An African Collision Of East And West
Cape Point, Cape Town, South Africa
Cuisine Style: Seafood, Sushi, Cape Malay
Average Price: $$
Overall Rating: 5/5
Dined in: December 2013
By Sean Overpeck (CFE)
**A full article and index glossary of restaurants, wines, recipes and travel for
Wine Dine and Play are in the pages section above, or by following these links:
Executive Chef:
Adrian Schreuder
Sushi Master:
Sarawut Sukkowplang
Proprietor / Manager:
Troy Constandakis
Day Three of my South Africa tour, and just as I thought one day could not be better than the next, a new day would come and blow me away. I was driving along the Cape Point Peninsula, visiting the South Eastern most point of the African Continent, watching some ostrich and baboons blocking the road, and enjoying the views of False Bay. It was time for lunch, and at Two Oceans Restaurant, the southernmost restaurant on the African Continent, it was time for another wow…By the way, the google maps are wrong with the location. Google has its location 20 miles from the true area which is adjacent to the Lower Funicular Station, at the Cape Point Nature Reserve.
Menu:
- Sample Menu
- Starters
- Shellfish
- Sushi
- Entrees
- Desserts
The Two Oceans Restaurant occupies an enviable position above False Bay at the southwestern tip of Africa. Since opening in December 1995, they have served 3.5 million customers. The restaurant is as famous for its seafood cuisine as it is for a superb wooden deck that looks out onto the stunning ocean views making the location a major tourist attraction. Recently awarded the 2013 Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence Award, and consistently rated among the Top 10 restaurants in Cape Town by Trip Advisor.
The view was astonishing, to say the least. The restaurant was situated at the bottom of the hill leading up to the old lighthouse, and once you go onto the patio, the amazement sets in with the views of False Bay. As I explored the menu and was a little warm from the summer temperature and the hiking that I had been doing for most of the morning, I started off with a nice crisp glass of Sauvignon Blanc, labeled Two Oceans, from a local winery that the restaurant purchased a label off. A Swiss couple, Doctor Myriam Meyer and his wife sat next to me, and we had a good conversation throughout our meal. I decided on three courses so that I could get a good representation of the menu from, beginning with the sushi. Their Sushi Master had a large menu of over 30 varieties to choose from. I began with salmon roses, very crisp and fresh, served with shaved onion, radish, and cucumber, with a dollop of crème fraîche, and a garnish of wasabi aioli.
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| Salmon roses |
For my second course, I first enjoyed a glass of 2013 KC Klein Constantia Rosé, which according to the winemaker is a Cabernet Franc/Cabernet Sauvignon blended Rosé. The color is a unique faded salmon light blush that is typical of this blanc de noir styled Rosé. The nose presents fresh vibrant flavors with a rich creaminess followed by some citrus and orange blossom. The palate is crisp and dry displaying balanced acidity and a creamy texture. I had this wine with a seafood combo plate consisting of the line fish of the day, which was a Yellow Tail, and no, not that god-awful wine label from Australia, but an amberjack or Kingfish as it is known in South Africa. The dish was also served with some Langoustines which are Norwegian Lobsters, plus some fried calamari, and a Greek Salad.
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| Seafood plate |
For the third and final course, since I knew that there was going to be no way in hell to fit in a dessert, I had the ostrich filet, and I’m sure it was in no relation to the ostrich I saw on the road blocking my path to get to the restaurant. Prepared medium-rare, served with black garlic, beetroot mashed potatoes, Labneh which is a yogurt-cheese blend very popular in Lebanese or Levant Cuisine, beetroot puree, roasted onion, asparagus, and drizzled with parmesan foam and natural jus. A wonderful dish, that went well with a 2010 Cabernet-shiraz blend from Hartenberg Vineyards. A peppery and spicy nose with luscious berry aromas, and has elegance and rich fruit flavors. The fruit/oak balance is stylish and has a smooth, silky "drink me" finish.
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| Ostrich Filet |
Dr. Meyer, the Swiss gentleman next to me ordered the prime rib entrée, pictured below served with smoked Maldon salt, baby spinach, parsnip puree, parmesan potatoes and vine tomatoes.
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| Prime rib |
Wine regulatory’s for the tastings in this article:
South Africa:
WOSA: Wines of South Africa
SAWIS: S. African Wine Industry Information & Systems NPC
Please see these guidelines for Tipping in Restaurants and on following proper etiquette, customs, cultures, and avoiding assumptions when you dine out.
Other Noteworthy Sushi /Seafood Articles & Restaurants:
Ambrosia Japanese restaurant & saké bar with sushi in Key West, Florida
Basil Asian Bistro Pan-Asian favorites from China to Vietnam with sushi specials in Canton, Ohio
Blue Fugu Japanese Steakhouse Table-side Hibachi with a sushi bar in St. Pete Beach, Florida
Dunes Beach Restaurant & Bar Eclectic Cape Malay cuisine w/sushi in Hout Bay, South Africa
Junsui An eclectic taste of Asia with buffets at the Burj Al Arab Hotel, Dubai, UAE
Morimoto Asia Japanese and upscale Pan-Asian fare with sushi at Disney Springs Orlando, Florida
Osaka Sushi Thai Restaurant - Thai and Japanese fare including sushi in Seminole, Florida
Rock 'N' Raw Asian restaurant with sushi at the Hard Rock Casino, Tampa, Florida
Signature Restaurant Contemporary & elegant eclectic eatery in Sandton, South Africa
Sushi Sleek Japanese eatery with sushi/sashimi at The Grand Hyatt Dubai, UAE
The Lemon Grass Casual fusion of Thai and Japanese with tapas portions in St Petersburg, Florida
Wolfgang Puck Celebrity Chef’s California cuisine & fine dining chain; reviewed in Orlando, Florida
Zuma Contemporary Japanese restaurant, sushi, & cocktail mixology in Dubai, UAE
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
Other South African restaurants and articles on Wine Dine and Play:
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Seasonal South African cuisine bistro
Stellenbosch
|
Wine and food tour
Cape Town, South Africa
|
Top 10 Worlds Best Banquet of pastries & sandwiches
Cape Town
|
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Modern eclectic and Nouvelle Latin cuisine
A Top 20 on Wine Dine and Play
Cape Town
|
Innovative East Meets West Menu
Cape Town, South Africa
|
Swim With Jaws
Great White Shark Tours
Gansbaai, Western Cape
|
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary by country”
Final notes, review basics, observations and more pictures:
Most reviews are subjective, depending on the writer; but they should also be responsible, and respectfully written, upholding the truth, and accurately conveying the experience to the best of the writer's knowledge, even if it includes metaphors the restaurant may not like to read about. My ratings are by the stars I award (from 0 to 5). The rating is calculated on a point accumulation of six separate factors based on individual experience. They include wine and other beverage selections, plate presentation, customer service, restaurant or café ambiance, food quality, and wow factor. To see more details of this rating list, read this article:
Scores are detailed in the factor chart below:
Formula Factor Conclusions and Overall Ratings
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Max Points Possible:
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Total Points Awarded:
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Total Points deducted:
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Ambiance
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10
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9
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1
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Food quality
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10
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10
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0
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Plate presentation
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9
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9
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0
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Customer service
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8
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7
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1
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Alcohol and other beverages
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9
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6
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3
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Total regular points awarded
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46
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41
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5
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Total percentage Before Bonus
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0.891304347826087
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“Wow” factor BONUS
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5
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3
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0
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Total bonus percentage
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0.0652173913043478
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Total percentage with a bonus for the final star rating
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0.956521739130435
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Stars Awarded (see chart below)
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0 - 5
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5
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**A full break down and explanation of the observations and point disbursement is available in the linked article above. To receive a detailed copy of your score, feel free to contact me at any time and I will provide it to you.**
***
Overall Star Rating:
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5 of 5 Stars:
95% Rating with a 2 point “wow” bonus
An Extraordinary Dining Experience
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Wine rating:
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4 of 10
New World selections:
South Africa
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Corkage fee’s:
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S. African Restaurant standard is R 10% bottle
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Restaurant style:
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Casual dining
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Cuisine style:
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African, Cape Malay, Seafood, Sushi
Allergen or dietary accommodations:
Local, Low Carb, Pescatarian, Sustainable, Vegetarian Options
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Reservations:
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Not Required
Walk-Ins:
Accepted, but not guaranteed
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Dress code:
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Casual attire
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Child policy:
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The Restaurants reviewed on this site may have a kids menu or cater to them; however, for full enjoyment of food and wine, it is recommended that kids not to be in attendance, unless they have been trained in proper etiquette.
If not then:
Hire a Babysitter!
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Experiences:
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Place for foodies, Modern, Trendy, Hotspot, Great bar, Great outdoor dining, Good for special occasions, Scenic views, Tourist grabber, and a Neighborhood Gem.
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Payments:
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Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express
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Parking:
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Public Lot
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Wifi
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The restaurants reviewed on this site may have Wi-Fi, but do not require you to go online, because the excitement of the food and wine alone will keep you too entertained instead of checking your social media and emails.
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Noise level:
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Medium
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Smoking:
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Nonsmoking restaurant, and nonsmoking patio
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Patio or terrace:
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Yes
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Food Prices
(excludes, alcohol, taxes & 20% gratuity’s)
$£€¥ - Under 50.00 (inexpensive)
$£€¥ x 2 - 51.00- 99.00 (moderate)
$£€¥ x 3 - Over 100.00 (pricy)
$£€¥ x 4 - Over 200.00 (expensive)
$£€¥ x 5 - Over 400.00 (very expensive)
**Currencies reflect the world’s major travelers, restaurant, or wine connoisseur’s**
Currency:
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Price
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South African Rand (ZAR)
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RRRR
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United States Dollar (USD)
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$$
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Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
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££
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Canadian Dollar (CAN)
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$$
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Chinese Yuan (CNY)
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¥¥¥¥¥
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European Union (EUR)
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€€
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Alcohol prices:
R145.00 ZAR
Two Oceans Restaurant:
Table Mountain National Park
Red Hill Rd, Cape Town
South Africa
Contact Information:
Restaurant website:
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Maître d or host:
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+27 21 780 9200
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Online reservations
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Email Contact:
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Serving hours:
South African Standard Time
(GMT, Zulu, or UTC + 2:00)
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Daily: Mon-Sun
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
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Social Media
&
Accolades:
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****
The worlds best restaurants is a subjective list of who is writing it and changes on a regular basis. The Wine Dine and Play best experiences are based on my highest rated stared restaurants, meaning that the visit was an outstanding or extraordinary experience. From cafés, chains, mom + pops, hole in the walls, to fine dining including a few Michelin spots. Visit the Top 100 page to see the entire list.
A few to tease you with…
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Japanese restaurant & saké bar with sushi
Key West, Florida, USA
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Levant, Jordanian, and Lebanese cuisines
Amman, Jordan
|
Authentic & Traditional Peruvian Cuisine
Sarasota, Florida, USA
|
Other Pictures:
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| Entrance |
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| Dining room |
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| Dr. and Mrs. Myriam Meyer |
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| Picture courtesy of Two Oceans Restaurant |
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| Southeastern most point in Africa |
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| Picture courtesy of Two Oceans Restaurant |
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| Picture courtesy of Two Oceans Restaurant |
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| Picture courtesy of Two Oceans Restaurant |
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| Pictures with the kitchen crew and chef |
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| Ostrich filet, close-up picture |
“Culinary perfection consists not in doing extraordinary things,
But in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.”
-Angelique Arnauld (1591-1661)
Who is John Galt?
TTFN
