Muizenberg is a surfers’ paradise in Cape Town, and local surfers have found a new home once out of the ocean at Tiger’s Milk on the beachfront. Tiger’s Milk Restaurant & Bar is a new addition to the restaurant collection of Michael Townsend, who already own Harbour House in Kalk Bay and in the V&A Waterfront, La Parada in Kalk Bay and on Bree Street, and a growing number of Lucky Fish take-away and sit-down restaurants in Cape Town.
The Tiger’s Milk brand name came from an idea Michael had to launch a craft beer for his restaurant collection, and he thought it a perfect name for his new homely bar and restaurant too. It serves ‘dude food‘, Michael told me, perfect for the hunger built up once the surfers return to land.
I was invited to the opening, and I was impressed with the industrial retro interior decor, done by the in-house design department of the Harbour House Group. It is a large open 
space, with a magnificent view onto Muizenberg Beach. It has a massive bar counter, and a long central table with shared seating on benches, over which lights made from whisky decanters have been hung. Smaller tables allow sharing too, with seating on yellow stools. As one enters 
the building downstairs, one recognises the magazine cover wall look from La Parada on Bree Street. From that outlet too one recognises the bull’s head artwork on the walls. Upstairs an old-world feel is added with big ventilation fans. Music on the opening night was live jazz, in the style of the music in Woody Allen movies, and created a great vibe. Chef Andres Condé was in
attendance, and the food kept flowing, with tasters including slices of pizza and tapas dishes which are served at La Parada.
A few days later I returned with my friend Whitney, and we were struck with the fishy smell in the restaurant. The service was not as good as I had experienced at the opening. Waiter Marcus did his best to look after us, taking over our table. We ordered grilled calamari, and rump steak with salsa verde according to the menu (R120), but the latter was not on the plate. Whitney was unhappy
with her peri-peri chicken livers (R45), served on burnt toast. We shared a very sweet cheesecake. It appeared that there were some staff shortages, and that staff from Harbour Bay in Kalk Bay and the V&A Waterfront had been brought in for the evening.
The menu has evolved, still presented on a black board, and offers a range of pizzas, burgers, ribs, salads, and craft beer. Starters include duck liver paté (R55), spicy chicken wings (R55), grilled calamari (R69), buttered corn on the cob (R55), tempura prawns (R85), roasted bone marrow (R42), French onion soup (R45), and avocado deviled egg (R39). A charcuterie platter costs R95. Salads cost R69 – R95, and Burgers R75. Linefish is available at R110, and pizzas at R79 – R105. Steaks start at R97, and range up to R195 for a 400 gram rib eye.
Tiger’s Milk Manager Clive Shaw came to our table, and after hearing all our dinner problems kindly offered the dinner on the house. While Tiger’s Milk in Muizenberg is a far distance to drive to from the city, good news for city
and Atlantic Seaboard dwellers is that the Long Street Lucky Fish is undergoing a transformation, to be turned into the second Tiger’s Milk in May.
Tiger’s Milk Restaurant & Bar, corner Beach and Sidmouth Roads, Muizenberg, Cape Town. Tel (021) 788-1860. www.tigersmilk.co.za Twitter: @TigersMilkZA Monday – Sunday Lunch and Dinner.
Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com Tel (021) 433-2100, Twitter:@WhaleCottage Facebook: click here
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