Tag Archives: Ash Heeger

First restaurants close down in Cape Town this month, a sign of things to come? March 2020

 

Two Top restaurant chefs, Wesley Randles and Ash Heeger, have announced that they are throwing in the towel in Cape Town, at the Shortmarket Club and Riverine Rabbit, respectively, a sign of the times? Added to this, Chef Luke Dale-Roberts has announced that The Commissary, next door to The Shortmarket Club, is to close at the end of this month too. And HQ is said to have closed down last week.

Chef Peter Tempelhoff announced the opening of a new ‘funky’ restaurant in Cape Town on Kfm over 3 months ago, but no further details of its name, location, or opening date are known. 

 

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

Restaurant Review: New Exhibit A Fine-dining restaurant serves fine fun food, but service does not match cuisine quality!

#  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 

Catharina’s at Steenberg transformed, renamed, modernised into a younger and lighter Tryn Restaurant, offers ethically sourced fish and locally sourced ingredients!

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

Gorgeous George Hotel and its GiGi Rooftop Restaurant & Bar simply…Gorgeous, bowled over by the design, differentness!

#  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. 

KONG Bar & Grill has unique decor, excellent chef team, friendly service, and dancing too!

#  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)

Restaurant Review: SurfShack perfect for a lunch at Camps Bay beach!

#  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

Restaurant Review: Cowboys & Cooks De Waterkant serves excellent food, but service lags!

#   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. 

New Vicious Virgin Rum Bar not vicious at all, brings French Polynesian Tiki cocktail culture to Cape Town!

#   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. 

The Crypt Jazz Club reopens in Cape Town as restaurant, cocktail bar, and jazz club, with new owners and energy!

 

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 

One&Only Cape Town and Reuben’s part ways after nine years, new spicy Ochre restaurant opens!

#  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.

Restaurant News

  1.  Chef Ash Heeger has announced that she is closing Riverine Rabbit and moving to the United Kingdom in the next few months.
  2. Chef Wesley Randles of The Shortmarket Club is leaving the restaurant and Cape Town for personal reasons at the end of March. 
  3. Chef Calvyn Metior is the new Executive Chef at Monneaux Restaurant, previously Head Chef at La Motte. 
  4. The Commissary is to close down at the end of this month. 

 

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_Ulmens

Exciting top-end restaurants open in Cape Town and Winelands this month, restaurant openings slow down: November 2018!

November is an exciting month, with new restaurant openings by Chef Luke Dale-Roberts (The Commissary), by Chef Peter Tempelhoff (FYN), and the very eagerly awaited restaurant Gåte by Chef Rikku O’Donnchü at Quoin Rock in Stellenbosch. There is a marked slow down in new restaurant openings, other than by new restaurant group Cowboys & Cooks. 

Restaurant openings

#   Le Petit Manoir has opened as a Deli and Restaurant in Franschhoek, with Chef Kevin Grobler heading up the kitchen. (Photograph)

Restaurant Review: Le Petit Manoir Restaurant just does not gel, despite Chefs’ experience In a Michelin star restaurant!

#. Michael Townsend, founder of the Harbour House Group but no longer with the Group, is to open The Grill Room in Sunset Beach. He has also bought Sevruga in the Waterfront. A third restaurant, in Sea Point, will open in September 2019.

New Cowboys and Cooks restaurant operations and consultancy group starting to cook up a storm!

#  The new Cowboys & Cooks restaurant group is to open a Cowboys and Cooks restaurant in Stellenbosch; The Backyard BBQ in various locations; Cabron Tex Mex restaurants in Durbanville and Stellenbosch, alongside the Bree Street Branch; and Viva Tex Mex in Kenilworth. It has taken over Slug & Lettuce, a Gastropub franchise with six branches, for which a new look and menu will be developed, starting off in Durbanville. The group has also just bought a 50% share in Primi Piatti, with 18 outlets.

#   Maison J Café et Croissant, a joint venture between renowned Jason Bakery baker Jason Lillie and his sister Brigitte, as well as Vida e Caffé founders David Chait and Rui Esteves, has opened alongside the Pick ‘n Pay in Camps Bay, in a joint venture with the retailer. If this branch works well, it is set to roll out in other Pick ‘n Pay stores, the Waterfront likely to be the next branch to open. 

#   Between Us has opened on Bree Street, as a restaurant and bar, belonging to the twin sisters who originally opened Skinny Legs & All. 

#. The Deli Coffee Co is the new rebranded name of four Melissa’s branches: V&A Waterfront, Kloof Street, Somerset West, and Hermanus, owned by Surine van Niekerk. Prices are set to drop, she says. The Waterfront branch has opened in the former Dalliance and White Rabbit space. 

#  Restaurateur Ian Halfon has opened a smallish intimate new restaurant Walther’s Steakhouse next door to Belthazar in the V&A Waterfront. 

#  Chef Jenny Morris has opened Yumcious Durbanville.

#  The Skotnes Restaurant has opened at the Norval Foundation, with Executive Chef Phil de Villiers, previously of Primal Eatery. 

#  Paris Café has opened in Green Point.

#   42 on Canterbury has opened as a bar and an event venue in District Six/Zonnebloem

#  The La Colombe Group is taking over the bar and restaurant at Le Quartier Français in Franschhoek, after refurbishments. It will be called Protégé. Stephen Raaff is the Head Chef.

New Protégé Restaurant to open at Le Quartier Français, second Le Colombe Group restaurant!

#  Back’s Bar has opened on Main Road in Paarl, where Juno used to be. 

#   Chef Reuben Riffel has opened Reuben’s at The Capital Moloko in Johannesburg, his first Gauteng restaurant. 

#   A new breakfast and lunch Eatery is being developed at Val de Vie, in conjunction with Chef Reuben Riffel. 

#  Chef Jarryd has opened So Cal (for South California), a Bar above Charango on Bree Street. 

#  Manga has opened on Church Street

#  Sotana Bree Street has opened where Odyssey used to be.

#  1 Oak is set to open on Strand Street, an upmarket celebrity bar, music, and event venue modeled on a New York counterpart. The restaurant Butter will open inside this venue. 

#   Chef Bertus Basson has expanded his restaurant empire, opening Eike by bertusbasson as his sixth restaurant, and fifth in Stellenbosch. 

#  Bao Down Restaurant has opened in Oranjezicht. 

#   Upper Bloem has opened on Main Road in Green Point, where Maggie’s Café used to be, a joint venture between Chefs Henry Vigar and Andre Hill of La Mouette. 

Restaurant Review: Upper Bloem brings Bo-Kaap and Cape Malay cuisine to Green Point!

#    TOSSD Salad Bar has opened on Sloane Square in Gardens, Cape Town. 

#   Chef George Jardine has opened Restaurant Seven with George Jardine in Somerset West.

#   Safari #7 Somali take-away restaurant has opened on Long Street. 

#  Chef David Higgs’ newest restaurant Saint ‘Pazzo Italiano’ has opened in Sandton. 

#   No 89 has opened on Bree Street.

#   Sans Ethical Green Grocer Deli has opened in the Artem Centre in Sea Point. 

#   Pauline’s Stand Up Coffee Bar has opened in the Artem Centre in Sea Point. 

#   Victoire Boulangerie, Pâtisserie, and Bistro has opened in Speakers Corner on Church Square, a joint venture between Chef William Galzin of Montpellier and Drikus Hancke of Cape Town, a former Melissa’s franchisee. 

#   Chefs Luke Dale-Roberts and Ryan Cole have opened Salsify @ The Roundhouse in Camps Bay.

Restaurant Review: Salsify at The Roundhouse brings Fine-Dining to Camps Bay, a crazy contrast of colonial and contemporary experiences!

#   Crayfish Wharf is to open in Paternoster.

#  Beleef has opened in the space in which Ryan’s Kitchen operated in Franschhoek. 

#  Grande Provence in Franschhoek has opened The Bistro as an extension to their Tasting Room.

#   Ellen Jay has opened as a coffee shop inside Constantia Fabrics. 

#   Garden’s Club has opened where Chalk & Cork used to operate on Kloof Street. 

#   The Santé Wellness Retreat & Spa restaurant has opened in Klapmuts, with Executive Chef Terrence Ford. 

#  Osetra has opened in Kalk Bay, with co-owner Oscar Kotze.

#   The Commissary will open next door to The Shortmarket Club, with Chef Wesley Randles and Simon Widdison, under the mentorship of Chef Luke Dale-Roberts. It is planned to be a no-reservation, back to basics offering. 

#   Gåte restaurant is to open at Quion Rock Winery on 1 December, with Rikku O’Donaghue as the Executive Chef, who worked at a two Michelin star restaurant Merchants Manor before moving to our country. He has been a restaurant consultant locally, including at Sevruga. Head Chef is Warwick King, previously with Delaire Graff, The Stack, and The Ritz Revolving Restaurant. Other team members include Pastry Chef Izelle de Villiers, Nicole Loubser, Tyrone Truter, Josh Crewdson,  and Rufus Scholtz. 

Preview: New Gåte restaurant to become a rock star at Quoin Rock Winery, Fine Dining at its finest!

Gåte Restaurant at Quoin Rock takes SA restauranting to a new level, experiential and interactive dining and wining at its finest!

#  Seattle Coffee Company has taken over the coffee shop at Exclusive Books in the V&A Waterfront. 

#  Chef Seelan Sundoo has opened Chicha in Sea Point. 

#   The Harbour House Group has bought Mondiall in the V&A Waterfront, and is to turn it into a La Parada, to open in November. 

#  Chef Peter Tempelhoff has announced that his FYN Restaurant and bar will open in Speaker’s Corner on Church Square in November. Jennifer Hugé is the new GM! And Ashley Moss is the Chef, moving across from the Greenhouse. 

Chef Peter Tempelhoff opens first own restaurant FYN in Speakers’ Corner in Cape Town city centre!

#. The Harbour House at Constantia Nek has been remodelled into the fine dining The Restaurant at the Nek, with Chef Dylan Laity in the kitchen. 

#   Stargarden Boutique Café has opened in Fish Hoek 

Restaurant Review: Stargarden Boutique Café in Fish Hoek is a star!

#   Bobo’s Brasserie is opening in Mouille Point in November, where Pepenero used to be. 

#  Roca Café has opened where Melissa’s used to be in Franschhoek, open from midday to 21h00, and serving Tapas. 

#   Chef Chris Erasmus is said to be opening a restaurant at Haut Espoir in November, with Chef Nick Oosthuizen in the kitchen.

#  Riverine Rabbit has opened where ASH used to operate, by Chef Ash Heeger. 

#  Chef Ciska Rossouw has opened Loaves in Salt River, no longer operating Loaves on Long. 

#   BOCCA has re-opened on Bree Street, with new owners Guido Brambilla and Adnana Blaj

#   Haus & Laib Deli is opening in the former Eurohaus space on Loop Street. 

#  Chef Matt Manning is opening Grub & Vine Restaurant on Bree Street.

#   Bones Kitchen & Bar has opened at Palms Lifestyle Centre. 

#   Anni’s Gourmet  Pancakes & Belgian Waffles has opened in a Franschhoek 

#   Vadas Smokehouse and Bakery has opened at Spier, taking the place of Hoghouse, which Chef PJ Vadas no longer appears to be associated with. 

#   Syrup Breakfast is opening on Bree Street.

#  The Creamery is to open a branch in Durbanville Village Square. 

Restaurant closures

#. The iconic Melissa’s, with 19 stores, has been declared insolvent. Some stores will be rebranded (four as The Deli Coffee Co), while others have closed down, including the Table View Branch. The Waterfront branch is currently closed, but will reopen in a new location in mid-September. 

#.  Dalliance restaurant and White Rabbit coffee shop, part of the Kove Collection, have closed their doors in the V&A Waterfront. 

#.  IYO Burgers has closed on Bree Street

#.  Iconic Kitima has closed down in Hout Bay, following a rumour of its demise circulating last year but denied at the time. 

#. Odyssey (with French Toast before it) has closed down on Bree Street

#. The Ritz is temporarily closed, and with it its Top of The Ritz and CASA restaurants. 

#  Shego has closed down at the Cape Royale Luxury Hotel. 

#  The Crazy Horse gastropub has closed down on Bree Street. 

#  Mitico has closed down on Kloof Street. Yours Truly has expanded into the space. 

#   So sad to hear that Chef Warrick Taylor of SOURCE restaurant in Hermanus has sold the restaurant and is leaving the country with his family. 

#   Cargills in Rondebosch has closed down. 

#   Savoy Cabbage in Heritage Square in the city centre has closed down, after 20 years. 

#  Eurohaus on Loop Street has closed down

#  Karoux has closed down in McGregor. 

#   Olami on Bree Street has closed down. 

#  BlackandCo has closed down in Constantia. 

#   Chalk & Cork has closed down. 

#   Bukhara has closed down in Stellenbosch. 

#  Loaves on Long has closed. 

#  ASH restaurant has closed.

Chef changes 

#. Chef Sidwell Yarrow has left La Petite Ferme, to return to the cruise ships. The restaurant on the wine estate is now headed up by Chef Kyle Norris.

#. Chef Gerard van Staden is the new chef at Pearl Valley. 

#  Chef Gary Welgemoed is the Head Chef at the Carrol Boyes Chocolate division. 

#   Lee-Andra Govender is the new Pastry Chef at The Table Bay Hotel. 

#   Chef Evan Coosner has left Open Door/Bocca/Burrata.

#   Chef Archie MacLean has left Catharina’s and moved to Coco Safar. He has since left Coco Safar, and is said to have joined La Petite Ferme in Franschhoek. 

#   Chef Guy Clark has left Tintswalo, now consulting. 

#   Carmen Rueda is the new Pastry Chef of Coco Safar, formerly from El Bulli and The Fat Duck.

#   Chef Richard Carstens has left Tokara Restaurant, and is said to be starting a restaurant consultancy with Chef Reuben Riffel. 

#   Carolize Coetzee has been appointed as Executive Chef at Tokara, moving from Dornier wine estate.

#  Chef Archie MacLean has left Coco Safar, and is running Café Bon Bon in Franschhoek with his wife 

#  Christian Hellinger is the new Chef at Holden Manz

Restaurant changes

#  La Parada Camps Bay is undergoing renovations, and is transforming into a Tiger’s Milk.

 

Please share news about restaurant openings and closures with me at 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: @Chris_Ulmenstein

Netflix ‘The Final Table’: Cape Town Chef Ash Heeger competes in world chef cooking competition!

An exciting and what is described as the most challenging chef competition to date, will be aired on Netflix on 20 November, and will project Cape Town Chef Ash Heeger, of recently renamed and relaunched Riverine Rabbit, onto the world cooking stage!  Continue reading →

New restaurants set to open in Cape Town and Winelands in September!

Burger & Lobster Cape Town BuildingAugust has seen the opening of new restaurants Coco Safar, The Mess, and Bellingham 1693, with a number of September openings imminent.  Some restaurants have closed.

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

Restaurant Openings

#   Burger & Lobster has opened on Bree Street, with links to the Continue reading →