a valley with endless green stretching to the horizon, the restaurant offers a front-row seat to some of South Africa’s most magnificent scenery. Unfortunately, that’s where the “divine” experience stopped.
Our group, hungry from hours on the road, looked forward to a quick, hearty meal before heading to our next stop. What we didn’t expect was a marathon waiting session. We sat down full of optimism, but two hours later, that enthusiasm had wilted like lettuce left out in the sun. The service was painfully slow, considering the food could have easily been prepared in under twenty minutes.
When my salad finally arrived, I’ll give credit where it’s due: it was fresh and flavorful. A simple combination of feta, tomatoes, lettuce, olives, and cucumber, tossed in a creamy dressing. It hit the right notes taste-wise, but waiting over forty minutes for something that required no cooking felt excessive. To make matters worse, orders were being mixed up left and right. The waitstaff looked confused, wandering between tables trying to figure out which dish belonged to whom.
By that point, I needed something to lift my spirits — enter the coffee milkshake. Smooth, creamy, and sweet with just the right punch of coffee flavour, it turned out to be one of the day’s small victories. I savoured it slowly, both to cool down and to distract myself from the dragging service.
When the mains eventually arrived, I was too hungry to be disappointed, atleast not immediately. My plate featured chicken schnitzel, a handful of deep-fried onion rings, a garden salad, and a few wedges on the side. It looked appetising enough, though the taste was… fine. Not bad, not memorable. The cheese sauce, however, was the saving grace — rich and smooth, it tied the dish together and made it just satisfying enough to silence my grumbling stomach.
But then came the dessert, and finally, a glimmer of redemption. My colleague had insisted on trying the Apple Crumble pie, despite my initial protest that it would take another eternity. And yes, it did take a while but in this case, it was worth it. Served warm with a scoop of coconut ice cream, the pie was a deliciously comforting treat. The crust was crisp, the apples tender and sweet, and the combination of textures and temperature hot crumble meeting ice cream brought the whole experience together beautifully.
By the end of our visit, I found myself torn. The location was nothing short of breathtaking — the kind of place where you could easily lose track of time just staring out over the landscape. But the sluggish service, average food, and general lack of coordination left a sour aftertaste.
Divine Foods at God’s Window has all the potential in the world to be a truly special stop for travellers. With a bit more efficiency in the kitchen and some attention to detail, it could match its surroundings in excellence. For now, though, it’s a place best remembered for its view, not its menu.
So, would I go back? Yes but only for the view, coffee milkshake in hand, watching the clouds roll over the escarpment.
