While top  chefs are staying in their posts to meet the Eat Out criteria for Top 20 consideration, the flood of new restaurant openings continues, especially in Cape Town. We update information about newly opened and closed restaurants continuously.

Restaurant Openings

#    Benguela on Main has opened in Somerset West, with Chef Jean Delport (photograph)

#   Chef Luke Dale-Roberts has opened Naturalis, as an ‘incubation hub’, for lunches, and a venue for occasional dinners and events.

#   The Harbour House Group is planning to open two new restaurants on the Muizenberg beachfront: a 160-seater Live Bait, and Howlin’ Wolf, a burger and beer quick service restaurant

#   Chef PJ Vadas has opened The Hog House on The Werf Bakery and Café at Spier.

#   Chef Luke Dale-Roberts has opened a pop-up Luke Dale-Roberts at The Saxon inside five hundred

#   Melissa’s is opening in Franschhoek in May, and in Camps Bay later this year.

#   Charango Grill & Bar Peruvian restaurant is to become a franchise operation.

#   Lebanese restaurant Ranoush has opened in the V&A Waterfront

#   David Higgs is to open his 250-seater Marble restaurant in Rosebank in Johannesburg in May. His  business partner in the venture is Gary Kyriakou. Chef Werner Spöhr has joined them.

#   Sundoo Indian tapas bar has opened in Sea Point, by Seelan Sundoo.

#   Tiger’s Milk is to open in the SanClare Building in Claremont, in Century City, in Stellenbosch, in Bryanston in Johannesburg, and in Dubai.

#   Mon Desir has opened in Hermanus.

#   Betty Blue Bistro has opened in Hermanus

#   Tre Eatery Bakery Bar has opened in Somerset West

#   Springfontein Barn has opened outside Stanford, serving German bar food.

#   Bread & Butter Co has opened in Paarl

#   Bouchon Bistro has opened in Dorrance Cellar.

#   The Orangerie has opened at Le Lude in Franschhoek.

#   Chef Bertus Basson is considering opening a new informal open-fire restaurant on Hidden Valley, alongside Overture.

#   Yours Truly has opened new branches on Hout Street and on Loop Street.

#   Raya Kitchen by Kitima is to open in the city centre.

#   The Kove Collection has opened Dalliance Restaurant & Bar in the V&A Waterfront

#   Pulled and Roasted pilot store is opening at Speaker’s Corner on Church Square for events

#   Floreal Brasserie has opened at Marianne Wine Estate in Stellenbosch

#   The Tasteroom and Brewery has opened at Darling Breweries

#   Dudley’s Larder has opened in McGregor

#   The Press Burgers and Craft Beer opens in Sea Point

#   Nooka Café vegetarian restaurant has opened.

#   Harbour House is to open in Johannesburg

#   Sexy Food has opened on Bree Street

#   Arcade Resto-Bar has opened on Bree Street

#   Hard Rock Café is said to open in the V&A Waterfront.

#   Big Box Board Games Café has opened in Gardens.

#   Little Saint has opened on Bree Street

#   A Mexican-style tapas restaurant will open inside Tuk Tuk craft beer microbrewery in Franschhoek on 18 February

#   Marigold Indian restaurant is to open in Franschhoek in winter.

#   Chef Luke Dale-Roberts is to open Short Market Club in May

#   Dapper has opened on Bree Street

#   An Italian restaurant is said to open on Bree Street.

#   Honeybadger has opened on Loop Street.

#   Benguela Cove Pop-Up Restaurant has opened outside Hermanus, until March.

#   Barney’s Deli has opened in Hout Bay.

#   Oude Bank Bakery has opened in Stanford.

#   The Creamery Café has opened a branch in Mouille Point.

#   Nomad has opened in Stellenbosch in February, with Chef Marile van Niekerk

#   ASH restaurant is opening inside Frankie Fenner Meat Merchants/Publik, with Chef Ash Heeger, returning to Cape Town.

#   The Pearl Spoon has opened in Observatory

#   Restaurant Jardine has opened in Stellenbosch, the kitchen headed up by Chef Brendan Thorncroft, owner Chef George Jardine alternating between the new restaurant and Jordan Restaurant.

#   Folk Coffee Anthropology has opened on Bree Street.

#   La Petite Ferme has opened a Tapas Bistro.

#   Jason’s Bakery is opening a new branch on Loop Street

#   Café Pavé has opened at Camberley Wine Estate, Helshoogte Pass, Stellenbosch, with Chefs Sidwell Yarrow and Angelique Dreyer.

Restaurant Closures

#   Rafiki’s Bar is closing down at the end of summer.

#   Andiamo in the Cape Quarter has closed down.

#   Marc’s Mediterranean Cuisine & Garden has closed in Paarl.

#   Emily’s on Kloof Street has closed down.

#   Voila has closed in Cape Quarter.

#   Tribakery Bree Street has closed down.

#   The Flagship in Simonstown, formerly the restaurant of the late Bruce Robinson, is closing on 15 April.

#   Beau Vine in Constantia appears to have closed down.

#   Tuscany Beach in Camps Bay is closed for renovations. A new restaurant with a new name will open in November.

#   Ranoushe restaurant is closing down on 29 February.

Restaurant changes

#   La Parada and Harbour House are opening in the former Constantia Nek restaurant building.

#   The Salmon Bar has closed temporarily, until it can find new premises in Franschhoek.

#   Theo’s in Mouille Point has been sold, and has been taken over by Hussar Grill Green Point

#   Jamie’s Italian will open in Johannesburg

#   Twaalf has opened on Dorp Street in Stellenbosch

#   The General Store has opened on Bree Street

#   Food We Love has opened in Woodstock

#   Breakaway Café has opened where Keenwä used to be

#   Reuben’s Franschhoek will move to new premises when its lease expires, and its space is to become a Woolworths

#   Chef Jenny Morris has opened Yumcious Café for Breakfast and Lunch, where Celtic Cove used to be in the Cape Quarter.

#   Bar Bar Black Sheep has re-opened in Riebeek Kasteel, with new owners John and Susanna Tecklenburg.

#   OYO at V&A Hotel will close in May, for a few months, for a complete renovation.

#   Dropkick Murphys has opened on Kloof Street, where GourmetBoerie used to be.

#   Clarke’s is opening a pizza section.

#   The Stack will re-open mid-2016, after renovations due to fire damage.

#   Greek Fisherman has moved to a new location in the V&A Waterfront.

#   Bootlegger has opened where Voila was in the Cape Quarter.

#   The Harbour House Group is to take over The Grand Camps Bay.

#   Chef Johann Breedt has bought Viva Cafê in Green Point, which is to be renamed Bernie’s.

#   SMAK Deli has opened where Tribakery used to be, on BreeStret.

#   You are There has opened on Regent Road in Sea Point.

#   Maggie’s Café has opened in Green Point, where 65 on Main operated, owned by Chef Riaan Burger, previously of Mondiall.

#   Sababa has changed the name of its Bree Street branch to Olami.

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

Chef and Restaurant staff changes

#   Grande Provence Restaurant Manager and Sommelier Khuselo Mputa has moved to The Westcliff. Jacobus Johannes has been appointed as the new Restaurant Manager.

#   Chef Maritz Jacobs of Reuben’s Franschhoek has moved to The Restaurant at The Werf at Boschendal..

#   Chef Tanya Kruger has left Makaron, and the restaurant industry.

#   Chef Germaine Esau has left Makaron to join Hillcrest Berry Farm

#   Chef Craig Patterson has joined The President hotel.

#   Chef Lucas Carstens of Cuvée has moved to Makaron, with Chef Pete Goffe-Wood appointed as Consultant.

#   Chef Dennis Strydom has taken over the Haute Cabriere kitchen

#   Chef Ryan Shell is now at Vergenoegd wine estate.

#   Carolize Coetzee is the new chef at Cuvee at Simonsig.

#   Chef Etienne Wessels has left the Grande Roche, and has joined Ulusaba.

#   Chef Andres Condé has left the Harbour House Group.

#   Chef Kyle Haytread has joined Oude Werf.

#   Chef Adrian Buchanan is the new Head Chef at 96 Winery Road.

#   Chef Aviv Liebenberg has left Tokara Deli, to freelance, and is running the Bistro 13 pop-up at De Warenmarkt

#   Chef Stefan du Bruyn has joined Café BonBon

#   Restaurant Manager Martin Drotsky has left the Cape Grace hotel, to join Katsuya by Stark in Doha in Qatar as GM.

#   Chef Westley Muller has left The Orangerie at Le Lude.

#   Chef Hylton Espey has left Equus restaurant at Cavalli, and his Sous Chef  Anwar leaves at the end of February. Chef Calun Anderson takes over at the end of February.

#   Chef Angelo Scirocco has left Chef’s Warehouse.

#   Chef Garth Almazan is said to be leaving Catharina’s at Steenberg.

Restaurant News

#   Open Door at Contantia Uitsig now serves Breakfast.

#   Imibala restaurant in Somerset West now serves dinner on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday evenings.

#   Tokara Delicatessen now serves Dinner on Saturday evenings.

#   The Belmond Mount Nelson has introduced evening High Tea, from 18h00 – 21h30, at R295.

#   Pierneef à La Motte now offers Sunday Family Lunch at R 295.

#   La Petite Ferme is now open for dinner on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings.

#   Leeu House in Franschhoek now is available for meals to non-residents, subject to availability.

#   Haute Cabriere will open for lunch on Mondays from 29 February.

We welcome all restaurant news: whalecot@iafrica.com

Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.whalecottage.com/blog  Tel 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@WhaleCottage  Facebook:  click here