My food diary – Cape Town

Dinner:

• Between Us
  • I think this would make a great spot for a date, it is cozy and has a nice vibe without being too busy and I love an exposed brick wall.
  • My order: Pappardelle, oxtail ragu, Parmigiano-Reggiano
• Cousins
  • A bustling Italian in town famous for 'The Cousins Pasta' but I personally think this is overrated and their gnocchi or other pastas are way better. Portions can be a tad small too (if you are greedy like me) so order a starter or swing past Moro Gelato for an ice cream on your way home.
  • My order: Tagliatella Carbonara or Gnocchi all’Agnello
• Black Sheep
  • Vibey restaurant in Gardens, it is quite dark and always loud and bustling in here with great food and a stellar view of Table Mountain if you sit by the window. We often get a few dishes to share here and the chefs are legends and tell you the best order to eat them in.
  • My Order: South Indian Coconut Fish Curry with Courgettes, Rice, Sambals & a Poppadom
• Liveita
  • Delicious Napolentana style pizza best enjoyed right there straight out of the oven. I have had a take away before but it doesn't travel well. Plus there is a Moro across the road for dessert which is a great reason to eat there, if you need one.
  • My order: Fichi E Crudo
• LA Farms
  • A firm fave amongst my burger club and it is currently topping the rankings. Sometimes it can be a bit tricky to get a table but it is worth it if you can. Just get the Angus burger, don't bother with anything else you will only have regrets oh and there is a burger special on Tuesday nights; a burger and chips or salad for R99.
  • My order: Grass-fed Angus burger with chips and a side salad
• Upper Union
  • I always feel a bit fancy going here, it is not a place I go to all the time, more a couple of times a year as a treat when they change their menus. Ask to sit upstairs if you go as I feel like there is more of a vibe up here and get a few dishes to share. The bread is also banging, I could just eat that to be fair.
  • My order: The burrata, southern fried chicken and kingklip croquette
• Ouzeri
  • Cute Greek restaurant in Cape Town but not your normal style Greek place, it has a modern twist. The service is great and the food delicious but stick to the veggie options, probably the only time I will ever say this. Order a few dishes for the table to share and tuck in.
  • My order: Green tomatoes and the cabbage, how they make cabbage taste that good I have no idea. Actually I do, all the butter!
• Tinswallo
  • If you want to really treat yourself then go here. It is along Chapmans Peak Drive and right by down the sea so the waves crash alongside you as you sit and enjoy your meal, if you can ask for a table next to the water. It is a set menu and it is served for two people, I took my parents so there were just three of us and we opted to go for a serving for 4 people instead of a half option which I recommend. The bread was insane and I would happily eat this every day until I die!
  • My order: You have no choice except when it comes to dessert so definitely add on of those.
• Pizza Shed
  • There are three of these beauties around Cape Town and what I love is the consistence between them all and the fact the menu is relatively small so you don't have to decide between 100 different options. I really like going to the one in Observatory and sitting on the roof as it has a great view of Table Mountain. This one does work well as a take away and the ratio of tomato sauce to mozzarella is spot on. Oh and they have a lunchtime special on some of their pizzas; Mon - Fri lunchtime R100.
  • My order: Pepperoni with hot honey
• La Colombe
  • Another fancy restaurant that you would go to on a special occasion. Based at the top pf Constantia New the view is incredible. The service is amazing and the food was more like art. It is a taste sensation. You can't be in a rush if you go here, we went for lunch and it took about 3hrs but it didn't feel like a drag. It is at the expensive side of the scale but they do have a winter special which is what we went for.
  • My order: It is a set menu so you don't have a choice. I really liked the alcohol free cocktails and they looked just as fancy as the real deal.
• Andy's Sushi
  • This is just down the road from me (don't stalk me) and a place that I go to every couple of weeks when I can't be arsed to decide what to have for dinner. They are super quick and their sushi is always on point and a decent price too.
  • My order: Mini Combo + Veg spring rolls
• Aerial
  • Based at the end of Regent Road in Sea Point Aerial is always busy. I do sometimes feel like it can be a bit uptight in there but the food is good so I am letting it join my list. A nice place to go if you want to dress up and a good Friday or Saturday spot to take friends to.
  • My order: Pappardelle lamb ragu, pomodoro, red wine and parmesan cream
• Three Wise Monkeys
  • Another Sea Point banger this is a great spot for a ramen, sushi or a poke bowl. Just note it only has a few tables so sometimes you have to queue for ages to get in which can be a bit annoying so maybe a spot saved for winter when it is a bit biter in Cape Town.
  • My order: Salmon Poke Bowl
• Novo
  • If you like pizza and wine this is your place to go as they work very hard on both changing up their offerings based on seasons and mood. Do not ask for substitutions on the menu as you won't be allowed to change things which I like. They back themselves with the pairings of ingredients and I have yet to have a bad or average pizza her so they are doing something right.
  • My order: Park Estate
• De Virje
  • This burger joint is based out in Stellenbosch, there is one in the Time Out Market in Cape Town but it is not as good, take the road trip. These burgers are mouth watering good and a banger after a run in Jonkershoek. Bonus they come with a free ice cream covered in hundreds and thousands!
  • My order: The De Virjie burger (juicy) with chips