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Pam's favourite restaurants in Cape Town............ As many people who visit the Cape for the first time do not have a good feel for distances, I have divided the restaurants up roughly into "parts" of Cape Town. Hope this assists you in planning your dining in our gorgeous mother city!
CITY AREA:
Jardine - This inner city restaurant has attracted rave reviews from the foodie critics around the city ever since it opened. Acclaimed Edinburgh born chef George Jardine was lured back to Cape Town and the result is a sensory sensation. The cuisine at Jardine is a marriage of contemporary European techniques and South Africa's finest seasonal products, complemented by a selection of premium and boutique wines. The restaurant offers two dinner menus: 1) Epi-curean Menu - A seven course feast with the option of wine pairing to compliment the taste and flavour of each course 2) a la carte - small seasonal menu featuring the finest ingredients and products available. 185 Bree Street City Bowl. Tel +27-21-424-5640. Update: I went and experienced the tasting menu on a Monday night for my birthday. Verdict: excellent - each course was a true taste sensation. Be warned, the tasting menu is fairly pricey! www.jardineonbree.co.za TOP 10 RESTAURANTS FOR 2009 Eat Out Magazine. Note that Jardine has a bakery which is open at lunch time - for some of the best sandwiches you will ever eat - head to the bakery (just below the restaurant) Not glamorous - but a wonderful taste sensation none the less! I have been 3 times this week! Breaking news is that Goorge Jardine is planning to move to Jordon wine estate in Stellenbosch soon to open a new restaurant- whether he will keep the city one open is unkown - I will update this as soon as I find out!
95 Keerom - has been scooping up all of the foodie awards since opening in 2004. It is not difficult to see why. The restaurant offers up-market northern Italian cuisine. The attention to detail is amazing and is reflected in the glamorous furniture, excellent service and delicious food. Pam's favourites: the seared tuna and the pork neck. Last ate there April 09 - still fantastic and one of my favourites. Note that they have opened Carne - the meat restaurant just across the road from their current restaurant. I loved Carne - it is a great addition to Cape Town. Address 95 Keerom Str, City. Tel: +27-21-422-0765 (to book 95 or Carne).
Savoy Cabbage - Relaxed fine dining in a chic and stylish setting of historic brick, glass and concrete. Signature dishes are the tomato tart, good seafood and well cooked game items Heritage Square, 101 Hout Street. Lunch Mon-Fri, Dinner Mon - Sat. +27- 21 424-2626. Booking essential (Location: City Bowl) Note: Very expensive - try it if you want to spoil yourself!
Bukhara - Stylish North Indian restaurant with a great, well deserved following. Simply delicious high quality food. Tel: +27-21-424-0000 (Location: 33 Chruch Street, City Bowl). Now also open in Stellenbosch tel 882-9133 (My Indian clients tell me that it is the best Indian restaurant they have been to!)
Manna Epicure - A great addition to the Cape culinary scene. This stylish pavement cafe is open for breakfast and lunch. For breakfast enjoy soft scrambled eggs with Norwegian salmon .......complemented by delicious freshly baked breads and freshly squeezed beetroot and ginger juice. For lunch or a mid afternoon snack pop in for an array of Tapas a glass of chilled wine. This spot will allow you to start relaxing into your holiday in Cape Town. 151 Kloof Street. Tel +27-21-426-2413 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BY PAM! Haiku - This restaurant ran trials for chefs in China prior to making their final decision. Haiku combines the cuisine from a couple of Asian countries and as such makes for a fun evening where you can experience many small courses ranging from dim sum to Peking Duck to Sushi. Take as many people as you can with you as this will allow you try many dishes - the concept is to share and food comes out randomly when it is ready. Note they offer split times for bookings - 7pm or 9pm. Food Type: Asian Tapas Tel: +27-21-424-7000 I highly recommend that you ask the waiters for their recommendations - and follow the advice given! EAT OUT TOP 10 RESTAURANT 2007 and one of my favourites - despite the staff being rather arrogant!
Caveau - Great wine bar in the city – perfect for a glass of wine and late afternoon tapas before heading through to one of the city restaurants. Sit out on the pavement, or inside the wine bar or in the courtyard of their new deli. The wine list is fantastic and they offer a large range of great wines by the glass. Heritage Square,
Ginja - The restaurant is best described as "Glam". Glam describes the guests as well who flock here to try Mike Basset's "passion food" He has been around, so elements of Europe, Australia and Asia inspire his kitchen and fuse seamlessly to create harmony and pizzaz. After dinner pop upstairs to Shoga for a relaxing drink on their art deco couches. Note that Mike Basset is now cooking at Myoga - see my Southern suburbs section below for more info. 70 New Church street Gardens - Dinner Monday - Sunday. +27-21-426-2368. Open for lunch 11h30 - 15h00 Mon to Sat. Booking essential (Location: City Bowl) TOP 10 RESTAURANT EAT OUT 2008 AWARDS.
Pam's Favourites for STEAK:
ATLANTIC SEABOARD (ie Seapoint, Clifton, Camps Bay area):
Salt – This glamorous restaurant is located in the newly revamped Ambassador Hotel in Bantry Bay. It boasts panoramic views across the Atlantic Ocean with floor to ceiling glass windows that stretch the length of the restaurant. The décor is modern and glamorous. Start the evening with a pre-dinner drink at the Salt bar followed by a wonderful dining experience of Peter Goffe-Wood’s cuisine. Book well in advance to get a window table. The menu offers fresh, modern South African cuisine with ethnic influences. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Tel +27-21-439-7258. Ambassador Hotel, Victoria Rd, Bantry Bay. (Pam's comments: I have now been to Salt about 5 times. The setting is gorgeous, dress up when you go as this is a fun glamorous night out. The menu is a mix of really excellent dishes, some mediocre items and some old fashioned favourites. This is a favourite of mine as it is one of the most romantic restaurants in Cape Town!
The Round House (Cape Town - en route to Camps Bay) - exciting (not so new) restaruant in a historic building dating back to 1786. In the 1800's it was used as the hunting lodge of Lord Charles Somerset. Now it is home to a fine dining establishment and chef ronan o'dwyer who trained in Ireland and spent time working in London at Quaglino's & Euphorium before heading to the warmer climates of Sydney. Address: Kloof Rd, Camps Bay. Tel 021 438 4347 www.theroundhouserestaurant.com Pam's comments: This is the best restaurant in terms of service in the Cape - they get 110% from me for taking service to a new level in Cape Town. I have dined there for dinner twice and for lunch once. The meals were all good - but not mindblowing. Lunch is a lighter affair and you get to sit outside. I love the Round House for the location, the setting, the service and the great wine knowleadge. The negatives are that they are very expensive for the local market. It is however a really special treat to dine there. I would highly recommend a visit. Note that they have now launched picnics and you can also visit for a drink to watch the sun set.
VICTORIA & ALFRED WATERFRONT (The V&A): Baia Seafood Restaurant - Portuguese inspired upmarket seafood restaurant in the V&A Waterfront. A winning combination of excellent seafood with impeccable service. The prices are steep - but it is worth it as you will enjoy every mouthful. If the weather is good book an outside table. Note that it is essential to book as they are very popular. Tel +27-21-421-0935. Open daily Balducci’s – This is the best restaurant to visit if you feel like just simply relaxing. They specialize in uncomplicated lighter meals in a chic environment. They are renowned for their pizzas, their salads , their burgers (tried again on 21 March 2010- and they are excellent!) and their great wine list. In addition they offer great value for money – so expect to find the locals beating a path to their door. Main Maill V&A Waterfront – faces the water if you sit outside. Tel no: +27-21 421 6002. www.balduccis.co.za Willoboughby & Co – This spot is located inside the main mall at the Waterfront – however this is its only fault! Willoboughy has the reputation for offering the best sushi in Den Anker – This is the Belgian restaurant in the Waterfront. It boasts one of the nicest locations as it is in the middle of the Waterfront campus – ie it overlooks the boats and it is a magical spot for lunch or dinner as the view is fantastic. House specialties include fresh West Coast mussels, served with pomme frites and Belgian Beer – a fabulous combination! V&A Waterfront. Tel no: +27 21 419 0249 Belthazar – This is the best spot for steak in the Waterfront. I went and ate there last week after boycotting it for more than a year as I had had bad feedback from people who had been. We not only had the most fantastic steak, but managed to meet the head chef. He is a butcher by trade who has reinvented himself as a chef. His passion shone through and the quality of the meat is now once again outstanding. It is definitely worth a visit. In addition Belthazar offer the largest number of wines available by the glass in the Southern Hemisphere. They have introduced a technology using nitrogen to preserve the wine – so if you are into wine and great meat – this is the spot for you. V&A Waterfront. Tel no: +27 21 421 37 53 Open daily for lunch and dinner. Myoga - Mike Basset owner of Ginja restaurant has opened up Myoga to high accolades - see the feedback from patrons on Eat Out website- they range from impressed to chef's who claim it is the best meal they have ever eaten. This one is definately on my hitlist to visit soon - I will provide feedback when I get there! Location: Vineyard Hotel, 60 Colinton Rd, Newlands. Note that this is Southern Suburbs and as such is about a 15 minute taxi ride from the city in non-peak traffic times. Tel: +27-21 6574545
PENINSULA (about 45 minutes to an hour from the city) Harbour House - This is an absolute favourite of mine as this restaurant boasts the best sea view. When booking try and get a table on the small side of the restaurant (the old part).....then ask for a table in front of the windows - if you get one of these tables - stay for the entire afternoon. The Harbour House has its own boats - so the fish of the day - is excellent. Check out the chalk boards for what the fish of the day is and how the chef is preparing it. My recommendation would be to sample what they do best - fish! Booking required during busy times. However, one can come late and enjoy the view of the harbour from the lounge while you wait for a table. Tel +27-21-788-4133. Open daily for lunch & dinner. The restaurant has its own bakery and supplies the best bread, croissants and pastries in the NOTE- the The Foodbarn - Franck Dangereux has spread his wings and started a new venture at the old Noordhoek Farm village store. The shop has been renamed THE FOODBARN and still offers the farm store produce such as delicious breads and deli items. The payoff line for the new restaurant is "100% PASSION HANDMADE REAL FOOD" This philosophy accurately summed up our eating experience. Relaxed child-friendly outdoor setting, friendly service, emphasis on fresh and innovative dishes ..........which was outstandingly delicious. Bookings are recommended for the fine dining restaurant. Note that the Foodbarn has been split into two venues - one is fine dining, the other is more of a deli where you can have a light lunch (no bookings taken). Tel +27-21-789-1390. www.thefoodbarn.co.za Live Bait - Cape to |
