VDM Bistro was created out of passion for what both of them share. A love for food and people. Their willingness to succeed drove them to action to start this diamond in the rough despite being amongst many sceptics:`…you guys crazy opening a restaurant now when everyone is closing theirs…` One person was not a sceptic. That was `Oom Jaap`, Tino`s stepdad. If it were not for him, none of this would have been possible. Tino & Jac want to dedicate the success of this restaurant to him.

A special mention to Tino`s mom– we are indefinitely grateful for your constant love, guidance, and support through everything that happened `back-stage` to make this dream a reality. We can never say thank you enough.  A wise man once said:`If you do what you love, you will never work a day in your life`. So, they welcome you all to their `Dining-In Bistro`. May you nexperience their warmth and love that they have for those around them, and may it feel as if you are visiting them inside their own home.

Fresh produce is a rare commodity in the Karoo. The only means of having anything `fresh` was to buy in bulk, whenever you could get your hands on anything and `pickle` it. And did they pickle! His mom still pickles everything and anything to this day and so do we. (Have a look in our Deli section). His dad`s biltong and droëwors are `next-level`. (…Deli section). After graduating from Hotel-School, Jac also set sail and once again another `VDM` was circling the globe onboard Cruise ships. Jac eventually settled in the US for a couple of years.

Then came `aunty-Rona` (aka Corona Virus): both the guys lost their jobs due to the pandemic and had to return home until the dust settled. Tino being in Cape Town at the time packed his car and started the long `trek` towards Gauteng to visit his mom and stepdad. Being adventurous by nature, he did not want to stay over in the obvious halfway stops like Britstown or Colesberg. Guess where he stopped?…. Vosburg, and where was Jac? Vosburg.

As they say: `the rest was history`. 

Now you know why there is a Rolbos/Tolbos/Tumble-Weed on their logo. Everything started in the desert, in Vosburg, the Great Karoo.