Reuben’s Franschhoek, and The Big Dog belonging to Terbedore Coffee Roasters, opened in Franschhoek in May. Both restaurants appear to be very popular amongst locals. A further new Franschhoek restaurant is rumored to be opening. The Promenade in Camps Bay is undergoing major changes, with Blues and Mezepoli appearing to have closed down, the former having operated in Camps Bay for 30 years, and having put Camps Bay on the tourist map. The Hard Rock Café is said to be opening in the Blues space, and Zenzero is undergoing a renovation. 

We update information about newly opened and closed restaurants continuously, and welcome such news.

Restaurant Openings

#   Reuben’s Franschhoek has re-opened just off the main road, after a twelve month closure for renovations. (Photograph)

Restaurant Review Two: Reuben’s Franschhoek re-opens in new venue, mix of new and familiar dishes!

 # Ben Wei Fusion, Sushi, and Asian has opened in Wembley Square 

Ben Wei offers extensive freshly-made Sushi, Asian, and Fusion food menu!

# The Granary Café has opened in The Silo Hotel in the V&A Waterfront.

#. The Silo Rooftop is a new rooftop bar and light meal eatery in The Silo Hotel.

# Primal Eatery #meatery has opened where Charcoal was located previously, with owner Brynn Felix and Chef Phil de Villiers, focusing on open-fire cooking of all dishes.

# Marigold has opened in Franschhoek, part of the Leeu Collection

# La Parada Del Mar has opened in Camps Bay.

# Tiger’s Milk has opened in the SanClare Building in Claremont, in Century City, in Bryanston, and in Stellenbosch.

# Harbour House is to open in Johannesburg

# The Hard Rock Café is said to open in The Promenade in Camps Bay, where Blues operated previously.

# Jamie’s Italian is to open in Cape Town.

#. Dunkin’ Donuts will open 250 outlets in our country, the first outlet having opened at N1 City in Cape Town.

# Papa San, previously of Takumi, has opened his own restaurant Obi with Ben Bettendorf, on Long Street.

# Cheyne’s is opening a cocktail sake bar, to be called Fire Monkey.

# Chef Cheyne Morrisby has opened a Ramen and Japanese Grill House, called SHIO, in De Waterkant.

# Chef Garth Almazan, previously of Catharina’s at Steenberg, has opened Leeto restaurant in Paternoster.

# Chef Bertus Basson has opened new restaurant Spek & Bone off Dorp Street in Stellenbosch.

# Chef Bertus Basson is the new Chef Patron of the Bertus Basson @ Ritz Hotel Revolving Restaurant in Sea Point.

# Baconville has opened in Willowbridge, a second (franchised) restaurant by Richard Bosman.

# Terra Madre has opened in Elgin, for lunch on Fridays and Saturdays from 10h00 – 16hoo, owned by Nicole Precoudis.

# Mangata has opened in Simon’s Town.

# Cabana will open in The Ritz

# Black & Co has opened in Constantia as a coffee and gift shop.

# Chefs has opened in Gardens, with Chef Jenny Ward in the kitchen.

# The Vine Bistro at Glenelly has opened, with Chef Christophe Dehosse.

# Bon Appétit Keam Restaurant has opened in Grabouw.

# Solo Restaurant has opened on Loop Street.

# Pizza Hut has opened on Kloof Street

#. De Villiers Chocolate Cafë has opened in Franschhoek.

# El Burro has opened in Newlands

# Stepbrothers Deli, Locanda, and Bar has opened in De Waterkant.

# La Colombe will open the new restaurant Le Petite Colombe in Le Quartier Français in August.

# Vista Marina is to open next to the Two Oceans Aquarium.

# J’Something of Mi Casa has opened Something’s Cooking by J at the new Sun International Times Square in Pretoria.

# Ground Coffee has opened in De Waterkant.

# Bosjes Kombuis has opened at BOSJES, with guidance from Chefs Pete Goffe-Wood, and Chef Kim Cox.

#. Hokey Poké has opened in the city centre, offering Hawaiian cuisine.

# The Sorrows Bar and Eatery has opened on Kloof Nek Road.

#. Osteria Tarantino has opened in De Waterkant.

# Chef Bertus Basson has opened The Deck at Hidden Valley.

# The owners of Jarryds have opened The Chicken Shop in Sea Point.

# Yuzu Kitchen & Bar has opened on Kloof Street.

# Woolworths has opened a health restaurant NowNow on Longmarket Street.

# Harrington’s Cocktail Lounge has opened where Assembly used to be, with Sheldon Raju as Consulting Chef.

#  A truly Italian restaurant has opened in Parklands, called Ital Emporio & The Green Life, a joint co-operation between Davide Ostuni of Puglia Cheese and The Green Life.

#  Col’Cacchio is to open in the V & A Waterfront.

#   Terbodore has opened The Big Dog restaurant and coffee shop in Franschhoek. 

#  Chef Margot Janse is rumored to be opening a restaurant on Môreson wine estate outside Franschhoek, with Susan Huxter.

#  J Something of Mi Casa is to open a restaurant in Cape Town, in addition to a Pretoria restaurant he  opened in March. 

#   The Rib Shack is to open in Sea Point later this month. 

#   Oumeul Bakery & Cafë has opened in Simondium, outside Franschhoek. 

#  Lou Lou’s Bar is opening in the Cape Quarter. 

#   The Crazy Horse Gastropub is opening on Bree Street. 

#   Melissa’s is opening in Hermanus in November. 

#   Hussar Grill is opening in the Protea Hotel in Franschhoek. 

Restaurant Closures

# Borage Bistro has closed down, with no word as to it reopening at a new site.

# Palma has closed on Bree Street.

# Bootlegger in Bantry Bay has closed down.

# Searle’s in Greyton has stopped operating, and is for sale.

# Showroom in Stellenbosch has closed down.

# Bistro13 has closed down at Stellenbosch Vineyards.

# Baked at Bistro on Long Street and at Regent Road in Sea Point have closed down.

# Love, Revenge, and Cappuccino has closed down in the V & A Waterfront.

# Bistrot Bizerca has closed down.

# The Tasting Room at Le Quartier Français has closed down. 

#   Blues restaurant has closed down in Camps Bay, after 30 years of operating.

#   Mezepoli has closed down in Camps Bay. 

#  Raya Kitchen, belonging to Kitima, has closed down on Wale Street.

#   Rivendell Restaurant near Kleinmond and Bot River has closed down.

#   Ragafellows in Hout Bay has closed down.

#   Grill under the Milkwood has closed down.

Restaurant changes

# OYO at V&A Hotel has re-opened after a complete renovation, and is now called Ginja.

# Tiger’s Milk Smokehouse is opening where Emily’s used to be on Kloof Street.

# The Long Table Restaurant and Café at Haskell Vineyards closed last year, and will re-open after an extensive renovation, upgrade, and general maintenance, to be run by the winery itself when it re-opens.

# Chef Liam Tomlin’s Indian tapas bar Thali, headed up by Chef John van Zyl, has opened. The project partner is Dimo Papa Christodoulou of Fat Cactus and Long Street Cafe. They will not take reservations.

# Chef Bertus Basson is renovating Overture in winter.

# The Fat Butcher has opened in Stellenbosch.

# The Mess has opened in The Rockwell, previously Café Dijon

# Adam Whitehead of The Power & Glory has taken over the Rafiki space to create a new eatery The Sunnyside Grill.

# Chef Kobus Van Der Merwe has moved out of his Oep ve Koep venue in Paternoster, and reopened as Wolfgat.

# Seabreeze Fish & Shell has opened, where Palma used to operate on Bree Street.

# La Tête Restaurant has opened where Orinoco operated on Bree Street, with Chef Giles Edwards.

# Chefs Nik van Wyk and Westley Muller have taken over the restaurant at Haute Cabriere, retaining the name of the restaurant.

# Origins at The Marine has taken over the Seafood Pavilion space at The Marine Hotel in Hermanus.

# Life Grand Café has opened where the Hildebrandt used to operate in the Waterfront.

# The former Alba Lounge in the Waterfront has re-opened as a Portuguese restaurant MAReSOL

# Ile de Pain has reopened in Knysna, after a devastating fire in 2015.

# Hail Pizza has opened in the courtyard at Clarke’s on Bree Street.

# Reuben’s is no longer operating at The Robertson Small Hotel. The hotel is now running its own restaurant.

# Bootlegger has opened in Bakoven where Baked Bistro used to operate.

# SCHOON (de Companje) has handed over the running of its restaurant and business to Boschendal until the end of July. SCHOON will re-open elsewhere at an as yet unknown venue and at an unknown date. Boschendal will close the Church Street eatery from August onwards, renovate, and reopen with a new brand.

# Richard’s Supper Stage has relocated from Sea Point to The Rockwell Dinner Theatre in Green Point. The downstairs Bistro has closed down.

# Cassis has moved its shop in the Garden Centre into a central open space.

# Chefs Nic van Wyk and Westley Muller are no longer running Kan10 at De Warenmarkt.

# Healey’s Cheesery & Deli is now based at Waterkloof Winery

# Karoux in McGregor has reopened in a new building, next door to the previous restaurant space. 

# HQ has taken over the Bistrot Bizerca space, to become an international concept restaurant.

#   The Classic Car Bar pop-up restaurant in the V&A Waterfront has closed down, with a new Kove Collection restaurant said to be opening in the space. 

#   Zenzero in Camps Bay is undergoing a major renovation. 

#   The third floor cosmopolitan restaurant at Villa 47 is said to be changing into an Italian restaurant, and to have appointed a Michelin star chef, in September. 

#   The Italian owners of La Sosta in Swellendam have sold the restaurant. It will be operated under the same name by the new owner. 

#   Chef Giorgio Nava is converting his Carné Constantia into 95 at Parks Restaurant, Bar & Lounge. 

#   Aromatish Café and Bakery has opened where Yvette’s used to be in Hermanus. 

#   Harbour Rock restaurant has taken over the operation of the Spookfontein restaurant in the Hemel & Aarde Valley. 

#   Fusion Café in Hermanus has new owners.

#   Paradiso in Hermanus has new owners.

Chef and Restaurant staff changes

# Chef Angelo Scirocco has left Urbanologi in Johannesburg as its Head Chef. He is said to be opening his own restaurant in Pretoria.

# Carl Habel is now the Manager of Nobu at the One & Only Cape Town.

# Chef Jochen Heathcote is now the Head Chef at The Restaurant at Villa 47, formerly at Myoga and Open Door.

# Chef John van Zyl has left Urbanologi, to return to Liam Tomlin as Head Chef of his Indian restaurant Thali

# Chef Germaine Esau has joined Dash at the Queen Victoria Hotel in the Waterfront

# Ian Smith is the GM of the new Melissa’s-owned Mantra Café in Camps Bay.

# Oskar Kotze has sold Sevruga, and his restaurants in Johanneburg, Pretoria, and Durban. He retains Beluga in Cape Town.

# Chef Veronica Canha-Hibbert is the new Executive Chef at The Silo Hotel.

# Chef Sheldon Raju is no longer with Chefs Warehouse nor is he involved with Chef Liam’s new Indian restaurant Thali.

# Chef Chris Papayannes is the new Executive Chef and F & B Manager at The Thatch House Luxury Villas in Hermanus. He was previously at Chalk & Cork.

# Chef Annemarie Robertson has left Open Door and is freelancing in Johannesburg. The new Executive Chef is Evan Coosner.

# Chef Guy Clark has been appointed as the Executive Chef at Tintswalo Atlantic.

# Tracy-Leigh Genricks is now the sole owner of Four & Twenty Café.

# Chef Warwick King has left The Stack and joined Delaire Graff

# Chef Guy Bennett of Delaire Graff has moved to Bertus Basson at The Ritz.

# Chef Conrad van den Heever is heading up the kitchen at the new Seabreeze Fish & Shell.

#  Chef John Norris Rogers has been appointed as Head Chef of La Petite Colombe in Franschhoek, opening in August. 

#   Chef Brad Ball has left Peddlars on the Bend, and is now a Consultant Chef By Brad Ball.

#   Chef Laurent Deslandes has joined Cape Town Club. 

#   Chef Wessels van Vuuren has taken over the management of Café Blu in Hermanus. 

#   Mon Desir in Hermanus will be run by new management from August onwards, serving Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Mondays to Sundays. 

Restaurant Winter Closures

#.The Kitchen at Maison: closed until 4 July 

# Indochine, Delaire Graff: closed until 24 June 

# Camphors at Vergelegen: Closed until 14 June 

# Reverie Social Table: 1 – 30 June 

# La Colombe: Winter break 9 – 30 June 

# Waterkloof Restaurant: Closed from 19 June – 19 July 

# Haute Cabrière: Closed from 26 June – 7 August 

# FABER, Avondale, Paarl: 22 -30 May, 26 June – 11 July. 

# Pot Luck Club, Old Biscuit Mill: 26 June – 9 July 

# Terroir: 3 – 25 July. 

# Bistro Sixteen82: 24 July – 10 August 

#. Karoux in McGregor: 11 – 13 August 

# Benguela on Main, Somerset West: 13 August – 13 September. 

#   Source in Hermanus is not doing dinners until August. 

We welcome all restaurant news: chrisvonulmenstein [at] gmail.com

Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.chrisvonulmenstein.com/blog Tel +27 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@Ulmenstein Facebook: Chris von Ulmenstein Instagram: @Chris_Ulmenstein