Restaurants in South Africa
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A
Nyoni’s Kraal
Fancy a smilie (grilled sheep’s head), amanquina (chicken’s feet), amatumbu (sheep’s intestines) or mopane worms? They’re all on the menu at this spiffed up township dining experience in the city. On Friday and Saturday evenings there’s live music from African bands.
reviewed
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B
Jazz Time Café
This hip eatery has an interesting menu featuring zippy zivas – Yemeni-style layered dough wrapped around a variety of fillings (such as Cajun chicken, feta and avocado), folded and toasted. There are cocktails and jazz recitals in the evenings – unusual in the rock-orientated Bloemfontein music scene.
reviewed
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Madame Zingara & Cara Lazuli
Every night is party night at this bohemian, crowd-pleasing restaurant with two sections. Unless you're a committed carnivore we'd advise against its infamous whopper stack of beef fillets doused in chilli-chocolate sauce. Magic tricks, tarot-card readings, belly dancing and dressing up in silly hats is all part of the fun.
reviewed
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C
Jardine
Award-winning chef George Jardine concocts amazing dishes such as twice-cooked crispy duck with honeyed parsnip puree or chalmar beef fillet stuffed with roasted garlic. You also can’t go wrong with one of the gourmet sandwiches (R35) and pastries available from their bakery with street-side tables.
reviewed
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Yum Nostalgia
High-class, well-presented gourmet cuisine is what’s on offer, but for such a famous restaurant, the atmosphere is blessedly relaxed. There are no stuffy dress codes here. You might like to sample snails on garlic porridge, mushroom pie, or one of the inventive burgers, such as tandoori lamb or duck and foie gras.
reviewed
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La Colombe
Well-travelled British chef Luke Dale-Roberts injects Asian sophistication to the menu with delicious dishes such as tuna tataki, in which the lightly seared fish is dressed with cheese marinated in miso and mirin (sweet sake). The shady garden setting makes it one of most pleasant places to dine in Cape Town.
reviewed
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D
Deer Park Café
Families love this relaxed café, fronting onto a playground. The chunky wooden furniture gives it the feel of a big nursery, but the tasty food is anything but child’s play. There’re some great vegetarian options and a kids’ menu. Yum, next door, is also worth checking out.
reviewed
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E
Haiku
Run by the owners of long-established Indian restaurant Bukhara (which is upstairs), this is a sophisticated Asian brasserie. The 'Asian tapas' menu promiscuously plunders dishes from Japan, China and Southeast Asia and the quality is good. Booking for dinner, when the minimum spend is around 130, is recommended.
reviewed
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Wang Thai
This restaurant’s stellar reputation (stories abound of Thai ambassadors proclaiming it the best Thai food outside Thailand) might be overblown, but the food – authentic and spicy – is pretty damn good, and there’s a spacious dining room with a terrace overlooking Nelson Mandela Sq.
reviewed
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F
Bella Casa Trattoria
This efficient Italian trattoria serves lots of pasta choices, along with pizzas and salads. It’s a cheerful, family-friendly place with a cosy indoors and also has ample courtyard seating at blue-chequered-cloth-covered tables. The thin crust Naples-style pizzas are recommended.
reviewed
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Crossways
This Hilton pub-restaurant is the area’s original pub built in 1909, at, as the name suggests, the crossroads. It serves up good traditional pub grub with themed nights. Wednesday night is prawn night (R110 for 1kg prawns). An entertainment stage plus a kiddies’ room ensures everyone is happy.
reviewed
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G
Soulsa
Extremely easy on the eye, Soulsa is one of Melville’s best restaurants, with double-height ceilings, lime-washed, careworn floorboards, an ethereal red tree mural on the wall and a mezzanine floor with views out over the street. Food is suitably creative, and all wines can be ordered by the glass.
reviewed
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H
Noon Gun Tearoom & Restaurant
High on Signal Hill, this is a fine place to sample Cape Malay dishes such as bobotie (curried mince pie topped with egg custard), bredies (pot stews of meat or fish, and vegetables) and dhaltjies (deep-fried balls of chickpea-flour batter mixed with potato, coriander and spinach).
reviewed
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I
Barrio
The place to come for a glamorous kosher dining experience. The large menu covers everything from sushi to tuna carpaccio, steaks and Thai curries – all very tasty. It looks pretty good too: bright white tables set off red plastic chairs, and the walls are covered with bold mosaics and huge mirrors.
reviewed
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J
Speakers Corner
The spirited debate of politicos from nearby parliament rings through this smart café. The menu is delicious: the cakes and desserts are especially yummy. Here's hoping it survives the redevelopment of the building - if not, try the sister operation Bread, Milk & Honey across the square.
reviewed
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K
Knead
Breads, brioche, bagels, buns, pastries, pies and pizzas – anything involving dough, these guys have it covered. The chandelier and mirror tiles add glamour to this hit seaside venue, but their product can also be relied on at their Wembley Square branch back in the city.
reviewed
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L
Yum
A small restaurant with a big reputation. One of the city's most celebrated dining rooms - it has even published its own cookbook - Yum specialises in innovative fusion cooking, with an emphasis on top-notch ingredients and lashings of culinary flair. It closes for most of the month of January.
reviewed
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M
Seven on Kellner
An eclectic restaurant with a very trendy lounge vibe, this place does everything from wood-fired pizzas to many Middle Eastern- and Indian-inspired delights. The food is delicious. Afterwards, chill in an ultracool chair on the patio with a bottle of bubbly picked from the extensive wine list.
reviewed
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N
Queen of Tarts
Images of a young Queen Elizabeth II gaze out over customers from cake tins and trays at this charming café. The sweet and savoury tarts and other confections are delish and, if you like the grandma’s kitchen-chic décor, nip across the road to their pre-loved goods emporium.
reviewed
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Kirstenbosch Tea Room
On Table Mountain’s lower slopes is Kirstenbosch Tea Room where you can order English Tea for two (R120), including cucumber and cream-cheese sandwiches, mini quiches and homemade scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream, packed and ready to enjoy in the gardens.
reviewed
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O
Kauai
If only all fast food was as healthy as that from this slick Hawaiian-franchise operation. It offers a tempting range of smoothies, juices and wraps. There are other branches around the city, including one at Lifestyles on Kloof (50 Kloof St, Gardens) and one in the City Bowl (Mostert St).
reviewed
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P
Addis in Cape
Sit at a low basket-weave mesob table and enjoy tasty Ethiopian cuisine served traditionally on plate-sized injera (sour dough pancakes), which you rip and use to eat instead of cutlery. Also try their home-made honey wine tej and an authentic Ethiopian coffee.
reviewed
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Q
Roundhouse
This 18th-century heritage-listed building in wooded grounds overlooking Camps Bay is well suited to the sleek restaurant it now houses. More casual dining is available at the Rumbullion outdoor terrace where you can tuck into giant sandwiches, salads and roasts designed to be shared.
reviewed
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R
Kitima
The Kronendal, a Cape Dutch farmhouse with parts dating back to 1713, has been sensitively restored to house this excellent Thai restaurant. Smiling Thai staff and chefs ensure that dishes such as pad thai gai are not mucked up. The Sunday buffet lunch (R165) is great value.
reviewed
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S
Ben-kei
This jazzy Japanese place attracts Norwood's young trendies with its fashionable styling and authentic cooking. If you have had enough red meat, the sushi offers welcome reprieve from the braai, and it's the best in town at these prices. Try the all-you-can-eat sushi platter (R110).
reviewed