5 exciting new restaurants & menu’s in Cape Town
Despite this global Panasonic disaster, the Cape Town food scene is as busy and exciting as ever. Sadly many places have been forced to close, but many have weathered the storm or have been born with very exciting offerings. Here are a few new restaurants and menu’s I’ve tried recently:
This is the hottest new restaurant on Kloof Street and housed in the former Janse & co space. The modern, casual and multi-cultural menu by Chef Jesper Nilsson (with a strong nod to his Nordic roots) is served in a calm zen-like setting with a gorgeous outside (covered) courtyard. The newly installed bar serves inspired cocktails alongside a state of the art pizza oven. The menu is designed to share and I would highly recommend doing this between 4 people vs 2. This way you can sample more and the portions are very generous.
This spacious restaurant offers airy indoor (aka safe) seating and private dining space for 20 people.
The menu:
Charcuterie Board | 190 | 120
Marinated Olives | 30
Watermelon, Lime, Chilli | 45
Toast, Lardo, Anchovies | 70
Breadcrisp, Goats Cheese, Honey, Fig, Hazelnut | 75
Raw Vegetables, Sunflower Tahini, Dukkah | 80
Baby Gem, Plum, Walnut, Parmesan | 90
Beetroot, Curry, Cashew, Coriander | 90
Raw Beef, Dijon, Rocket, Blue Cheese | 90
Pizza Tomato, Oyster Mushroom, Rocket, Ricotta, Mozzarella, Lemon | 120
Pizza White, Chipotle, Corn, Jalapeno, Coppa | 120
Kingklip, Tomato, Red Pepper, Grilled Bread, Red Onion | 140
Chicken, Sobrassada, Pearl Barley, Corn, Broccoli | 140
Brisket, Lentils, Tomatoes, Salsa Verde | 140
Pork, Potato, Ale, Onion, Parsley, Smoked Lard | 140
Raspberry Semifreddo | 90
Paris-Brest, Strawberry, Vanilla Cream | 90
Ice-Cream Sandwich, Salted Caramel, Pistachio | 90
Cereal Ice-Cream | 60
Chocolate Sorbet, Olive Oil, Salt | 50
Chef’s Menu | 395 With Paired Wines | 795
Highlights: I loved the toast lardo & anchovies, raw beef with Dijon & blue cheese, Paris-brest with strawberry & vanilla cream, and the ice cream sandwich with salted caramel and pistachio. The pizza with tomato, oyster mushroom & rocket was as authentically Neapolitan as you can get. There are sadly only 2 pizzas on the menu, but I reckon they would turn into the best pizza restaurant in Cape Town if they served more. ëlgr also has a great wine list delivered by a top-notch sommelier.
Arguably the safest way to dine right now, the Nellie is offering a delicious picnic menu as part of their dining bouquet. They will set up your private picnic in their lush garden, or next to their pool. The latter option gives you access to an exquisite heated pool to splash around in. The menu is served in eco-friendly disposable containers in a wicker basket set upon a blanket with cushions for ultra-comfort. Every morsel was delicious and exquisitely presented. Drinks can be ordered directly off their menu from a waiter who ensures your every need is met. This is a lovely spoil and a wonderful option before winter sets in.
The Menu:
ADULT PICNIC MENU:
750 ml water
Biltong and droëwors
Mixed nuts
Spiced olives
Charcuterie selection with pickles and chicken liver pâté Smoked trout with horseradish cream and smoked trout pâté Spice fried chicken pieces with a sweet chilli sauce
Beef frikkadels with a homemade brinjal chutney Crudités with a falafel selection and seed hummus Cape Wineland cheese selection with homemade preserves and fresh grapes
Sliced baguettes and homemade biscuits
Mini quiche
Petit Fours Strawberries and cream
CHILDREN’S PICNIC MENU:
Cucumber and carrot sticks, Gouda cheese and hummus Chicken mayonnaise rolled crêpes
Rolled ham
Fried chicken
Beef frikkadels
Roast beef sandwich
Fresh fruit kebabs
Caramel popcorn
Cookies
Date balls
Jelly Tots
Juice
** menus are subject to change.
Picnics are available from Thursdays to Sundays. Collection times are between 12h00 and 13h00.
Pool picnics include a pool lounger, swimming towel and access to our main swimming pool area. Children are to be supervised at all times.
Garden Picnic: R395 per adult | R250 per child Pool Picnic: R595 per adult | R450 per child
Highlights: Just visiting the Belmond Mount Nelson is a highlight and all the food was equally delicious. I did particularly love the swimming pool access and the romance of it all.
I got to sample chef Farrel Hirsch’s new African Modern menu designed by the stories and flavours of Africa. It was inspired, original and utterly delicious. I can highly recommend this unique culinary journey and specifically with the local wine pairing. I have been a long-time fan of this restaurant and felt that this menu really showcased Farrel’s own style and food philosophy. Although it has seven courses they don’t overwhelm in any way and the dishes are delicious and memorable.
The menu:
AFRICAN MODERN
veldt brood
baby bread loaf, virgin butter
oodhingu, chicken parfait, lacto-plum, tendon crackling, biltong dust
simonsig ‘kaapse vonkel’, 2019
maghreb
beetroot three-way, baba ganoush, in-house labneh,
carrot & harissa emulsion, black sesame,
pistachio dukka, quick-pickled Israeli cous-cous, braaied aubergine
jordan ‘real mccoy’ riesling 2018
changu
line-fish, coconut, lemon thyme bulghar wheat emulsion, preserved lemon, chilli oil, cauliflower fondant, fennel, pass-pickled courgette flowers, saffron velouté
rijks ‘touch of oak’ chenin blanc 2018
suigstokkie
‘granadilla lolli-pop’
chesa nyama
grass fed fillet, white onion & roast garlic puree, crispy sweetbreads, tomato & cashew XO, creamy pap, coriander oil, bone-marrow & peppercorn dashi broth, pap crisp and semi-dehydrated baby tomatoes
joostenberg ‘philip albert’ cabernet sauvignon 2017
basbousa
roasted banana ice cream, semolina cake, lime & cream cheese, macadamia crumble
lomond noble late harvest 2019
jebena buna
popcorn cannelle, east african espresso
R490 tasting menu R350 wine pairing
The restaurant is currently open for extended daytime hours only with the last seating at 4pm.
Highlights: I loved every course but The Maghreb dish of beetroot 3 ways was perfection with loads of textural contrast. Inspired by Moroccan flavours, The Maghreb, means “place of set” or ”western” in Arabic (the region is north of the Sahara Desert and west of the Nile). The dessert course is often my best (funny that) and the roasted banana ice cream with semolina cake, cream cheese and macadamia crumble did not disappoint.
I finally got to this fabulous new restaurant in Noordhoek where Aegir brewhouse expanded into the former Red Herring space. This is a bustling casual dining spot but with exceptionally crafted popular dishes such as burgers, hot dogs, Neapolitan style pizzas, fish sliders and eggs Benny. The focus is on quality ingredients, exceptional taste and accessibility. It’s not surprising it’s as busy as it is Wesley Randles (ex Shortmarket Club) behind the menu design. If I lived closer I would be there all the time.
Highlights: I love nothing more than a delicious and simple meal enjoyed straight off the beach with sand still stuck to my toes. The squid sando was sublime. Crunchy succulent fried Patagonian calamari sandwiched between a home-baked brioche roll with dashi mayo and green achar. It got me wondering why fried squid is not served in a sandwich more often.
If you are in Cavendish square you simply cannot miss the new We Are Egg concept store. The shop houses a plethora of local designers and international brands but the part that impressed me the most was the food area. Various local artisan producers and restaurants have stands selling a few signature dishes. Represented are The Potluck Club, Dashi Poke, Lucky Sando, Soul Slouvaki, Sushi Box, Conscious Carnivore, Seed and Circus and more.
Highlights: I loved the interesting beverages and specifically the local happy Culture Kombucha. The chicken katsu from Lucky Sando was delicious. I loved how you can pick and choose from a variety of stands and then eat in the communal seating area. This is a gourmet food court that is world-class showcasing delicious local food.
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