The revised Level 3 regulations introduced at the beginning of February, permitting the sale of alcohol and the closing time moved to 22h00, has been a boost for the restaurant industry, experiencing a good past month. The new restaurant closing time of 23h00 since yesterday is certain to be a further boost for a very hard-hit restaurant industry.
Despite the Lockdown regulations affecting restaurants so badly in the past 11 months, a total of 68 new restaurants have opened in Cape Town and the Winelands during Lockdown. Top chefs have opened new restaurants, including Chefs Peter Tempelhoff, Cheyne Morrisby, and Liam Tomlin. Chef Cheyne’s HIMITSU at the Camps Bay Retreat is the newest restaurant to have opened. Cape Town’s oldest pub, the Perseverance Tavern, has reopened with new owners.
The latest permanent Lockdown Restaurant Closure list stands at 97 Restaurants in Cape Town and the Winelands. Sadly one of the greatest casualties of Covid and the Lockdown is the closure of The Restaurant at Waterkloof, as are the closures of Balducci’s and Belthazar in the Waterfront and La Tête on Bree Street. Clarke’s, The Shortmarket Club, Koffi Terapi, Ocean Blue, and Dahlia on Regent announced their permanent closure earlier in Lockdown, but have since reopened. Fork in Franschhoek is the latest closure.
The Test Kitchen, and The Food Barn have changed their offerings and their restaurant names in reaction to the Covid Lockdown. They have recently been joined by Chefs Warehouse and Canteen on Bree Street, now called Chefs Warehouse Winebar & Pinchos.
The Test Kitchen and The Foodbarn Restaurants transformed to cope with aftermath of Covid Lockdown!
Franschhoek saw a number of Lockdown Restaurant Closures, but has five new restaurant openings, some restaurants have relocated, and some have changed their offering. See note about the closure of Fork above.
Franschhoek Restaurants during Lockdown: which are open, closed, and opening soon!
Restaurant Closures (temporary ?) since start of Adjusted Level 3 Lockdown on 29 December
Bones in Woodstock – permanent
Nelson’s Eye in Gardens – reopened
Chefs Warehouse & Canteen in Bree Street – reopened and renamed
Grub & Vine on Bree Street -reopened
La Mouette in Sea Point – permanently closed, for sale
Greenhouse at Cellars-Hohenhort – reopened
The Wild Fig, Observatory – reopened
Rick’s Café Americain on Kloof Street – reopened
Banana Jam Café in Kenilworth – reopened
The 41 in Camps Bay – reopened
Lee’s Chinese Kitchen – restaurant closed 28 February
Upper Bloem in Green Point – closed down
SHIO in De Waterkant – closed down
Café Manhattan in De Waterkant – reopened
Piano Bar in De Waterkant – closed until October 2021
La Tête on Bree Street – permanently closed
Restaurant Openings (Since the start of Lockdown)
# 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.
# Fork has opened in Franschhoek, but since closed
# Entrée has opened in Franschhoek
# Flower Café has opened in Woodstock.
# Jooma has opened in Sea Point
# Starbucks 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
# Oxalis Eatery has opened on Wale Street, with staff of the firmer Janse & Co.
# Fat Harry’s in Wynberg has reopened, with new owners, an interior makeover, and new menu and staff.
# 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 Pokémon 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
# All Things Edible (ATE) has opened at Silver Forest Boutique Lodge in Somerset West, with Chef Michael Broughton, butvappears to have closed down already.
# The Shortmarket Club has reopened as The Shortmarket Grill.
#. OK JA has opened in Camps Bay (former Maison J)
# Bokeh Creative Studio has opened on Regent Road in Sea Point.
# Chef Peter Tempelhoff is to open a Street Food restaurant on Shortmarket Street.
# 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 has opened in the V& A Waterfront
# Old Town Italy has opened in Durbanville
# 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
# Nü has opened at Kloof Street Village
# Lexi’s Healthy Eatery Vegan restaurant is opening on Regent Road in Sea Point.
# ëlgr has opened on Kloof Street, where Janse & Co operated previously. Probably the restaurant with the most difficult name in Cape Town. (PHOTOGRAPH)
# 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 is opening Himitsu restaurant at Camps Bay Retreat in February.
Shhhh it’s a secret: Chef Cheyne Morrisby to open new Himitsu restaurant at Camps Bay Retreat!
# Michael Townsend’s Grand Pavilion looks ready to open soon on Beach Road in Sea Point
#. Makers Landing has opened in the Cruise Terminal in the Waterfront, a collection of small food operators.
Makers Landing Cape Food craft market opens in the Waterfront today, celebrates SA food diversity!
Restaurant Closures since Lockdown:
# The Shortmarket Club (has reopened)
# 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 just 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
# 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
# The Slick Restaurant Group’s Balducci’s and Belthazar Restaurants have closed down in the Waterfront.
# 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
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
- Chef Calvyn Metior is the new Executive Chef at Monneaux Restaurant, previously Head Chef at La Motte.
- Chef Kayla-Ann Osborn has left The Chef’s Table in Umhlanga, now heading up the kitchen at Delaire Graff.
- Chef Scott Armstrong has rejoined JAN Restaurant in Nice as Sous Chef.
- Chef Nico Vorster has left La Paris Bistro outside Franschhoek, and has bought The Good Food Co in Franschhoek.
- Bossa Stellenbosch and Die Strandloper suffered extensive fire damage during Lockdown.
- Chef Bell McCleod has left Bones in Woodstock, now heading up the Hemel & Aarde Brewery.
- 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.
- Chef Neill Anthony Vaughn has been appointed as the Culinary Advisor to La Mouette.
- 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.
- 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.
- Epice has moved to the space of Le Petite Colombe at Le Quartier Francais in Franschhoek.
- Le Petite Colombe has opened at Leeu Estates.
- The Foodbarn in Noordhoek has transformed into Foodbarn Café & Tapas.
- The Test Kitchen has changed its offering and its name to The Test Kitchen Origins
- De Vrije Burger has moved to 13 Drostdy Street in Stellenbosch.
- Chefs Warehouse & Canteen on Bree Street has changed its name to Chefs Warehouse Winebar & Pinchos.
Details of new restaurants opening, and of restaurant closures, are highly appreciated. chrisvonulmenstein@gmail.com
Photograph taken at new ëlgr on Kloof Street, Cape Town.
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
The first restaurants are sending out their Winter Specials information, summarised below. The list is updated continuously. We welcome information about new specials:
November has seen the opening of new restaurants Spek & Bone by Chef Bertus Basson, Baconville by Richard Bosman, The Vine Bistro at Glenelly, The 41, Sunset Café, Pizza Hut on Kloof Street, Bon Appetit Keam Restaurant, and more.
Last week I attended the soft opening of Restaurant at Villa 47, and could not believe that I had been seated next to André Naudé, a director of Libstar, the holding company of Rialto (which in turn owns Villa 47), and a former Tiger Brands client of mine of 15 years ago. André had organized an invitation for me to attend the launch of their new Denny mushroom burgers at the Libstar head office yesterday.