Restaurant in Cape Town

Old May 29th, 2009, 10:05 AM
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Restaurant in Cape Town

Hi

I've seen lots of suggestions on different restaurants in Cape Town, which I've found really useful, and have many I'd like to visit on my upcoming trip in July.

But I have one specific question and hope someone can help me with it. While in Cape Town I'll be celebrating my birthday, and it will be on a Sunday. On that day we are planning on doing a trip to boulders beach, and on our return we want to go out and have a nice dinner to celebrate. The problem is most of the restaurants I've checked are closed on Sunday evenings. Do you have any suggestions?

We are not set on a specific type of food or setting. The only restaurants I've seen that are open are the ones inside hotels, I don't know if any of those are good.

The other restaurants we plan on visiting (and know that are not going to be able to eat in all of them) are Ginja, La Colombe, Africa Cafe, Nova, The Roundhouse, Jardine. Feel free to comment on these as well.

Thanks for your help
Gabrielle26 is offline  
Old May 29th, 2009, 06:10 PM
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The restaurant at the Cape Grace Hotel, One Waterfront, was an excellent special occasion place when we dined there in 2006, and I presume it's still top-notch. Service was excellent. Pricey, but it's your boithday!
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Old Jun 1st, 2009, 08:34 AM
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Thanks, I'm going to check their website.
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Old Jun 1st, 2009, 01:10 PM
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I ate at Africa Cafe on a Sunday. But I am not sure I would recommend it.

I have lots of CapeTown food details here, from late 2007:

http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...lsbotswana.cfm
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Old Jun 1st, 2009, 06:45 PM
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I have had some wonderful dinners at the water's edge in Cape Town at the Radisson hotel. I normally am not fond of hotel restaurants but the location directly on the water and fabulous seafood cannot be beat.The menu changes frequently but my favorite last month was a combination grilled salmon with poached calamari and 5 large prawns with a potato puff for about $14 USD-to die for!!! Their wine list includes many different prices and the service is wonderful.I would definitely recommend a special dinner there.

Do be careful of Africa Cafe and Mama Africa-places that serve an unlimited buffet style. There have been quite a few of my fellow airline friends including myself who have had major "stomach problems" after eating there.
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Old Jun 1st, 2009, 07:38 PM
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The Africa Cafe is not a buffet - it is a sit down dinner that is served at your table. We have eaten there many times (including on Sundays) and never been ill. The service is excellent and the food is very good. When we lived in CT for a year in 2004-2005, we went there many times - it was our "occasion" restaurant. We were back in 2007 and 2008, and it was as good as always. We have taken family and friends there, and they have always been very pleased. It a favourite! Robin
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Old Jun 1st, 2009, 10:18 PM
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Hi Gabrielle26

If you're going to come halfway around the world to Cape Town, PLEASE, before you go for Asian fusion, French or other global/regional cuisines you really ought to first indulge in our amazing regional distinctive cuisine unique to Cape Town - Cape Malay.

Noon Gun, Zorina's, Biesmiellah, and Cape Colony (Mount Nelson Hotel) are all excellent options for Cape Malay food. The Showroom recently closed and I haven't been to the Cape Malay Restaurant at Cellars-Hohenort in years and years, so don't know how they are doing of late, but those are some of the others you might hear about. (Some background on Cape Malay cuisine can be found at http://bit.ly/12eopj)

Consider Addis in Cape on Long and Church for Ethiopian - but go early to avoid excessive delays in the kitchen. If you're keen for game, then Khaya Nyama is a good choice.

For cuisine I don't rate any of the other 'African' restaurants aimed at the tourist trade, although Marimba in the convention centre may be an exception if you're with a group and get their 'feast.' Africa Cafe rarely disappoints visitors, however, and neither does the Gold restaurant in the Gold Museum.

I am a fan of Moyo at Spier wine estate for eclectic Afro-fusion and and entertaining evening - excellent wine choices, good food but not a foodie destination per se -- it's the overall experience that's unique.

HTH

Kurt
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Old Jun 2nd, 2009, 08:23 AM
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Canadian Robin-I meant to say instead of buffet style- it is family style sharing at the table.I was very sick(think having to take Cipro) and the rest of my crew was also having problems after eating there.It is on the list for my airline as "be careful" so was just passing it on.

I personally thought that for the food portions(primarily veg) that $23 a person was rather expensive. I love African/ethnic food but in Cape Town you cannot go wrong with any type of fresh seafood that is served.
There have been some past threads about Moyo reusing the lunch food at the dinner hour, I believe.
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Old Jun 2nd, 2009, 09:00 AM
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Thanks,

I think I had confused the opening hours for Africa cafe and Mama Africa, of course Africa Cafe is open on Sundays as some of you said. I guess my problem is solved.

Kurt I'm going to check on the web page you provided, and the restaurants you suggested, thanks a lot.

Ekscrunchy I had read your trip report, that's how I decided to go to the Tasting Room on the only evening I'll be spending in the Winelands. My original choices were Bouillabaise, Reubens and The Tasting Room, so your report helped me a lot. I'm also using Southern Destinations for my trip.

Dutyfree, that sounds delicious, I'll be staying at the Radisson, but had not heard anything on their restaurant.

Thanks for all your comments
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Old Jun 2nd, 2009, 09:14 AM
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I didn't read dutyfree last post before posting mine. I guess I'll have to think about going to Africa Cafe.
I had read mixed comments about it, but still wanted to try it, don't want to get sick while on vacation though.

Thanks
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Old Jun 2nd, 2009, 11:39 AM
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we ate at the Roundhouse and Jardine. both were excellent, but the Roundhouse really did it up for the special occasion - our honeymoon. I'm not sure if they are open Sundays, but whatever night you go, try to do a little research and get a table with a window and be seated before sunset. just amazing. and the wine pairings with the various courses were phenomenal.
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Old Jun 3rd, 2009, 06:29 AM
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Lots of great winter specials on too! sorry for the huge list

enjoy!

Aubergine is lovely

and the Food barn in Noordhoek - old chef from La Colombe when it won all the awards... he does a tasting menu paired with wines

Andiamo
Two pastas + two glasses of wine R100
Everyday, lunch and dinner
021 421 3687
Alba Lounge
Two pastas and two glasses of wine for R100
Everyday
021 425 3385

Aubergine
Two courses R185 / three courses R245
Everyday
021 465 4909

Bravo
1kg of prawns for R69
Monday to Friday lunch and Tuesday evenings until the end of June
021 439 5260

Beluga
Two course lunch R125 / three course dinner R165
Every day until the end of September
don’t forget their year round specials: 1kg prawns R100 / 26 piece sushi platter R100 / half price sushi until 7pm
021 418 2948

Bungalow
Crayfish R100 / Lamb Shank R100 / half price cocktails & tapas between 5pm and 7pm
Everyday
021 438 0007

Caprice
Two of their legendary burgers for the price of one
Lunch and dinner, Monday to Thursday
3 course meal with Heineken R80
Friday nights
021 438 8315

Catharina’s
Two course set lunch menu with glass of wine R125 / three course set lunch menu with glass of wine R165 / three course set dinner menu with glass of wine R195
Everyday
021 713 3222

Five Flies
Two course menu + glass of wine R125
Monday, Wednesday & Friday
021 424 4442

Geisha
Half price sushi & dim sum before 7pm / 25% of noodle dishes
Everyday
021 439 0533

Harbour House
Three course R150 / two course R130
Everyday except Sunday lunches
021 788 4133

Henri’s in Somerset West
Three courses R120
Everyday until end June
021 852 6442

Myoga
Six course menu R150, paired with wines R225
Dinner only, everyday until end August
021 657 4545

Pepenero
Rump with fries and sauce R80 / half price sushi / seafood platter for one R110 / 1kg of prawns with chips or rice R100 / oysters R9 each / sushi platter R90 / Osso Bucco with mash R90 / pasta of the day R55
Everyday
021 439 9027

Salushi (Claremont)
Half price sushi until 5pm / standard starter + noodle dish R70
Everyday
021 671 4271

Sinns
Two courses with a glass of wine R100 / three courses with a glass of wine R125
Everyday
021 465 0967

Tank
Half price sushi
Everyday
021 419 0007

The Foodbarn
Three course meal R175
Everyday
021 789 1390

The Kove
Parties of 4 get one of the meals free / half price on entire menu between 5pm & 6:45pm / 2 courses with glass of wine R100, 3 courses with glass of wine R130
Everyday
021 438 0004

Tobago’s at the Radisson
25% off tables of 4 or more
Until end of June
021 441 3000

Tuscany Beach
Order two main courses, get one free / 20% of all sushi and oysters
Every night and lunches Monday to Friday
021 438 1213

Winelands:

Buitenverwachting
Three courses + carafe of wine R230
Everyday until end September
021 794 3522

Constantia Uitsig
Three lunch courses R200, with carafe of wine R230 / 3 dinner courses R240, with carafe of wine R280
Everyday until end September
021 794 6500

Cuvee at Simonsig
Two courses with a glass of wine R125 / three course with a glass of wine R165
Until end June
021 888 4932

Jonkershuis at Groot Constantia
Starter & main from the Cape Malay themed buffet R100 / add dessert R110
6pm to 9pm weekdays until end August
021 794 6255

La Colombe
Three lunch courses R210, with carafe of wine R240 / 3 dinner courses R250, with carafe of wine R290
Everyday until end September
021 794 6500

Terroir
Two courses R150 / three courses R195
Everyday until end September
021 880 8167

Event specials:

Cape Colony restaurant at the Mount Nelson
Four course pairing R350
Last Thurs of each month until end October
021 483 1948

Salt at the Ambassador hotel
Four course pairing R350
Last Thursday of each month until end October
021 439 7258

Sevruga
Twenty six piece sushi platter R110 / seafood tasting platter R110 / sushi half price between 2pm and 5pm and all day sunday
021 421 5134
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Old Jun 3rd, 2009, 09:35 AM
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Hmmm, I wonder if Africa Cafe is hit or miss? We ate there on our recent trip to Cape Town and it was one of our favorites. I think we spent about $80 USD which included a nice bottle of wine. We thought the food quite good and enjoyed the experience without feeling at all ill.
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Old Jun 3rd, 2009, 12:12 PM
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Gabrielle26,

Firstly let me point out that in July the Africa Cafe will be closed on Sundays so that ends the idea of you possibly going there for your celebration.

At this point let me also set the record straight on another issue that has come up in this thread. DutyFree I have to contradict you by saying that patrons do not get sick when visiting the Africa Cafe. If it happened to anybody in your group it was an extremely unusual experience and most certainly does not represent the norm. I have been visiting the Africa Cafe about 30 times a year for the past 10 years and I have had numerous visitors who frequent the venue when they visit Cape Town. I have never ever been sick after eating at the restaurant and I have never ever had a report of anybody becoming sick after eating at the venue. Furthermore most of the top accommodation establishments in Cape Town suggest the Africa Cafe as a good place to dine. I highly doubt if they would do so if they had reports from patrons who became sick after eating at the restaurant. In a nutshell it is 100% safe to eat at the Africa Cafe which already has been pointed out as not being a buffet but has also wrongly been described as a family style sharing at the table type restaurant. This formula is so off target. At the Africa Cafe there is a set menu. Everybody eats the same dishes of food menu which are brought in individual portions to each person at the table. One enjoys ones own portion and at the end of the meal one can call for as much as you want of whatever you enjoyed during the meal. There is absolutely no sharing needed whatsoever at the table.

To all of the above I must add I am not sure if I would recommend the Africa Cafe as a place to dine as I these days prefer to dine at Gold Restaurant which is a great place to enjoy a local type meal + cabaret.

Gabrielle26, all of the above does not help you in your quest to find a great restaurant to celebrate a birthday so let me give you my thoughts in this regard.

As you will be coming off a quasi Peninsula type tour my suggestion would be that you dine at Catherinas, http://www.steenberghotel.com/index.php?pg=4, which is the restaurant on Steenberg winefarm. This restaurant is not a hotel type restaurant even though it is part of the complex. It is a wonderful stylish venue where the food and service is excellent. The location of the restaurant is also close to where you should be ending your journey so this should fit in well with your day plans too.

If this restaurant does not suit your needs I would suggest that you visit Gold Restaurant (http://www.goldrestaurant.co.za/). Tell them it is your birthday – You wont be sorry.

Hope this helps and that you have a splendid birthday in our great city

Very proudly part of the wonderful nation of South Africa
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Old Jun 4th, 2009, 08:14 AM
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Those are great suggestions, thanks. Now I keep adding restaurants to my list of places I want to go to.

You've been really helpful.
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Old Jun 5th, 2009, 01:21 PM
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We just returned from our fantastic 2 1/2 week trip to SA, just a few hours ago. In Cape Town, we ate at Aubergine which was out of this world. We also had an outstanding dinner at the restaurant at Cape Grace, which is now called Signals (we also liked Ginja very much). Enjoy the celebration!
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Old Jun 6th, 2009, 09:20 PM
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other informative threads from late 2008

http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...n-capetown.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...n-capetown.cfm
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Old Sep 8th, 2017, 06:54 PM
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These restaurants sound interesting. Can you give me a price range ion US $
Thanks
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Old Sep 9th, 2017, 03:14 AM
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The rand is very low against the dollar now. So even the top places are not outrageous as compared to the US.

Here is my report from a few years ago when we spent a week at the Mt Nelson prior to going to two safari lodges:


http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...in-october.cfm
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