Tag Archives: Rikku O’Donnchü

Corona Virus: Lockdown Journey Journal, Day 69 of Level 3, 8 August 2020.

 

Saturday 8 August 2020, Day 69 of Level 3, after 66 days of Levels 5 and 4 😷

Corona Gratitude 🙏

#Grateful for a warm day caused by the pre-rain Berg wind, a winter week lying ahead of us from this evening; for Joel coming to help me clean up in Bakoven and Camps Bay; for seeing Eugene van Eck running past my home, doing a half marathon all the way from the Waterfront; for a relaxed afternoon; for a dinner spoil with Katie Friedman lying ahead; and for being happy and healthy. 🙏💙 Continue reading →

Exhibit A in Cape Town the first Fine-Dining Restaurant to close down due to the Corona Lockdown!

 

We’re very sorry to announce the permanent closure of @exhibit_a_by_syn
Unfortunately, the ANC and refusal to use our tax money for the good has led to us having to close our doors for good. We hope that they all sleep soundly in their stolen homes, with their expensive cars bought with stolen money. As for us, we’re done funding this circus of lies, blame and denialism. It took a pandemic to wake us up to a very real and very old problem.
To our loyal guests, we apologize and appreciate your support as always, but enough is enough.
It’s been epic SA 🙌🏻🌶💚
Bye for now 😜’

With this angry message on Instagram and Facebook Chef Rikku O’Donnchü announced the permanent closure late last night of his fine-dining restaurant Exhibit A, which had traded from the Villa 47 building on Bree Street in Cape Town. Continue reading →

Will Cape Town and Winelands restaurants survive until winter?

 

The only new restaurants which opened last month are Epice in Franschhoek, headed by Chef Charné Sampson, belonging to The La Colombe Group, and located in the former Marigold restaurant; as well as Tindlovu in Camps Bay. This reflects the state of the economy, 2019 being one of the worst years for the restaurant industry.

Chef Peter Tempelhoff announced the opening of a new ‘funky’ restaurant in Cape Town on Kfm over a month 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.

#  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 (photograph)

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

#   Plant Café vegan restaurant has opened in Camps Bay 

#   Mykonos Taverna is opening 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 is opening Three Wise Monkeys on Kloof Street.

#  Step Brothers has opened in Bantry Bay 

#  BrewzKrew has opened in Rondebosch 

#   DipnDip Chocolate Café is opening 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 Diet River by Chef Graham Isaacson.

#  Tindlovu has opened in Camps Bay, as a restaurant offering South African cuisine. 

#.  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. 

#  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, moving across from La Colombe.

#.  Epice has opened in Franschhoek, where Marigold was located, at the end of November, with Head Chef Charné Sampson.

#  The Four Square Club has opened at Môreson outside Franschhoek, owned by Chef Chris Erasmus of Foliage. 

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 appears to ha e closed down. 

#  Cassis in Camps Bay has closed down, about two months after its opening. 

 

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_Ulmenstein

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

I have experienced the cuisine creativity and presentation of Chefs Rikku O’Donnchü and Warwick King three times at Gåte when they opened at Quoin Rock wine estate outside Stellenbosch a year ago, and three times since they established their own SŸN Group since leaving Gåte, first as a SŸN Pop-up, and then as their brand new Exhibit A, in the past year, In this period I have seen the growth in this creative chef team, challenging itself continuously to do things differently and to break their own boundaries. Continue reading →