The restaurant industry is doing well, and two new top restaurants are opening this month, both reflecting the new trend of top chefs opening their restaurants in top hotels. Utopia Executive Chef Pavel Dimitrov is opening Zest Restaurant in the New Kings Boutique Hotel in Piazza da Luz in Sea Point on 15 June, while Homespun Chef Matt Schreuder opens his second Homespun at the Andros Boutique Hotel in Claremont on 18 June.

Despite the Lockdown regulations affecting the restaurant industry so badly in the past 15 months, a total of 80 new restaurants have opened in Cape Town and the Winelands during Lockdown. Restaurateur Michael Townsend has finally opened his grand Grand Pavilion in Sea Point, and has opened Fancy Franks in Somerset West.  Chef Michael Broughton has opened Cucina in Stellenbosch, and plans to open three more restaurants in Stellenbosch in conjunction with Brenaissance Wine & Stud. Chef Jan-Hendrik has finally opened KLEIN JAN at Tswalu Kalahari.

The latest permanent Lockdown Restaurant Closure list stands at 102 Restaurants in Cape Town and the Winelands. Casualties of the Covid Lockdown include The Restaurant at Waterkloof, Balducci’s and Belthazar in the Waterfront, Foliage in Franschhoek, The Shortmarket Club, and La Tête on Bree Street.

Restaurant Openings (Since the start of Lockdown 27 March 2020)

#   Regent Burger Bar has opened where Craft Burger Bar was on Regent Road in Sea Point.

#  Chef Liam Tomlin has opened Local at Heritage Square, a retail collection of local food products, fresh and packaged, in the former HQ space.

#   Chef Liam Tomlin has opened Mazza upstairs in the former HQ, as a Middle Eastern eating bar.

#   Ciao Pizza, Long Street.

#   Firefly Café in Camps Bay

#   Chef Chen Sushi Bar pop-up, The Point Mall, Sea Point.

#   Floozies (now renamed The Wolf House) has opened on Kloof Street.

#   Flower Café has opened in Woodstock.

#   Jooma has opened in Sea Point

#   Starbucks has opened in Camps Bay

#   Starbucks has opened at Canal Walk

#   Starbucks has opened at Cavendish Square

#   Yama Sushi Emporium has opened in Franschhoek

#   Oku has opened in Franschhoek

#   Blue Coriander Indian restaurant has opened in Place Vendome in Franschhoek, the owner being a former chef at Marigold

#   Fat Harry’s in Wynberg has reopened, with new owners, an interior makeover, and new menu and staff.

Fat Harry’s in Kenilworth transformed from Bar to Restaurant with a Bar, with new owners, new decor, new kitchen and chef, new menu!

#   Chefs Warehouse Tintswalo Atlantic has opened

#   Barstaurant has opened at Glencairn Hotel in Simonstown, by the Tintswalo Group.

#   Bo-Kaap Deli has opened in Bo-Kaap.

#   Restaurateur Stuart Bailey has opened De Vleispaleis Grillroom & Bar,  a meat restaurant in the Black Horse Centre on Dorp Street in Stellenbosch.

De Vleispaleis Grillroom & Bar adds a Fine Meat Deli to its Restaurant, introduces R199 Set Menu!

#   Curry Cave has opened on New Church Street

#   Ideas Cartel Bar has opened at Casa Labia, Muizenberg

#   Mexicola Locale has opened in Hout Bay, another new Chef Cheyne Morrisby restaurant

#  FreeBird has opened in Kloof Street Village.

#   Sharon’s Cafë has opened at The Palms

#   Clay Café has opened on Bree Street.

#   The Poké Co Claremont has opened

#   Rosetta has opened on Bree Street

#    Forneria Italia Beachfront has opened in Table View

#    I Sapori has opened in Table View

#   Seed & Circus has opened in Zonnebloem/District Six

#   The Manor at Nederburg has opened, in Paarl

#   Culture Wine Bar has opened on Bree Street, a joint venture between Chef Matt Manning and wine fundi  Chris Groenewald

#   Royale Eatery has opened on Vineyard Road in Claremont.

#   Salushi Express has opened in Cavendish Street, Claremont

#   Vadas Pasteis de Nata & Café has opened in Stellenbosch

#.  OK JA has opened in Camps Bay (former Maison J)

#   Bokeh Creative Studio has opened on Regent Road in Sea Point.

#   Ernie Els Wines Restaurant has opened in Stellenbosch

#   Kleine Zalze Restaurant has opened, with Chef Nic van Wyk

#   Drum has opened in the Black Horse Centre in Stellenbosch

#   Old Town Italy is opening a flagship restaurant in the V& A Waterfront

#   Old Town Italy has opened in Durbanville

#   Old Town Italy has opened in Constantia

#  Lime Tree Café has opened a Deli.

#  Chef Judi Fourie has opened Fideli’s on Parliament Street, where Kleinsky’s used to be

#  La Petite Maison has opened in Langebaan.

#  Chef Peter Tempelhoff has opened Beyond at Buitenverwachting in Constantia, with Nicholas Walker as Manager, and Chef Julia du Toit heading up the kitchen.

#   Chef Kevin Grobler has opened The Restaurant at Grande Roche in Paarl.

#  Beach House has opened on Victoria Road in Camps Bay, where Sunset Sessions used to be.

#   My Sugar has opened in Cavendish Square and in Canal Walk.

#   Schoon has opened at Kloof Street Village

#   KOFI has opened at Kloof Street Village

#   KOFI has opened in Bo-Kaap

#   Nü has opened at Kloof Street Village

#   Lexi’s Healthy Eatery Vegan restaurant has opened on Regent Road in Sea Point.

#   ëlgr has opened on Kloof Street, where Janse & Co operated previously.  The restaurant with the most difficult name in Cape Town.

Restaurant Review: New ëlgr. has most complex restaurant name, a breath of fresh air, food light and multi-cultural!

#  The Botanicum Restaurant has opened at Morgenster

#   Crème de la Crème has opened in Camps Bay.

#   Schoon has opened in The Point Mall in Sea Point

#   Schoon has opened on Main Road, Sea Point.

#   Kauai has opened in The Point Mall

#   Noah Café has opened in Tamboerskloof

#    Chef Cheyne Morrisby has opened Himitsu restaurant at Camps Bay Retreat.

Shhhh it’s a secret: Chef Cheyne Morrisby to open new Himitsu restaurant at Camps Bay Retreat!

#   Michael Townsend’s Grand Pavilion has opened on Beach Road in Sea Point

Restaurant Review: Grand Pavilion is grand in its Food and Decor, yet affordable, Website and Service needs attention

#.  Michael Townsend has opened Fancy Franks in Somerset West.

#.  Makers Landing has opened in the Cruise Terminal in the Waterfront, a collection of small food operators.

#  The Monk’s Kitchen has opened in Green Point.

#   The Test Kitchen Fledgelings has opened in the former The Shortmarket Club space, only open on Fridays.

#   Cucina has been opened by Chef Michael Broughton in Stellenbosch, and he plans to open Ember, The Stud Burger, and a Wine and tapas bar, all in Stellenbosch.

#   Brother and sister Jason and Mel Laing have taken ove Roots Café and Kitchen in Wembley Square.

#   The La Colombe Group is to open a restaurant in the Waterfront

#   Sundoo South Indian Bistro & Tapas has opened in Newlands.

#   Harvest Culture Eaterie has opened at Tyger Falls Waterfront, owned by Dale Schreuder, of former Dale’s Black Angus. (Photograph above)

Harvest Culture Eaterie opens Modern Bistro in Tyger Falls Waterfront, celebrates Earth’s bounty!

#    Zest Restaurant is opening in the New Kings Boutique Hotel in Piazza da Luz in Sea Point on 15 June, owned by Utopia Executive Chef and co-owner Pavel Dimitrov. Chefs Scott Melvin and Kyle Conradie will run the kitchen.

#    A Woolworths coffee shop NOW NOW is to open in Piazza da Luz in Sea Point

#    The Lawns is opening Steak Club as a four month pop-up.

#    Chef Cheyne Morrisby is opening Ding Dong Bar in De Waterkant, serving Bar Food

#    Nish Nush has opened on Bree Street, serving Schwarmas and Falafel.

#   Homespun at The Andros opens in Claremont on 18 June.

Breaking Restaurant News: Homespun at The Andros opens 18 June, second restaurant of Chef Matt!

#   Chef Jan-Hendrik van der Westhuizen has opened KLEIN JAN at Tswalu Kalahari private game reserve.

Chef Jan-Hendrik van der Westhuizen finally opens his Restaurant KLEIN JAN in the Kalahari, most expensive restaurant in SA!

#   Former rugby player Ray Mordt is said to have won a tender to reopen the former Shimmy Beach Club towards the end of this year, with Chef Luke Dale Roberts said to be responsible for the new restaurant. Chef Ryan Cole of Salsify at The Roundhous is said to be involved in the new restaurant as well, but his restaurant is no longer a part of the LDR Group of restaurants owned by Chef Luke…. very confusing!

Is Chef Luke Dale Roberts scaling down his Restaurant Group? Salsify at the Roundhouse no longer part of the Group!

Restaurant Closures since Lockdown:

#   The Shortmarket Club

#    La Bottega in Woodstock.

#    Empire Café in Muizenberg – has been revamped and reopened by Chef Clayton Bell (ex Villa 47)

#    SMAK Delicatessen and Eatery.

#    Buitenverwachting Restaurant in Constantia.

#    The Deli Coffee Co in the V & A Waterfront

#    Under Oaks, Paarl

#    Craft Burger Bar, Sea Point

#.  The Butcher, Camps Bay

#   La Franca, Gardens

#   Go Go, Bree Street

#   The Butcher, Sea Point

#.  Cold Gold Artisanal ice-cream

#   StarGarden Café, Fish Hoek

#   Oven Baked, Muizenberg

#   Noordhoek Café & Deli

#.  Kalk Bay Theatre – is now housed at Brass Bell, using the Bikini Deck (open for performance nights only)

#   The Kitchen, Woodstock

#   Bay Expresso

#  Mugg & Bean, Constantia

#   Jessy’s Waffles, Camps Bay

#   Chi Cha in Sea Point

#   Ocean Blue in Camps Bay (reopened 18 July)

#   The Trumpet Tree, Stellenbosch

#   Tolhuis Bistro, Ceres

#   Maker’s Mark, Tulbagh

#   Thai Food Sushi, Sea Point

#   Meraki, Stellenbosch

#   All Things Good, Stellenbosch

#   Mama Cucina, Riebeeck-Kasteel

#   Brownies & Downies, City Centre

#   Dahlia on Regent, Sea Point (has reopened)

#   The Larder, Claremont

#  Café Blouberg,  Bloubergstrand

#   Jason’s, Bree Street Branch

#   Koffi Terapi, Willowbridge (reopened)

#  Blasters Family Restaurant, Cape Gate.

#  Fláva, Wilderness

#  The Fat Greek, Table View

#   Myoga, Vineyard Hotel, Newlands

#   Schwarma Express, Sea Point Branch

#  The Stack, Gardens

#   Two and Sixpence Tavern, Simon’s Town, after 21 years

#   Perseverance, Gardens, oldest pub in Cape Town – has reopened

#   Fire Monkey, Claremont

#   Cattle Baron, Tokai

#   Clarke’s, Bree Street (has reopened)

#   Masala Dosa Restaurant, Long Street

#   Vicious Virgin Bar, Wale Street

#   Exhibit A, Bree Street

#  Frankie Fenner, Durbanville

#   Dale’s Black Angus, The Paddocks, Milnerton

#  TableThirteen, Green Point

#  Ton Khoon, Tyger Waterfront

#   Terroir, Stellenbosch.

#   Daniela’s Deliciously Decadent, Cape Quarter.

#   Batavia Café, Bo-Kaap

#   Addis in Cape Ethopian Restaurant

#   Fork on Long Street

#   Yumcious Café, Durbanville

#   Aces & Spades, City centre.

#  Guilio’s Café, Loop Street

#  De Wijnhuis, Stellenbosch

#  Café Mozart, Church Street (now Mozart on Church)

#  Active Sushi, Hudson Street

#  Amore, Kenilworth

#.  Primi Muizenberg

#   Primi Eden on the Bay

#   Primi Willowbridge

#   Mink & Trout, Bree Street

#   Lou Lou’s, Cape Quarter

#   Knead, The Point Centre

#   Pastis, Constantia

#   Viande at Grande Roche, Paarl.

#   95 Keerom Street, Cape Town

#   95 at Morgenster, Somerset West

#   Tintswalo Kitchen at Tintswalo Atlantic

#   Will’s Café and Deli, Oranjezicht

#  Jerry’s Burger Bar, Stellenbosch

#   Maison J in Camps Bay

#   Beluga in Green Point

#   Goloso in Sea Point

#   Restaurant Seven in Somerset West, owned by Chef George Jardine

#   Baker Brothers in Green Point

#   Bodega at Dornier, Stellenbosch

#   Doppio Zero, Stellenbosch

#   Restaurant at Waterkloof closed on 22 November

SA Top 10 Restaurant List loses one of its stars as Restaurant at Waterkloof closes down in two weeks!

#  The Slick Restaurant Group’s Balducci’s and Belthazar Restaurants have closed down in the Waterfront.

V&A Waterfront stalwart Balducci’s and Belthazar Restaurants close down, latest Covid Lockdown casualties!

#   La Tête on Bree Street

#   La Mouette in Sea Point

#   Bones in Woodstock

#.  Fork in Franschhoek

#   Upper Bloem in Green Point

#   SHIO, De Waterkant

#  Lee’s Chinese Kitchen

#   Entree in Franschhoek

#   Foliage closed in Franschhoek on 27 April

#   Rhodes Memorial Restaurant burnt down in the devastating fire on 18 April.

#   Neapolitana Pizzeria in Sea Point

#  Dapper Coffee Co on Bree Street

#   Oxalis Eatery on Wale Street has closed down

#   Firefish in the Waterfront has closed temporarily, only planning to open in September, if at all.

#   Shimmy Beach Club has closed down

#   Mzoli’s has closed down in Gugulethu.

#   The Raptor Room closed down

#   Mykonos in Camps Bay has closed down

#   Rock Pool in Sea Point has closed down

 

The Restaurant Closure and Opening Lists are updated continuously throughout the month.

For a list of Restaurants currently open for Food Delivery and Collection as well as Sit-Down Service, see the Facebook Group I created at the beginning of May: https://www.facebook.com/groups/261165661682371/?ref=share

 

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, now heading up the kitchen at Delaire Graff.
3. Chef Scott Armstrong has rejoined JAN Restaurant in Nice as Sous Chef.
4. Chef Nico Vorster has left La Paris Bistro outside Franschhoek, and has bought The Good Food Co in Franschhoek.
5. Bossa Stellenbosch and Die Strandloper suffered extensive fire damage during Lockdown.
6. Chef Bell McCleod has left Bones in Woodstock, now heading up the Hemel & Aarde Brewery.
7. Chef Henry and Mari Vigar have left La Mouette, now solely owned by Gerrit Bruwer, and have moved to take over their restaurant Upper Bloem in Green Point.
8.  Chef Neill Anthony Vaughn has been appointed as the Culinary Advisor to La Mouette.
9. Chef Arno Janse van Rensburg has left his restaurant Janse & Co, his next venture not yet known. He is working with his former Janse & Co team at Oxalis.
10. Stellenbosch has introduced an innovative community-supported incentive to restaurant diners to pay by SnapScan, offering them a 50% discount, with a maximum of R400, presented as a voucher.
11. Epice has moved to the space of Le Petite Colombe at Le Quartier Francais in Franschhoek.
12. Le Petite Colombe has opened at Leeu Estates.
13. The Foodbarn in Noordhoek has transformed into Foodbarn Café & Tapas.
14. The Test Kitchen has changed its offering and its name to The Test Kitchen Origins
15. De Vrije Burger has moved to 13 Drostdy Street in Stellenbosch.
16. Chefs Warehouse & Canteen on Bree Street has changed its name to Chefs Warehouse Winebar & Pinchos.
17. Eike has opened Snoepie tuck shop next to its Eike restaurant on Dorp Street in Stellenbosch.
18. Ruth and Alex Grahame, owners of SeaBreeze on Bree Street, have moved back to Scotland, with Manager Michaela Diedericks running the restaurant for them.

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

Photograph of the new Harvest Culture Eaterie in Tyger Falls Waterfront.

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