“Kuzina – eat’s Greek” is the newest restaurant to open in the new Cape Quarter, and opened more than a month later than the other three restaurants in the Piazza (Vanilla, Cru Cafe and Voila!). Its opening has been eagerly awaited, being great fans of Greek food, but a first visit for lunch on Wednesday was a disappointment.
We arrived just after 14h00, and every table at every restaurant in the piazza was taken. We were lucky to find one vacant table at Kuzina. A piazza setting suits Kuzina, it being a Greek style restaurant. Lovely white square tables from Greece and white chairs placed close together create a cozy atmosphere.
A strong marketing hand is evident, with the staff all wearing a turquoise blue T-shirt or golf-shirt, and the menus are attractive, well-laid out and easy to understand, despite listing about 100 items.
Our waitress Jennifer tried really hard to look after us and to give good service, but one suspects that she had to battle to get the orders from the overloaded kitchen. She wears beautiful blue “sapphire” earrings to match her shirt.
The menu is divided in sections: Feta (four options, including peppers stuffed with feta and olives, and the pips of the peppers as well, not tasty at all, R 45 for three smallish peppers; feta sesame; feta balls; and bougiourti- feta baked with tomato, onion, peppers and chillies), Meat Mezes (soutzoukakia, beef stifatho, chicken mastiha, keftethes, pork fillet, chicken souvlaki, yiros and sheftalia, ranging from R 35 – R 48), Vegetable Mezes (include spanakopita, tyroptika, haloumopita, cheese croquettes, keftethes, dolmades and haloumi, ranging from R 27 – R 35), Seafood Mezes (include oysters, prawn saganaki, octupus, kingklip, and mussels, ranging from R 39 – R 65, the oysters being SQ), Dips (ten dips include the traditional tzatziki, hummous, and taramo salata, R 24 each), Salads (include interesting ones in addition to the traditional village salad, such as a watermelon salad, strawberry salad, and an endive salad, ranging from R 42 – R 62), Pasta (6 dishes include seafood pasta, hiloptes and strifto, ranging from R 52 – R 78), “Greekooking” (including an unexciting and expensive Moussaka at R 79, yemista and kleftiko, ranging from R 59 – R 129); Grill dishes (includes chops, prawns and beef fillet, prices ranging from R 68 – R 179 for the prawns), shared platters (including seafood at R 450, and two lobster ones at R 320 – R 350), and desserts (including baklava, halva ice creams and six others, all costing R 38).
The pita bread was rubbery, the feta sesame and haloumi good, but the latter rubbery when it became cold. The tyroptika was also proclaimed good.
The menu contains quite some fine print (literally), including the usual 10 % service fee for tables of 6 or more, that prices can change without notice, that 15 minutes should be allowed for dishes requiring client amendments, and strangely, “Most major foreign currency accepted” (is this legal?) and “Please note that during our peak times a minimum charge of R 80 for non-diners will apply”! It is unclear what the latter means!
It is likely that Kuzina will become the definitive Greek restaurant in Cape Town, as few Greek restaurants – other than the low-key Marieka’s in Bakoven – are known in Cape Town. A good sign is when Greeks come to a Greek restaurant, which is what we observed when we popped in for a coffee one evening a week prior. That day had been a nightmare, the Manager Ian told us, with teething problems, being the second day of opening. Monique was the Manager on duty at our lunchtime visit, and she apologised for the lukewarm feedback we gave her, begging us to come back. The extensive menu does beckon one again, but one hopes that some real Greek chefs – or even better a Greek Mama or two – are in the kitchen to “kook” the traditional Greek dishes.
Kuzina, Cape Quarter, tel 021 418 8000 , www.kuzina.co.za (still under construction!)
Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com
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Took six friends for dinner on 23rd December. Had the worst dining experience in eight years of being in Cape Town. Cold, bland food served extremely slowly and inconsistently. Wine “ran out” after one bottle. Half hour delay in finding a replacement. Main courses arrived sporadically while starters were still being eaten. Dirty plates left on table when main courses finally arrived. No cutlery for main courses. I contacted the owner to give him the opportunity to address our complaints and issues but no response to date. This attitutde towards customer service and the poor standards of food coming out of the kitchen will probably not be tolerated by Capetonians, although the restaurant may survive on the tourist trade in high summer. Such a shame as it was much anticipated and has huge potential with a promising menu if they can address the quality of food coming out of the kitchen and the inconsistent service.(And take the time to reply to unhappy customers).
Further to my comments on 6th Feb.
Two of us returned to Kuzina on Friday 8th as we were determined to give the restaurant a second chance despite our bad experience. The teething problems certainly seem to have been ironed out as the restaurant appeared full with many happy looking diners. We tried some of the dishes that we had ordered previously and this time they were served quickly, were well presented, warm and most importantly full of flavour.
The owner (Chris) introduced himself to us and we discussed at some length the previous experience. He seems genuinely passionate about the restaurant and has tried very hard to solve the many problems that were present previously. Chris brought us some of the restaurants specialities, all of which were delicious and flavoursome. (This time the dips were gorgeous and the lamb was full of flavour and literally fell off the bone). Judging by last nights food and service Kuzina definitely deserves to do well. All restaurants go through initial opening horrors and our second visit proves that it really is worth giving a new venture a second chance. I’d recommend Kuzina for either a romantic meal for two or get a load of mates together and try to eat your way through the menu!
I went to Kuzina last night for the first time in 6 weeks, and was blown over by the marked improvement in service and food quality. I had the Yiros on the starter list, and at R 42 it is amazing value for money: a pita, beef pieces, tomato slices, tsatziki and the most crispy bestest bestest chips ever! Well done to Kuzina for listening to your customer feedback and for making things so much better.
I too returned to Kuzina last night and agree things have improved beyond recognition. Service from Louis was friendly, efficient and personable. The ordered wine was available, when presented I was offered to feel the temperature of the bottle and ice was also automatically provided. Changing tables was not a problem and the food arrived without any delays. I particularly enjoyed the whitebait (a generous portion for R39) and the mediterranean anchovy.
I was thinking of those crispy Kuzina chips all day, and wanted my son to experience them too, so we went back to Kuzina last night – oh my goodness, what a let down! Different manager meant far less attentive service, our order had the tomato and onion served which we specifically excluded in the order, and the chips were soft and yucky! They then made new ones, but only one and a quarter portions, instead of a full portion for each of our dishes. Then they made more, by which time the second chef had come to connect with us and serve us a taster of his Divine Trio of orange peel, strawberry and grapes in syrup – a delight. We declined the chips.
We asked to speak to the Manager Monique to find out why the order had gone wrong and why the chip quality was so different to that of the previous evening, but she was busy cashing up and could not come to the table, so we left!
It is a pity that some of you experienced such a horrific visit to them. When I went I got awfully good service and the food was wonderful. I think you guys went at a time where they were busy getting everything in order and resulted in a few mishaps from their side. As for a manager that doesn’t have time for a client, I think that is highly unprofessional on her behalf. In my opinion you shouldn’t have left it there. I would’ve contacted the boss and be sure he understood my grievances because after all that is what bring customers back.
Kuzina came highly recommended – braving a 38 degree day we ventured forth tastebuds desparate for a new experience. What a dissapointment. 10 mins wait for 2x g&t’s & a warm beer which got sent back. The 3 of us chose different starts which were good – esp the chicken. The small souvlakis were good however had to search amongst chips & tomatoes for the odd piece of meat. Crab croquettes were inedible – possibly the most dreadful puffs ever to enter my mouth. We tried 2 the rest were left. Feedback to the waiter went ignored. Halva ice cream 100% whilst the strawberries a -100%. No sign of strawberries marinated in ouzo.Fresh berries were doused with ouzo & topped with fat free yougurt with a hint of flake? perhaps on the top. Where was the yoghurt mousse & bitter chocolate? Dessert was sour & left unfinished. At a bill of R498.00 this is not value for money, would rather keep my Greek fantasies to “The Greek” in Mowbray or “Leishas” in Rondebosh – now thats value for money – authentic and really delicious.The latter having the greek mama in the kitchen and the greek owner front of house.
Chris,
Love your blog. I’ve just started my own food and drink blog – http://www.spill.co.za, and had a very bad experience at Kuzina – read about it on the blog – Kuzina, my big Greek disaster.
Keep up the good work. Love your general comments about the all too common sloppy service in Cape Town. All the best,
Clare.
Dear Clare
Lovely to hear from you and thank you for your kind compliments. It seems as if we have a similar view of Kuzina!
I would love to share a lunch with you sometime – I love the way you write and say it as it is.
If anyone wants genuine Greek food served just as it is in Greece, try the Hellenic (Greek Club) in Mouille Point. Extremely good value for money…try their buffet on 30 May 2010 R 79 – R 89 per person…I have been to last month’s Sunday Lunch buffet and was blown away by great service and unbelievable food…do yourselves a favour and try it…