Southern Suburbs Restaurants

Relax in true Caribbean style, sipping Pina Coladas while savouring delectable starters of Coco Loco Hoppin' Jons (Jalapeno chillies stuffed with feta, crumbed and deep-fried) enjoying the laid back vibe tropical atmosphere. With a large garden and cosy restaurant, Banana Jam Café serves authentic Caribbean tastes lit by a roaring fire and enchanting night-lights while dining outside. With Jamican BBQ’s in the summer and a buzzing atmosphere, patrons can enjoy fast service with friendly attentive staff. Rated by locals as the best Banana Jam burgers in town with the largest rum collection in the country; Banana Jam Café is your suburban island escape to the breezy shores of the Caribbean.

Located in the leafy Southern suburbs of Kenilworth in a house built in the late 18 hundreds, Bardelli’s best-kept secret lies in their great quality food served in generous portions and fantastic value for money. Sourcing only the finest local products and imported ingredients with award winning pizza, fresh salads, calamari and fillet options, Bardelli caters for simple and complex palates with ease and passion Italians are so renowned for. Upon arrival, delight your senses with the smell of hearty pasta and thin crust pizzas lingering in the wood-fired oven touched by the subtle sounds of Italian café style music in the background. Tables chequered in red and white warmed by flickering candle lights make for a cosy and intimate dining experience with cooling wooden tables and chairs enhanced by the mysterious memorabilia of old Italy. This small family friendly restaurant offers a relaxed atmosphere and comprehensive menu with a well-priced wine list and delectable choices of local and international deserts.

Nestled in the heart of Newlands Village, Barristers Grill Café is the place to be if you enjoy a good local spot and consistently good dishes. Dine indoors, alfresco or within the bustling garden atmosphere on a menu brimming with meats, fish or chicken dishes served by attentive waitrons. Try their fabulous salads with cheese, calamari or beef accents, gorgeous Thai chicken and prawn curry, and grilled sole with lemon and ginger butter. The meat comes perfectly prepared with favourites being the lamb rump dressed in a delectable Madeira sauce. Barristers cater for all tastes and palates in a bustling atmosphere in the heart of Newlands.

Chalkboards wet the appetite with spreads of lamb shank, oxtail and venison, succulently prepared and garnished with all the trimmings and sauces. Retro specialities such as pepper steak, sole meuniere and malva pudding serve up delightful alternatives to the traditional ambience of steakhouses. Brad’s Grill provides a bustling atmosphere with a casual attitude ideal for hearty diners and provides a good selection of Cape wines ideal for complimenting flavourful grills.

Discover a new love for burgers with Gourmet Burger. A fusion of flavours inspired by exotic combinations transforms an ordinary seeded bun into a gastronomic voyage of discovery. With innovative décor and eclectic twists, Gourmet Burger serves up real comfort food in a fun loving setting, elegant enough for a woman and satisfying enough for a man. Feast your senses on gourmet burgers and delectable Lindt milkshakes for a “tongue in cheek” fine dining experience that will have you coming back for more. From burgers to shakes and the finest Paul Cluver wines, you will find Gourmet Burger’s understated and relaxed ambience a fun and gastronomic dining experience.

With delightful mountain views and sun facing aspect, Greens offers substantial breakfasts, lunches and dinners in an open, spacious setting warmed by natural earthy tones and textures. Enjoy a selection of substantial breakfasts from traditional English to delectable Eggs Benedict and for healthier options Muesli with yogurt and fresh fruit platter. Bustling lunchtime favourites range from open sandwiches and deluxe burgers to crispy thin wood-fired pizzas. With options of dining inside or alfresco under the sun-warmed terrace scattered with umbrellas, Greens entices and ordinary meal into a gourmet experience with breakfast a speciality and servings of fresh Kingklip, Fillet Steak and Pasta available for a heartier alternative. Greens is easily located within the bustling hub of the Southern Suburbs.

For tasty meals, a relaxed atmosphere and friendly service, Jakes in the Village is the place to be. A shaded courtyard allows for very pleasant al fresco dining all year round, with heaters and wind breakers for the colder winter nights. A truly friendly place, full of character, Jakes in the Village is well worth a visit.

The tropical ambiance compliments the good food and summery cocktails. Upstairs the balcony welcomes with sweeping harbour views, balmy sunshine and invites relaxation. Downstairs the bar and restaurant exudes a warm and cosy setting, enjoyed alongside the roaring winter fire. Expect delicious home-style island cooking, served by friendly and attentive staff. The chicken is free-range and they even cater for healthy appetites with carrot and ginger soup, homemade walnut veggie burgers and gluten-free butternut ravioli. Caribbean specialties include Jamaican jerk chicken, curried Goat, Jamaican patties, pineapple BBQ ribs and chicken and chorizo jambalaya. Vegetarians are taken care of with Montego Bay mushrooms, Roast Veg Pasta salad or Trinidad Roti to mention a few.

Indulge your senses with an extensive variety of gourmet pizzas in an authentic Italian pizzeria touched by dark wood, deep colours, low hung chandeliers and a warm ambient glow from the wood-fired oven. With a wide choice of vegetarian and wheat free options available, Morituri Pizzeria caters for most pampered palates to the health conscious with ease and creativity elevating wheat free dining to a gastronomic status. Enjoy enticing combinations such as Red Pesto, Proscuitto & Rucola (Rocket) pizza or delectable pastas and prawns tossed with Thai Pesto, Rosa Tomatoes, Olive Oil, Garlic & a hint of Fresh Chilli. With a good selection of wines flattered by uncomplicated recipes and a vibey ambience, Morituri Pizzeria boasts the belief they make the definitive wood-fired thin-based pizza in Cape Town. To believe it, you have to try it.

As with all Mexican eateries, it’s all about sizzling palates, frozen margaritas and fiery tequilas, enjoyed in an authentic and vibey setting. The menu boasts generous portions and a wide variety of choice, with option of heat levels tailored to suit your palate. Visit Pancho’s for great Mexican food and ice-cold margaritas in Observatory.

This little gem in Harfield stimulates the senses and warms the palate with its bold cuisine and finger licking morsals of delicious seafood, tapas and platters. With a few tables elegantly scattered around contrasted by dark woods and bold colours, Ruby Tuesday oozes chic opulence and good value for money. Enjoy gourmet burgers dinging al-fresco or gather inside sampling the revitalising colours and décor while eating mouthfuls of delightful creations from the menu.

Reviewed by many as an amazing and unique experience, Stardust Restaurant hosts lunch and dinner performances, a remarkable wine list and authentic Tagine dishes. Try their signature dishes such as lamb, chicken or seafood tagine, oven baked to produce a succulent luscious dish served with rice or couscous. Try their famous shish-lick, falafel or bread bowl salads. For your daily dose of theatrical dining, free-range dishes and tantalising Mediterranean and African dishes, visit Stardust.

Since 1997 Tango’s has earned its great reputation both in the local community and further abroad. Known for the widest and variety of fresh fish daily, finest South African beef, and excellent calamari dishes. It has a warm Latin ambiance and ample secure parking. Fully licensed, Tangos still welcomes you to bring an old or new favourite wine or champagne. There is no corkage fee. GREAT VALUE FOR MONEY!!!

With fresh bread baked daily on site, the lingering aromas entice walkers-by to nosey on in and savour some of the best Artisan baked sourdough wood fired bread. Food here is kneed and raised with love and care, using true fresh and seasonal ingredients, and organic where possible. The Artisan Baker embraces old styles of baking and cooking, with a modern twist and makes for a wholesome and indulging European experience along the busting Albert Road.

Experience the warmest welcome from friendly, attentive staff that instantly makes you feel like a regular at The Fat Cactus, Mowbray. Mexican and American fare in hearty portions is the order of the day. The burgers are a must. Other options include burritos, enchiladas, nachos and quesadillas – all served with beans, salsa and sour cream on the side. The beverages are an event by themselves, with a great selection of tequila-based drinks and the best frozen margaritas around, available by the glass or jug. A truly friendly place with staff and regulars making new patrons feel at home and welcomed, the Fat Cactus is the place to be for great food, great people and a superb atmosphere.

This bustling buffet fusion offers global dining under one roof bursting with rich diversity of gourmet cuisine. Experience the classic Italian pizzeria, authentic Eastern noodle bar and an array of gourmet sandwiches, fresh fruit salads, Artisan-style breads, designer salads and hot tasty dishes to mention a few. This emporium of tasty delights meets international trends with focus on using exceptionally fresh quality fruits and vegetables. Indulge in a classic Italian pizza and Panini made the traditional Italian way or discover the taste of the orient with authentic wok fried dishes reminiscent of the bustling smoky streets of Hong Kong. If you are opting for refreshing alternatives, enjoy a flavour bursting smoothie, fresh fruit salad or choose from a selection of gourmet sandwiches all freshly made on the premises. If the temptations of global dining does not tickle your taste buds, then just follow the lingering aroma of freshly baked Artisan bread where you will be delighted by the discovery of indulging treats of heavenly baked apple pie. This relaxed restaurant atmosphere offers breakfasts, lunch and suppers with enticing selections of sushi proudly displayed on the conveyer bar. Come and discover why The Food Lovers Market with its stunning interior and store décor is fast becoming known the oasis for food lovers.

Quant and popular, The Kitchen serves the neighborhood as the local coffee shop and deli. Expect vintage bowls of fresh food stacked on wooden shelves, wholesome salads with colourful dressings like the ‘love potion’ and wholesome ‘love sandwiches’ with voluptuous fillings and homemade pesto, mayo and pickles on artisanal rolls. The lunch menu changes daily and caters well for vegetarians who enjoy the bean, chickpea, lentil, bulgur wheat, roast Mediterranean vegetable and couscous salads. The menu focuses on clean natural flavours infused with Mediterranean and oriental flavours and a modern twist on South Africa.

Located on Roodebloem Road, this eatery serves the best cocktails and pizzas (aptly named after streets in Woodstock). Expect wood-fired pizzas, fresh homemade napoletena sauce and hearty toppings. Burgers follow on close suit, boasting 100% beef patties and original toppings with no artificial nonsense! The log burning winter fire makes perfect location for board games, good book and a bottle of whatever hits your fancy.

The menu caters for a wide variety of palates, with a festive and lively take on alfresco dining and delicious cuisine. Expect live bands on Thursdays and Fridays and a popular beach setting enjoyed by all to compliment your visit. Ideal for birthdays, festive celebrations or intimate celebrations, Trenchtown is a popular spot for locals and foreigners alike.

The menu favours Mexican. Flamboyant dishes dressed in chilies and authentic flavours. The traditional décor and authentic memorabilia set the stage for tantalising dishes that are hot, hot, hot! Vegetarians are spoilt for choice and palates on fire can seek coolness with Mexican beer, tequila and icy cold margarita. Soak up the energy and warmth of Mexico at Zapata in Harfield Village, the perfect place for festive get-togethers.