Cape Town Restaurant Tips by Jenniflower

Restaurant Name: Cape To Cuba

Cuban in theme, this is a very popular restaurant. You have to book a long time in advance due to this. It is worth the wait though. The ambiance is lovely, the decor different and interesting! A small harbour is opposite, and the patio seats offer a wonderful view of the ocean - especially at sundown.

Uniquely, everything in this restaurant is for sale... from the chandelier hanging above your head to the table you are sitting at! The price tags are in full view of you and so you can literally 'take your chair' with you! The owner has an antiques busines in Kalk Bay and also uses the restaurant as a show-room. Great idea, albeit expensive...

One can only hope that someone who's on their dessert hasnt taken a liking to your chair whilst you are still on your starter...

Favorite Dish: My favourite dishes are the chicken and veg ones, call me plain and undaring! But the other dishes are great and imaginative!

I have to admit though that the Black bean soup didnt seem to taste as nice the last time I visited... maybe there was a new chef on the job or something, but it wasnt the same. The Hemingway Salad was a bit lacking on the salad side - usually the flash-fried tuna steak floats on a Royal Garden of salad.

Cape To Cuba's brand-named cocktail mixes the ever-present dark rum with gin, schnapps, pineapple juice and blue curacao into a bright-blue light concoction that one has to avoid thinking of as cooldrink. Mojitos were the other favoured cocktail in our party.

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Theme: Other
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$31-40  » Currency Converter
Phone: +27 (21) 788-1566
Address: 134 Main Road, Kalk Bay
Directions: Cape To Cuba is situated alongside the rails in what used to be the goods shed for the Kalk Bay train station. This is found on Main Road, Kalk Bay
Other Contact: Wheelchair friendly

Restaurant Name: The Beachcomber Bistro

We visit the Bistro practically every day when holidaying in Cape Town. It is located on Fish Hoek Beach, so location is superb!

We take a walk along the beach and/or the catwalk, and then pop here for a light snack, or if later in the day, a main meal.

The restaurant is very plain in décor, service is abysmal at the best of times, but the food is good. Nothing fancy, but fine, and a good price.

There is a kiddies play area next to it, so mum and dad can sip on some wine whilst the kids are playing there. Plus of course there is the beach, which is family-friendly and a big playground in its own right!

We love this beach.

Favorite Dish: Our no.1 dish here is the Captain’s Basket, literally a basket of crispy calamari rings with some hot chips/fries.

This usually accompanies a glass of white wine! :)

Their Dom Pedros are also very good!

This, together with the gorgeous view of Fish Hoek Beach, is what a holiday is all about. When we lived here we did this often too, trying not to take it for granted!

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Theme: Eclectic/International
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: Fish Hoek beach
Website: http://www.fishhoekgalley.com/

Restaurant Name: Drifters

This is the third sister restaurant on Fish Hoek Beach. It isn’t a restaurant, merely a take away place, attached to the Bistro.

If you feel like a stroll along the catwalk and/or Fish Hoek Beach, this is the place to go!!!

There is plenty of parking in the Fish Hoek Beach parking lot, and the beach is popular for families, so a takeaway is popular here.

Favorite Dish: You can get all kinds of things here, hot foods, crisps, cool drinks etc.

The only thing we ever order here is vanilla and chocolate ice cream, with a flake, in a cup. It is seriously tasty ice cream I have to say, and a highlight of our holiday always!!!

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Theme: Eclectic/International
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: On Fish Hoek Beach
Website: http://www.fishhoekgalley.com/drifters.php

Restaurant Name: The Galley

The Galley is situated next door to the Bistro. It is owned and managed by the same people.

I have eaten here twice and have to say I do think it is overrated...

Décor is not nice, although napkins are cloth here, so it is definitely smarter than the Bistro, but it is in serious need of some décor taste!

It is expensive and service isn’t the best.

Weddings are often held here by the local community. The location is gorgeous (on Fish Hoek Beach), so photo opportunities are superb and there is plenty of free parking.

Favorite Dish: I had some cod when I was here last, and it was delicious.

The fish from these parts is always fresh as it comes straight from the sea practically. None of this frozen business here!

One of the things I really LOVE about South African seafood.

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Theme: Local
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Address: On Fish Hoek Beach
Website: http://www.fishhoekgalley.com/galley.php

Restaurant Name: Cafe Matisse

Located in the artsy Kalk Bay area, this is a lovely little café! It is on the High Street of Kalk Bay, across the road from the railway and coast.

It holds a special memory for us in that this was where we went for our first official date.

It co-joins with the antique shop next door, so one can have a wander through there and into this café, or the other way around.

It has loads of charm, is arty and funky.

Favorite Dish: We have only ever had drinks here, namely hot chocolate and coffee.

Both were very tasty and excellent quality!

Other food here does look good, and we would definitely eat here. Although prices I would think would be on the pricey side, as this place is quite in vogue and trendy in an artsy way.

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Theme: Coffeehouse
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: (021 ) 7881123
Address: 76 Main Road, Kalk Bay, 7975

Restaurant Name: Cobbs

Cobbs at the Cape Restaurant, Coffee & Cocktail Bar is located in friendly Scarborough, a conservation village on the Atlantic coast in the beautiful and rugged southern Cape Peninsula.

The restaurant has an excellent location, looking out over the Atlantic Ocean, where surfers do their thing, as do the sealife :) The high vantage point of the Cobbs at the Cape offer great land based whale watching. The most common whale sightings are those of the Southern Right, while dolphin sightings include the Common, Bottlenose and Dusky Dolphins.

Try and nab a table out on the balcony at dusk and watch the sun set... it's really lovely!

Favorite Dish: Fish & Grills, Pizza & salads or breakfasts, you are certain to find something you feel like on this varied Italian menu! It's speciality is seafood and the woodfired pizza oven and log fireplaces keep you warm in the winter evenings while sipping Cape port and enjoying the range of cuisine on offer. In summer the ideal place is sipping cocktails on their deck overlooking the cold Atlantic, before sitting down for a scrumptious dinner.

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Theme: Italian
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: +27 21 780 1480
Address: Main Road, Scarborough
Directions: As you enter Scarborough, Cobbs will be on your left.
Website: www.cobbs.co.za

Restaurant Name: Spur Steak and Grill

In South Africa we were practically brought up with this restaurant chain, with it's red indian theme. As adults we dont go here nearly as much as it is child orientated, where kiddies join the 'Spur Secret Tribe!' It's great for birthday parties and the like. As adults though, the food is yummy, portions sizeable, and we always have a good time here, rarely being disappointed.

Dont go hear of you feel like a romantic evening though, because it is aimed for the kiddies. Fair warning!

Favorite Dish: There are so many superb dishes, I will name a few highly recommended.

Lazy-aged steak, Various burgers with really great patties, Cheddamelt Schnitzels, Deep friend calamari, Linefish, Half ranch chicken, Nachos, Spur t-bone steak, Spur spare ribs, Enchiladas and their Salad Valley. This is my favourite. Their salad vallies are a buffet-style section with tons of different salads, from green to pasta. They do cater for vegetarians.

Their chocolate brownies are a firm favourite for dessert too.

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Theme: African
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Directions: All over South Africa
Website: www.spur.co.za

Restaurant Name: Nandos

This is probably our most regular restaurant. A firm favourite!!!!

It is a South African chain of restaurants, we used to go in South Africa now and again, but since living in London, have gone alot more.

Their website is worth a look, as they have some 'spicy marketing' haha They also have an online shop, as their spices are truly worldclass and DELICIOUS. They even have t-shirts in black with white lettering saying 'Hot n Saucy'... the waitresses have t-shirts saying 'Hot chicks' etc... alot of play on words and fun. They also have a gallery online, and the artwork is in their retsaurants, titled ROOTS - where they showcase African artists work. I have taken a couple of samples from their website so you can see the type of artwork.

Favorite Dish: We know this restaurant very well and have tried everything - a few times!lol - on it. They have a loyalty card system which is great too. Once you have eaten a couple meals you get a free bowl of olives, a couple more meals and you get a free quarter chicken, a couple more meals and you get a whole chicken for free! (You see the incentive here huh? haha)

It being of a South African Portuguese origin, the food is tangy generally, and the mild option is the leomon and herb option.. the one I usually go for. If I feel like some hottening up I add one of their superb hot sauces (free) onto it. Their grades are EXTRA HOT, HOT, MEDIUM HOT and LEMON AND HERB.

They are primarily known for their peri-peri chicken, but you get lovely steak rolls etc there too. Burger and pitta combinations are also great. The food is really delicious and the portions very generous!

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Theme: African
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Directions: All over South Africa
Website: http://www.nandos.co.za/

Restaurant Name: Quay Four

Quay Four is in a prime position, located in the hugely popular V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. It also overlooks the harbour, and is a favoured venue for returning locals and tourists.

Décor is simple, sleeper-style seating and tables on the outside terrace area (where the Tavern is) and much more upmarket inside (and upstairs) at the Seafood Brasserie, although unfortunately when we last ate inside it was smoking, which is not very pleasant for non smokers. The view over the harbour is splendid though.

Favorite Dish: I love the calamari here, it comes on a big bed of chips (fries) with a crisp green salad on the side. The fish is well cooked and seems to melt in the mouth.

The food is relatively expensive when compared to other restaurants with a similar setting in South Africa, but that is because you are paying for the privilege of eating at the Waterfront! haha. However, it is a great price if you compare it to other more upmarket restaurants like the 4 star The Hildebrand nearby.

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Theme: Local
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$31-40  » Currency Converter
Phone: +27 (21)) 419 2008
Address: V&A Waterfront, Cape Town 8002
Directions: V & A Waterfront
Website: www.quay4.co.za
Other Contact: mark@kristensen.co.za

Restaurant Name: The Timeless Way

To the north of Fish Hoek you will find the delightful fishing town of Kalk Bay, where the local fishermen ply their wares. They sell their catch of the day to the locals and to restaurants. You are guarenteed fresh fish when eating out on the Cape coast!

Timeless Way is exactly that. A restuarant full of charm and character with an eclectic mix of furniture.

Favorite Dish: Specialising in Cape cuisine, sea food, steak and pasta, my favourite meal here is baboetie, a spicy meat-loaf on a bed of raised rice.

Very yummy! Go with an empty tummy as the helpings are large.

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Theme: Local
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: +27 (21) 788 5619
Address: 106 Main Road, Kalk Bay
Directions: 106 Main Road, Kalk Bay, on the way to Cape Point
Other Contact: Ronnie & Kelly Veldhuis - owners