Outstanding value for money and other Cape Town, South Africa Restaurant Reviews

Restaurant Name: Cantina Tequila

I was there 4 years ago and I remembered it to be a great night out. So many times when you go back to a place with high expectations you are disapointed. I'm glad to say this was even better as I remebered. During summer you can sit outside and look at the boats departing etc. The service is great and quick and the waiters are friendly and helpful.

Definitely a favourite in Cape town. The best at the V&A.

Favorite Dish: A combo which includes taco's, ribs (unbelievable) chicken, beans, rice, chips, calamari, and more for 2 people are R120. It was too much. If you are not a big eater ( my husband is and it was too much for us) 3 or 4 people can share it. The children helped and we still send some rice and chips back. There are also a range of cocktails that are a bit expensive but very nice. 2006 : The prices for the cocktails didn't go up so they are quite reasonable now. Compare well to other restaurants.

2006. Restaurant and food still as good as ever. Price increased. R160 for a platter for 2. Still as big as before. Still good value for money. 2 people can easily share a platter for one which is R85. I shared with Rian ( he can eat a lot) and we still had leftovers for Gary.
Gary had nachos this time. Excellent. About R40. Big plate and very tasty.

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Theme: Mexican
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Address: V & A Waterfront
Directions: When you go out of the shopping area go down the steps to where all the boats are.

Restaurant Name: San marco

San Marco doesn't offer only dessert but the ice creams, cakes, don Pedro's are to die for.
it is situated at the V&A Waterfront. Everybody wants to sit outside and watch the harbour, the lights, the ships etc. This is the first restaurant i saw that offers heaters outside as well as a little blanket. The service is sharp ( even when understaffed, like we found them on a Saturday night) and friendly.

They also offer light meals, eg panini's, sandwiches etc

Favorite Dish: Don pedro with khalua. The kids - the choclate ice cream.

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Theme: Dessert
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: V & A Waterfront
Directions: Just walk out the doors of the main shopping area and turn to your right.

Restaurant Name: Blues

Sit outside with a beautiful view over the beaches of Camps Bay and the very busy and interesting street running next to the sea. You'll see anything from a top of the range Ferrari to a "gedaan" (run down) taxi, a luxury tour bus to a old beetle. The outside area is quite small but the inside area is big.

Menu offers seafood, pasta and a few gril goodies like hamburgers, lamb rib , steak etc.
Nice cocktails and wine list.

Excellent service.

Favorite Dish: Impossible to choose.

Garreth had calamari. Big plate with cajun spices. Very tasty and cooked perfectly.
It comes with rice but the waiter offered to do it with chips. They very flexible with the menu. You can order a single prawn extra with any meal if you desparetly need a prawn.

Gary had linguine with prawns. Very tasty in a tamato based sauce.

My Spur child rian had a hanburger. I didn't taste it but he said it was good.

I had gnochi with pesto and green beans. The best. They make the pasta and the pesto themselves. Better than Roela's ( a friend of mine that makes a great pesto) pesto.

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Theme: Eclectic/International
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Address: Beachfront Camps Bay. Upstairs
Website: http://www.restaurants.co.za/details.asp?resId=3247

Restaurant Name: Cafe & Life

So it was a Sunday afternoon. Very hot and busy in Camps Bay. The kids were complaining they were hungry. I could do with a coffee so we tried to find an open space.
We just wanted a quick something for them as we were going to the Spur later.

Rian needs to visit a Spur at least once during a holiday.

Unfriendly waiter so I was irritated immediately. The kids decided on a pizza to share. Not the worst frozen pizza from a supermarket can be this tasteless. The base was hard , very little cheese, small for the price. R45 for a large. It wasn't large at all. If my children say something is bad it is bad. They happy with anything that's called pizza or hamburger.

They had a pizza for the same price in Fish hoek that was twice the size and very tasty. ( See the Bistro and Gally restaurant tip).

Favorite Dish: Nothing. Very bad food. I understand know why this was the only place with open space.

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Theme: Local
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: Beachfront Camps Bay
Directions: You don't want to know. Just make sure you avoid it if you by accident go past there.

Restaurant Name: Mariner's Wharf

Still great plain fish and chips. I realised again the type of fish that the restaurants and especially the Something Fishy and other take away places call fish doesn't look at all like the Cape's fish.

Beautiful upstairs area for a sitdown meal. Gerald reccomended this and the decor is spectacular but we were too hungry and they only open at 1200 for lunch.

But the open area downstairs is also nice and the food great. Many moons ago the pavement infront of the Fontana in Hillbrow (johannesburg) was our restaurant late at night so this is a definite step up.

Favorite Dish: Fish and chips. You get a big box for R27. I had to do mine in 2 sessions but was not prepared to hand it over to anybody.

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Theme: Seafood
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: At the harbour in Hout Bay
Directions: Hout Bay

Restaurant Name: Farmstall - Noordhoek

The Farmstall is inside the Farm village situated on the southern end of Chapman's Peak drive. You can buy cakes, breads, veggies , preserves etc from the shop or visit the coffee shop for scones, milk tart , coffee, cakes, lunch or whatever your heart desires.
Nice tranquil setting. You can sit indoors or outiside. There is a playing area for little ones to give mom a bit of a break. I know when my kids were small these were the ideal places.

Favorite Dish: Scones with cream and real strawberry jam from a jar. Not these little plastic containers that taste like nothing. The kids ate what was left over in the jar with a teaspoon.

The scone is not shaped in the traditional scone look . It is more like a very fat slice of bread. (see photo , it's already cut open on the photo)

It is heavier than traditional scones and more tasty.

Kids had milktart that was very nice.

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Theme: Local
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: Cnr. Main Road & Village Lane, Noordhoek, Cape Tow
Website: http://www.noordhoekvillage.co.za/

Restaurant Name: Primi Piatti

For a quick breakfast or a coffee at the Canal walk shopping centre this is fine. Nothing special but also nothing wrong. The waiters have interesting outfits, they are friendly and helpful. Nice view over the canal from the outside area.

Favorite Dish: A normal bacon, egg, etc breakfast for Gary and the kids. I had a english muffin thingy that was like a miniature hamburger on a muffin.

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Theme: Italian
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: Canal City food court Century city

Restaurant Name: Spur

The ever popular Spur. My children haven't been on holiday if they haven't been to the Spur at least once. Even in Mauritius the Spur was the highlight of their trip.

Spur is Ok. If you have wild little ones, like mine was when they were small it is the ideal place. The waiters are trained to duck and dive out of the way of crazy kiddies. Balloons are forever popping and glasses falling over doesn't raise an eyebrow from anybody. Most Spur's have playrooms and some even outside playareas for the kids.

Some Spur's have good food but some are less good. The one at the V&A was less good.
I must say they are very friendly and helpful and the service is good. It is always busy as well.

There are a few tables outside for a nice view over the harbour.

Favorite Dish: I normally like the Spare ribs at Spur. The one in Kempton Park where I stay make great spare ribs. At V&A I had a salad platter. I found it a bit boring except for the creamed spinach which is always nice. Gary said the hamburger was dry. The children loved it.

Definitely not a great eating experience.

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Theme: Steakhouse
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Address: Top floor outside V&A waterfront

Restaurant Name: Spur

There is also a Spur in Gordon's Bay. It is nicely situated on the beach. Big outside area.
Read other tip on what makes Spur valuable. "for the kids"

Favorite Dish: We just had some coffee and the kids had cheesy garlic rolls that was quite good.

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Theme: Steakhouse
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: On the beach