{"id":55121,"date":"2014-03-13T10:00:58","date_gmt":"2014-03-13T08:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.whalecottage.com\/blog\/?p=55121"},"modified":"2014-05-29T01:00:34","modified_gmt":"2014-05-28T23:00:34","slug":"first-signs-of-winter-as-first-cape-townwinelands-restaurants-close-down","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/cape-town\/first-signs-of-winter-as-first-cape-townwinelands-restaurants-close-down\/","title":{"rendered":"First signs of winter as first Cape Town\/Winelands restaurants close down!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Chef's<\/a>Many restaurants opened this summer, but the industry is taking its first toll, with restaurants closing down. \u00a0It may be a tough winter ahead, given the poor state of the economy. \u00a0Yet Neil Grant and Barry Engelbrecht (Burrata), Clayton Howard and Mico Botha (I Love my Laundry), and Michael Townsend (La Parada, Lucky Fish, Harbour House) are expanding their portfolios.<\/p>\n

This list of restaurant openings and closings is\u00a0updated continuously,\u00a0<\/strong>as we receive new information:<\/p>\n

Restaurant Openings<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Chef’s Warehouse & Cookery School\u00a0has moved to Bree Street, in the Cape Heritage hotel building, where Awestruck\/Caveau used to be, and is now called Chef’s Warehouse & Canteen<\/strong>,<\/a> with Chef Liam Tomlin in the kitchen. \u00a0Street Food has also opened as a take-away outlet (7h00 – 15h00)<\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Diesel & Creme<\/strong>, a diner, restaurant, and coffee shop, has opened on the R62 in Barrydale.<\/span><\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0Idiom Wines<\/strong>\u00a0is said to be opening a restaurant.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0The Tap Room<\/strong>\u00a0has opened at Devils’ Peak Brewery<\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0I\u00a0\u2665<\/span>\u00a0my Laundry<\/strong>\u00a0has opened another (its third) branch on Buitenkant Street.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Jordan Wines has launched a\u00a0Deli and Bakery.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

* \u00a0<\/span>\u00a0Lucky Fish & Chips<\/strong>\u00a0has opened on Bree Street, on Regent Road in Sea Point, on Long Street, in Kalk Bay, and in Muizenberg, belonging to Michael Townsend of the Harbour House group.<\/span><\/p>\n

*\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0 T\u00fcmi<\/strong>\u00a0has opened as a health food caf\u00e9 in St John’s Piazza in Sea Point, being part of the Col’Cocchia group.<\/span><\/p>\n

*\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0 Castella Amere<\/strong>\u00a0has opened in Melkbosstrand.<\/span><\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0The Butcher Shop & Grill<\/strong>\u00a0is opening next to Sotano in Mouille Point.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0Hallelujah<\/strong>\u00a0has opened near Power & Glory on Kloofnek Road.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0Ragafellows<\/strong>\u00a0has opened on Main Road in Hout Bay.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0<\/span>\u00a0Knead<\/strong>\u00a0has opened in the renovated Checkers in Sea Point.<\/span><\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0The Dogfather<\/strong>\u00a0has opened in Sea Point.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0The Restaurant at Cape Point Vineyards<\/strong>\u00a0has opened, with Chef Clayton Bell of the former Constantia Uitsig at the helm.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0Plant<\/strong>\u00a0has opened as a fully vegan restaurant alongside Buitengracht Street.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0Overgaauw Restaurant<\/strong>\u00a0has opened, with owners Russel Wasserfall and Camilla Comins, previously of The Table at De Meye.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0Firebirds Restaurant & Deli<\/strong>\u00a0has opened in Sea Point.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0The Thirsty Scarecrow<\/strong>\u00a0has opened outside Stellenbosch.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0Sumo<\/strong>\u00a0is opening in the Cape Royale hotel building.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0Melissa’s<\/strong>\u00a0has opened at Frater’s Square in Paarl.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Entrepreneur\u00a0Michael Townsend<\/strong>\u00a0(La Parada, Lucky Fish, Harbour House emporium) is opening a steak restaurant in Muizenberg.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Neil Grant and his business partner Barry Engelbrecht (of Burrata) are opening a new restaurant\u00a0Bocca<\/strong> on the corner of Bree and Wale Streets in winter, ‘more low key, more Bree Street, more user-friendly<\/em>‘, and with an Italian pizza oven too. \u00a0They are also taking over the River Caf\u00e9 (renaming it) at Constantia Uitsig.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Mr Pickwick’s<\/strong>\u00a0has opened on Kloof Street, above Ocean Basket.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Hard Rock Caf\u00e9<\/strong> has returned to South Africa, and has opened the first of four branches on Mandela Square in Johannesburg. \u00a0Branches in Cape Town, Pretoria, and Durban are planned.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 The Grillhouse<\/strong> steak restaurant from Johannesburg has opened in Woodstock, on Albert Road, with a microbrewery to open shortly.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Pescarne<\/strong> has opened in Hout Bay.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 NV-80<\/strong> has opened in the Checkers building in Sea Point.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Baked in the Wood<\/strong> is to open in Woodstock, offering craft beer and tapas, and is owned by Zahir Mohamed of Baked Bistro.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 @Food & Wine<\/strong> has opened in Hermanus.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Franky’s Diner<\/strong> is opening on Main Road, Sea Point.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Vida e Caffe<\/strong> has and Kauai<\/strong>\u00a0have opened in Portside on Buitengracht\/Bree Street.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Beijing Opera<\/strong> has opened on Rose Street.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 The Lunch Depot<\/strong> has opened.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Hard Pressed Caf\u00e9<\/strong> has opened at the bottom of Bree Street.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Casa du Sol Grill House<\/strong> has opened in Claremont.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Street Food,<\/strong> part of Chef’s Warehouse & Canteen, has opened<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Borage<\/strong> has opened with Chef Frank Marks, previously of The Fat Duck and The Pot Luck Club<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Charcoal Dining<\/strong> has opened where Chef’s Warehouse was previously.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0The Depot<\/strong> has opened.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Isola<\/strong> has opened on Wale Street<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Thornton Whites Gastro Bar<\/strong> has opened<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Strandcaf\u00e9<\/strong> has opened in Strand.<\/p>\n

Restaurant Closures<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Simply Wholesome<\/strong>\u00a0has closed down at the Woodstock Exchange and City Bowl Market.<\/span><\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0Caf\u00e9 Chic<\/strong>\u00a0in Gardens has closed down.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0Love, Revenge, and Cappuccino<\/strong>\u00a0has closed down in the V&A Waterfront.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0Apprentice<\/strong>\u00a0in Stellenbosch has closed down.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0Season<\/strong>\u00a0has closed down in Hermanus.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0Wakame<\/strong>\u00a0has closed down in Green Point<\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0Newport Deli<\/strong>\u00a0in Green Point has closed down<\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0Wafu<\/strong>\u00a0is closing down in Green Point.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0Moyo<\/strong>\u00a0in the V&A Waterfront is said to have closed down. \u00a0Now Moyo at Spier has also closed.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0La Chocolatier<\/strong>\u00a0on Church Street in Stellenbosch has closed down.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Long-established Five Flies<\/strong> has closed down.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 La Colombe<\/strong> is to close at Constantia Uitsig at the end of June, and is planning to relocate elsewhere in Constantia. \u00a0The new location has not yet been finalised.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 <\/span>Barouche<\/strong> restaurant at Blaauwklippen is closing down on 31 May.<\/span><\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Luvey ‘n Rose<\/strong> has closed down on Rose Street.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Jewel of India<\/strong> on Rose Street has closed down.<\/p>\n

Restaurant staff\/venue changes<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Morgenster<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0is planning a new restaurant with an (very big name) international partner, a Caf\u00e9, a Deli, and accommodation, a project which is still in development phase, but is planned to roll out into next summer<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Reuben Riffel is the new operator of\u00a0Racine <\/strong>at Chamonix in Franschhoek.\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0Chef Nico Pretorius is in the kitchen, previously from Reuben’s at One&Only Cape Town.<\/strong><\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0The Original Deli<\/strong>\u00a0in Hermanus has been renamed\u00a0Original Deli & Wine Lab<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Le Coq has closed in Franschhoek, and\u00a0Allora<\/strong>\u00a0has moved into the space.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Madeira Caf\u00e9<\/strong>\u00a0has opened where Sofia’s was in Camps Bay.<\/span><\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0LUST<\/strong>\u00a0is the new name of Cotage Fromage at Vrede en Lust, Chef and artisanal baker Jean-Pierre Smith having returned.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Le Bon Vivant @ Glenwood Bistro<\/strong>\u00a0has opened where Okamai used to be.<\/span><\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0Fyndraai<\/strong>\u00a0will be moving into a new restaurant building on Solms-Delta, making space for the current restaurant venue to become the tasting room.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0Haas<\/strong>\u00a0is moving to Buitenkant Street.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Adrian Cook, formerly of Bon Amis at Bloemendal wine estate, has been appointed as Executive Chef, and Johann Breedt, previously of Westin Cape Town Executive Club, as Head Chef, both at\u00a0<\/span>Shimmy Beach Club. <\/strong>Chef Johann has left again, now working at The Taj.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0Bootlegger Coffee Company<\/strong>\u00a0has opened where Caturra Coffee used to be on Regent Road in Sea Point.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 The Spur Corporation has bought the six\u00a0Hussar Grill<\/strong>\u00a0restaurants, and will expand the restaurant chain.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0Chef Maryna Frederiksen<\/strong>\u00a0has left the Franschhoek Kitchen at Holden Manz, and has moved to Cosecha at Noble Hill, after a short stint at Sacred Ground.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0Ristorante Posticino<\/strong>\u00a0has opened a branch in Hout Bay, where Wild Woods used to be.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 After spending short periods of time at Glenwood and then at L’ermitage in Franschhoek,\u00a0Chef Deon Sensei<\/strong>\u00a0moved to the new Umi Japanese restaurant in Camps Bay in December. \u00a0He has left, to open his Funiki – Sensei’s Japanese Private Dining Experience.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0Miao Restaurant<\/strong>\u00a0is to open in De Waterkant, where It’s a House was previously<\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0Manna Epicure<\/strong>\u00a0has been bought by Agn\u00e9s and Johannes van der Westhuizen, previously of Die Sitrus in Citrusdal.<\/p>\n

*\u00a0\u00a0 Chef Amber Deetlefs<\/strong>, previously with Pinotage restaurant in Beijing, has joined Paranga.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0Vida e Caffe<\/strong>\u00a0is moving to the Food Court in the V&A Waterfront in April, from its longstanding location near Melissa’s.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Chef Bruce Robertson is moving from Scarborough to Simon’s Town, opening\u00a0<\/span>The Flagship<\/strong>\u00a0guest house and a 16 seater restaurant.<\/span><\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Massimo and Tracy are back at\u00a0Massimo’s<\/strong>, after Massimo’s bone marrow transplant in Italy.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0Ocean Basket<\/strong>\u00a0has opened in Camps Bay, where Bayside Caf\u00e9 used to be.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0Chef Chris Erasmus<\/strong>\u00a0is leaving Pierneef\u00a0\u00e0 La Motte in June, and is opening his own restaurant Foliage<\/strong><\/span><\/a>\u00a0in Franschhoek in mid-July.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0Seelan Restaurant & Bar<\/strong><\/span><\/a>\u00a0has opened on Quay 5 in the V&A Waterfront. \u00a0Chef Seelan was previously at Shimmy Beach Club, The Grand Caf\u00e9, The Reserve, and La Perla.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0The Gallery Restaurant at South Hills<\/strong>\u00a0has opened in Elgin, where Chef Gordon Manuel used to run his restaurant.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Le Quartier Fran\u00e7ais<\/strong> GM Linda Coltart is leaving after 18 years.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Tra\u00fcmerei has changed its name to Caf\u00e9 Franschhoek.<\/strong><\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Herman Brown has bought the Salmon Bar<\/strong> in Franschhoek, with Nigel Burch his new manager.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Fisherman’s Catch<\/strong><\/a> has re-opened in Franschhoek, and may have closed down already again.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Craft<\/strong> has opened where Apprentice used to be in Andringa Street in Stellenbosch.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Aldo du Plessis<\/strong> has left Grande Provence and has joined Boschendal.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 The Twelve Apostle’s<\/strong> Horst Frehse has been promoted to Executive Director of the hotel, and Michael Nel as General Manager.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Keenw\u00e4 has a new owner, German de la Melena having sold his restaurant.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Chef Andres Cond\u00e9<\/span><\/a>,<\/strong> formerly from elBulli and Tickets Michelin-star restaurants, is joining the Harbour House Group<\/strong> in June!<\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0Good Food & Co<\/strong>\u00a0in Franschhoek has re-opened with a new owner, Warren McNicol. \u00a0Previous Chef Kim will return at the end of May.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 The Company’s Gardens Restaurant will be taken over by the Zingara Group, and renamed Haarlem & Hope.<\/strong><\/a> \u00a0It will open in Spring.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 The River Caf\u00e9<\/strong> will re-open at Constantia Uitsig, with a new name, and operated by Neil Grant and his business partner Barry Engelbrecht of Burrata, opening in September\/October.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Chef Carl Penn of Pedlars on the Bend is said to be opening El Cadre<\/strong> in the former Don Pedro in Woodstock.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Caffe Milano is being transformed into Carne Bistro<\/strong>, and another Carne is said to be opening in Constantia.<\/p>\n

Temporary restaurant closures<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Boschendal<\/strong>\u00a0has closed, for an extensive renovation as a wedding destination over winter. A new restaurant operator is expected to be appointed for the summer.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0<\/span>The Bungalow<\/strong>, Clifton: closed until 1 September<\/span><\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0Caffe Milano<\/strong>: \u00a0 closed for renovations, until it re=opens as Carne Bistro<\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0Tokara<\/strong>\u00a0: 26 May \u2013 9 June<\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0Overture:<\/strong>\u00a026 May \u2013 11 June<\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0La Colombe<\/strong>: \u00a0 closed in June<\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0The Restaurant at Newton Johnson<\/strong>: 2 \u2013 30 June<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 The Kitchen at Maison<\/strong>: 2 June – 4 August<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Marianna’s<\/strong>: closed from 15 June for winter<\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0Pierneef\u00a0\u00e0 La Motte<\/strong>: \u00a017 June \u2013 11 July<\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0The Red Table Restaurant at Nederburg<\/strong>: 18 June \u2013 8 July<\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0Makaron at Majeka House<\/strong>: 26 June \u2013 1 August<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Balducci:<\/strong> 29 June – 31 July<\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0Terroir<\/strong>: 30 June \u2013 17 July.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0\u00a0De Grendel Restaurant:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a030 June \u2013 14 July<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 The Test Kitchen<\/strong>: 1 – 15 July<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

We welcome all restaurant news<\/strong>\u00a0–\u00a0please e-mail us at whalecot@iafrica.com<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio:\u00a0www.whalecottage.com<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0Twitter:@WhaleCottage<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many restaurants opened this summer, but the industry is taking its first toll, with restaurants closing down. \u00a0It may be a tough winter ahead, given the poor state of the economy. \u00a0Yet Neil Grant and Barry Engelbrecht (Burrata), Clayton Howard and Mico Botha (I Love my Laundry), and Michael Townsend (La Parada, Lucky Fish, Harbour […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false},"categories":[15,3,124,14,75,20,31,22,892,21,293],"tags":[24922,22309,24306,14971,314,23509,25123,18237,18012,24779,1349,19843,15112,3399,24995,17654,9928,25461,22311,24303,25605,182,24352,484,9534,2842,24870,10145,32366,4391,25607,25280,23498,24304,25608,24263,4663,2552,32378,11928,23113,15331,24297,225,9593,1551,10168,24296,24305,20370,20413,5058,25585,25125,23494,24893,499,24892,25606,24945,9359,16353,160,25264,2317,21507,24289,140,25416,22677,5035,21010,25281,25282,24355,24890,9360,51,7770,15327,11384,23760,21509,2561,15589,395,22536,8441,24301,39,18751,6115,24302,10958,549,3769,24835,24299,24232,21470,18783,21125,13355,8846,17345,9098,249,23485,22990,21919,651,15332,406,12674,24354,2880,2968,24891,3210,24503,2390,24298,69,24423,6611,426,23426,24961,20585,22975,13,1347,23125,8314,18784,17568,1287,4786,23991,17621,14800,20967,25611,23482,23558,18918,2692,25609,23069,1226,24029,24288,68,8844,13839,25279,14495,23112,21915,7518,23495,25610,3619,12395,19383,2495,20207,664,24307,24300,2422,25296,23502,32373,32382,20052,19281],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t