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Cape Town is the culinary capital of South Africa and quite possibly the continent. It certainly has the best restaurants in southern Africa. Nowhere else in the country is the populace so discerning about food, and nowhere else is there such a wide selection of high-quality restaurants. Western culinary history here dates back to the 17th century—Cape Town was founded specifically to grow food—and that heritage is reflected in the city's cuisine and the fact that a number of restaurants operate in historic town houses and 18th-century wine estates.
Cape Town dining today offers a global culinary experience, with Cape chefs showing the same enthusiasm for international food trends as their counterparts worldwide. French and Italian fare has long been available, but with Thai, Japanese, and Pan-Asian influences flooding in, accents of lemongrass, miso, and yuzu have become de rigueur in fine-dining kitchens. Middle Eastern cuisine is finally making some headway, and the Americas have also come to the fore, with plenty of burgers and ribs, and even chicken and waffles popping up on menus these days, not to mention a few South American and passable Mexican eateries. Ubiquitous pan-Asian fare is probably not as good as what you might be used to in major American cities; sushi is also easily found, though largely limited to tuna and salmon, and often prepared with lots of drizzled mayo and sauces. The locavore trend toward organic produce and healthful dishes is also gaining popularity, though attitudes toward vegetarianism in this meat-happy land remain somewhat backward.
Brought to you by celebrity South African chef Siba Mtongana, this new upmarket restaurant at the Table Bay Hotel offers fine-dining global cuisine with an African flair. The restaurant is warm and inviting, especially on Sunday when the lunch menu is served family-style and features many South African favorites like roast leg of lamb and peppermint crisp tart.
A cozy and friendly little Tanzanian restaurant in the bustling CBD, the Meeting Point aims to bring people together, hence the inspiration for the name. The menu features all sorts of tasty poultry, meat, fish, and vegetarian East African classics, but you must try the mandazi, a Tanzanian donut that's crispy, spiced, and not too sweet. They also host storytelling, poetry, and other events, and have a stall at the Neighbourgood's Market at the Old Biscuit Mill on Saturdays.
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