While a few restaurants already announced their closure at the beginning of March, when the COVID-19 Virus Lockdown had not yet been announced, a flood of restaurant closures is expected when restaurants are allowed to reopen to the public in Level 1 again, at an unannounced date in the future.

A shock closure announced by Chef Luke Dale Roberts during Lockdown Level 5 was that of The Shortmarket Club, and with it neighboring The Commissary. SMAK Delicatessen and Eatery on Bree Street, La Bottega in Woodstock, Empire Cafe in Muizenberg, Buitenverwachting Restaurant (under the guidance of Chef Edgar Osojnik for the past 20 years), and Mariner’s Wharf in Hout Bay have also thrown in the towel.

Chef Luke Dale Roberts’ The Shortmarket Club restaurant the first Corona Virus victim, in closing for good!

New restaurant openings seem unlikely in the next few months, with winter lying ahead, and restaurant cash flows depleted due to the Corona Lockdown. Chef Peter Tempelhoff announced the opening of a new ‘funky’ restaurant in Cape Town on Kfm a few months ago, but no further details of its name, location, or opening date are known.

The permission in Lockdown Level 4 since 1 May for restaurants to operate on a Take-Away Food Delivery basis could become a lifeline for the many restaurants which have reopened to grasp at this straw to assist in generating cash flow to pay some of their bills and to reemploy some of their staff. Many restaurants say it is not viable to offer such a service, and are waiting to reopen only when alcohol sales are allowed again. Many restaurants are very commendably cooking for the destitute until they can reopen properly. The 200 plus restaurants that have reopened for Food Delivery in Cape Town and the Winelands follow below, a listing which I have created on a new Facebook Page:

Corona Virus Lockdown: SA moves to level 4, hundreds of restaurants open to offer home food delivery; over 100 in greater Cape Town area

Cape Town restaurant openings 

#  Exhibit A fine dining restaurant has opened on the 3rd floor of the Villa 47 building in the city centre, for lunch and dinner on Tuesdays – Saturdays

#  Ochre has opened at the One&Only Cape Town, in the place of Reuben’s

#  Tryn has opened at Steenberg, under the stewardship of Chef Kerry Kilpin, also heading up Bistro Sixteen82

#  Gigi has opened in the gorgeous Gorgeous George Hotel in St George’s Mall, with Guy Bennett at the helm.

#  Blockhouse Kitchen has opened at Constantia Uitsig, in the former Open Door space, headed up by Chef Brad Ball.

#  Patina Steak & Fine Wine is to open at D’Aria wine estate in Durbanville.

#  Cause Effect Cocktail Kitchen has opened in the Waterfront, next to Mitchell’s.

#  KONG has opened as a bar and grill in De Waterkant.

#  VIXI Social House has opened on Bree Street,

#  Big Dog Café has opened on Kloof Street, sister restaurant to the Terbodore-owned restaurant with the same name in Franschhoek.

#  Mozambik Portuguese restaurant has opened in the Waterfront, where Seelan’s used to be.

#  Syrup has opened on Bree Street

#  SurfShack has opened in Camps Bay, where Umi used to be, belonging to the Kove Collection. (Photograph)

#  Boudha Lounge has opened on Buiten Street

#  The Korner has opened in Mandela Rhodes House, belonging to Giles, the owner of The 41 restaurant in Camps Bay,

#   Cowboys and Cooks has opened in De Waterkant, and is opening on Kloof/Rheede Street

#   Plant Café vegan restaurant has opened in Camps Bay

#   Mykonos Taverna has opened in Camps Bay, in the former Dizzy’s Bar/pool area. It has also opened in Newlands.

#  Sloppy Sam is said to be reopening in a new unannounced venue.

#  Arthur’s Mini Super has opened in Sea Point

#  The Kind Kitchen vegan restaurant has opened at Constantia Uitsig.

#   Harvest Café has opened in Muizenberg

#. Stellski Coffee Bar has opened on Loop Street

#  Yu Asian Tapas & Bar has opened in the Onyx Hotel in the city centre

#   Iron Steak and Bar has opened on Bree Street, where Charango used to be.

#   117Kloof has opened on Kloof Street, belonging to Yours Truly Café

#  GoodFood has opened as a multi food and beverage offering under one roof, in Woodstock.

#  Scarpetta has opened as an Italian restaurant in Woodstock.

#  Unfiltered has opened as a taproom with a beer and food offering, in conjunction with the chefs of Woodlands Eatery.

#   Shakespeare’s Restaurant has opened in Durbanville.

#   Punjab has opened in Kenilworth

#  The Jagger Lounge has opened where Café Roux used to be, on Shortmarket Street.

#  EatStanbul Turkish restaurant has opened on Kloof Street.

#  I love the Dough has opened on Bree Street.

#  Chef Seelan Sundoo has opened Three Wise Monkeys on Kloof Street.

#  Step Brothers has opened in Bantry Bay

#  BrewzKrew has opened in Rondebosch

#   DipnDip Chocolate Café has opened in the Waterfront.

#   Chef Peter Tempelhoff is to open a new ‘funky’ restaurant. No further details are known.

#  Dahlia on Regent has opened in Sea Point.

#  Quince Restaurant at Little Orchard Nursery has opened in Diep River by Chef Graham Isaacson.

#  Tindlovu has opened in Camps Bay, as a restaurant offering South African cuisine.

#  Infusions on Long has opened in the city centre,

#  Fire Monkey has opened in Claremont, the newest restaurant owned by Chef Cheyne Morrisby.

#. Maaya has opened as a Peruvian/Japanese restaurant on Loop Street.

#   ERTH Eatery has opened in Green Point, a ‘nutricosmetic eatery’.

#.  Old Town Italy is said to open in Cape Town.

#   Vicious Virgin rum bar has opened in Wale Street, serving light meals too.

#   Chef Jan-Hendrik’s new KLEIN JAN restaurant in the Kalahari Desert is to open in November 2020.

Chef Jan-Hendrik van der Westhuizen’s new KLEIN JAN Restaurant at Tswalu Kalahari opens its doors for a first peek inside!

#.  The Crypt Jazz Club, restaurant, and cocktail bar has reopened on Wale Street.

 

Winelands Restaurant openings 

#  La Chêne has opened at Leeu Estates in Franschhoek, its owner Chef Darren Badenhorst of Le Coin Français taking over all food and beverage operations in the hotel.

#  Arkeste has opened where Racine used to be, on Chamonix wine estate, operated by Chef Richard Carstens of RiffelCarstens.

#.  Le Petite Colombe moves into a separate building at Leeu Estates in Franschhoek in May 2020.

#  Marilyn’s Sushi restaurant has opened in Franschhoek, a third restaurant with the two Rocas in the village. (Main Photograph)

#  Café Furlough has opened on Dorp Street in Stellenbosch

#  Viande has opened at the Grande Roche Hotel, the latter with new local owners, and the restaurant headed up by Chef Pete Goffe-Wood.

#  Jewells has opened at Spice Route outside Paarl, with Neil and Tina Jewell in the kitchen, in conjunction with Chef Liam Tomlin.

#  Legado Coffee Bar has opened at Technopark, outside Stellenbosch

#   Schoon Bread Café has opened in Franschhoek, where De Villiers Café used to be,

#  Chef Chris Erasmus and Haut Espoir are planning an eatery in the Franschhoek wine estate.

#  The Table at De Meye outside Stellenbosch has reopened, with new owners Brendan Thorncroft and Leigh Williamson.

#  The Farmer’s Café has opened at Spier. A Deli has opened where Eight was at Spier.

#  Bodega at Dornier has reopened after a long closure.

#   Fritz Schoon is opening where Vida e Caffe was on the corner of Church and Bird Street in Stellenbosch.

#  Ernie Els is said to be converting his Tasting Centre in Stellenbosch into a fine dining restaurant.

#  Chef Jess van Dyk is the new Head Chef of Protégé Restaurant  in Franschhoek, having moved across from La Colombe.

#.  Epice has opened in Franschhoek, where Marigold was located, with Head Chef Charné Sampson.

#  The Four Square Club has opened at Môreson outside Franschhoek, owned by Chef Chris Erasmus of Foliage.

#.  Char’d Hermanus has opened.

Restaurant closures

#   Umi in Camps Bay has closed down

#   Seelan’s in the Waterfront has closed down

#   Reuben’s at the One&Only has closed down

#  Open Door at Constantia Uitsig has closed down

#  Catharina’s at Steenberg has closed down

#  Charango on Bree Street has closed down

#  Bertus Basson @ Spice Route has closed down

#   Marigold has closed down in Franschhoek

#   De Villiers Chocolate Café has closed down in Franschoek

#   Café Roux in the city centre has closed down.

#   Reuben’s at Abalone House in Paternoster has closed down

#   Racine in Franschhoek has closed down.

#  Eight at Spier in Stellenbosch has closed down.

#  The Boschendal Bistro on Church Street in Stellenbosch has closed down.

#   Del Mar in Camps Bay has closed.

#   Macau has closed down.

#   The House of H has closed down

#   HQ and Roast Chicken have closed down.

#   The Commissary has closed down.

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Closures since Lockdown:

#   The Shortmarket Club has closed down

#    La Bottega in Woodstock has closed down.

#    Peppertree Café on Kloof Street has closed down.

#    Riverine Rabbit has closed down, with Chef Ash Heeger having moved to the UK.

#    Empire Café in Muizenberg has closed down.

#    SMAK Delicatessen and Eatery has closed down.

#    Buitenverwachting Restaurant has closed down in Constantia.

#   The Deli Coffee Co in the V & A Waterfront

 

Restaurant News

1. Chef Calvyn Metior is the new Executive Chef at Monneaux Restaurant, previously Head Chef at La Motte.
2. Chef Kayla-Ann Osborn has left The Chef’s Table in Umhlanga.
3. Chef Scott Armstrong has rejoined JAN Restaurant in Nice as Sous Chef.
4. Chef Nico Vorster has left La Paris Bistro outside Franschhoek.
5. Bossa Stellenbosch and Die Strandloper have suffered extensive fire damage recently.

 

Details of new restaurants opening, and of restaurant closures, are highly appreciated. chrisvonulmenstein@gmail.com

 

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