Want to enjoy a fine dining experience at a fraction of the “in season” price? Here’s ten great restaurant specials in Cape Town that are running until the end of September 2019.

One of my favourite things about winter in Cape Town is the winter specials at restaurants that I generally can’t really afford to go to! However, as much as I mean to get to them all, time always seems to run out and suddenly it’s spring and the specials are over.

The good news is that some of the restaurant specials are still running until the end of September 2019 so there’s still time to have a fine dining experience at a fraction of the “in season” price.

Here are ten restaurants that I are definitely on my last minute list!

1. The Alba Restaurant, V&A Waterfront

Contact: Telephone 065 975 8060, thealba.co.za

With their current reduced rates, you can afford to treat yourself to a bubbly brunch or sunset cocktails with canapés on a two-hour cruise aboard The Alba.

The brunch cruise (R295 per person) includes a three-tier cold breakfast array accompanied by your choice from the hot breakfast selection, along with bottomless bubbly and tea and coffee. The afternoon cruise with cocktails and wine (R295 per person) includes Seared Sesame Tuna with Mango & Coriander Salsa; Citrus-poached Prawn Ceviche & Avocado Phyllo Pastry Cups; Sesame Seed Duck Spring Rolls with Plum Sauce; and Lamb Tzatziki & Quinoa Tabbouleh Wrap; along with a selection of sliders, Jalapeño Poppers and desserts.

2. Blanko at The Alphen, Constantia

Contact: Telephone 021 795 6313, www.blanko.co.za

Enjoy a long lunch or candlelit dinner in this chic gallery-style space while taking in local art. Set menu dishes include Butternut Gnocchi with Sage Butter & Pine Nuts; Mussels with Saffron Cream & Grilled Ciabatta; Chicken Scarpariello with Piquant Peppers & Roast Garlic Mash; Grilled Sirloin with Roasted Vine Tomatoes, Rosemary & Potatoes; and White Chocolate Cheese Cake with Sour Cherry Compote & Frozen Yoghurt. Two courses at R190 and three courses for R240.

There’s also a selection of winter dishes for under R150, along with selected wine specials.

3. Den Anker, V&A Waterfront

Contact: Telephone 021 419 0249, denanker.co.za

Enjoy a meal and a draught beer at this popular Belgian restaurant for R125. Meals on offer include Seabass on Bulgar Wheat; Mussel Bowl with Frites, Sirloin with Café de Paris Butter; Meatballs, Stoemp & Maredsous Jus; and Risotto. Beers include Duvel, La CHOUFFE or a Liefmans.

4. Grub & Vine, City Bowl

Contact: Telephone 087 898 2207, grubandvine.co.zaS

From Tuesday to Friday, 12h00 to 14h30 you can tuck into a two-course lunch for R150 or three courses for R245. Menu options include Oxtail Cottage Pie, Macaroni & Cheese, soups and curries.

5. Kloof Street House, Gardens

Contact: Telephont 021 423 4413, kloofstreethouse.co.za

Make yourself comfortable in this 20th century Victorian house tucked away on Kloof Street and enjoy a selection of dishes from their lunch set menu from Tuesday to Saturday, 12h00 to 17h00. Two courses for R170 and three courses for R195.

Dishes include Pan-Fried Patagonian Calamari with Aioli & Harissa; Butternut, Spinach & Feta Parcels with Dukkah-spiced Sweet Chilli; Beer Battered Kingklip Goujons with Rustic Cut Fries, Mushy Peas & Homemade Tartare Sauce; Potato Gnocchi with Roasted Butternut, Baby Spinach, Sage and Pumpkin Seeds with Parmesan Cream; and Sticky Malva Pudding served with Vanilla Ice Cream, Grilled Pineapple and Pistachio.

The menu will change from mid-September to a more summery one, but the price will remain the same.

6. Mink and Trout, City Bowl

Contact: Telephone 021 426 2534, minkandtrout.com

Tuesday night is Curry Night where you can enjoy a starter a main and a dessert for R129. Expect samosas and papadums; Butter Chicken Curry, Pork Penang, Cape Malay Fish & Shellfish Curry; and Cauliflower Korma.

If curry isn’t to your palate, their tapas menu includes Smoked Snoek Croquettes; West Coast Mussels; Chicken Pad Thai with Vietnamese Spring Rolls; and Ham Hock Terrine. Three tapas plates for R189.

You can also treat yourself to a two-course dinner for R199 or three courses for R250. Dishes include Thai Green Chicken with Steamed Spring Greens and Jasmine Rice; Pepper-Crusted Fillet Steak served with Cauliflower, Mushroom and Triple-cooked Chips; Lamb Bredie with Eggplant Caponata and Olive Tapenade Mash; and Gnocchi with Eggplant, Baby Spinach, Cherry Tomatoes, Ricotta and Salsa Verde.

The curry dinner is available on Tuesdays only, with the other specials available from Thursday to Saturday.

7. Plant Café, City Bowl

Contact: Telephone 072 521 9252, plantcafe.co.za

Even if you don’t follow a plant-based diet, you’ll love the food here and at R130 for the Sunday Vegan Buffet, you can’t go wrong. The vegan buffets are themed and have included a Mexican, French, African, Japanese and Malaysian. There are usually eight or more dishes to choose from and you simply fill your plate with whatever you fancy and go back for seconds (or thirds). The buffet is available every Sunday from 10h00 to 17h00 and they announce the menu on their Facebook page towards the middle of the week.

8. Quentin at Oakhurst, Hout Bay

Contact: Telephone 021 790 4888, oakhurstbarn.com

Until the end of October, Quentin’s are offering a delicious midweek four course carvery buffet supper for R185 from Tuesday to Thursday and a Sunday carvery buffet lunch for R295.

Buffet dishes include Saldanha Bay Mussels steamed in White Wine, Parsley, Garlic and Cream; Roast Prime Rib of Beef with Horseradish Sauce; Stuffed Roast Chicken with Cranberry Jelly; and Steamed Malva Pudding with a Van der Hum Custard; along with various sides including Duck Fat Roast Potatoes, Yorkshire Pudding and Roasted Cinnamon Butternut.

9. Shio Restaurant, City Bowl

Contact: Telephone 064 661 7474, shio.co.zaT

From Thursday to Saturday, between 12h00 and 15h00, you can choose three dishes from the menu for R150.

Shio specialises in modern Japanese Izakaya and you get to choose dishes from different sections of the menu, being Umi (Ocean), Tochi (Land), Chickyuu (Earth) and Amai (Sweet). The extensive Japanese-inspired tapas menu includes Forbidden Black Rice Risotto; Tuna Tataki Taco; Tokyo Beef Slider; Duck Croquettes; Baby Shrimp Tempura; Potato & Coconut Dumplings; and Banana Cream Pie.

10. Upper Bloem Restaurant, Green Point

Contact: Telephone 021 433 1442, upperbloemrestaurant.co.za

Tuck into lunch time tapas at R165 for six dishes, including Salt and Pepper Hake ‘Sandwich’ with African Potato and Pickled Cucumber; Boerenkaas Croquettes with Curried Aioli and Shaved Radish; Roti’s / Choux Pastry Dhaltjies with Pickled Aubergine; and Samosa Crisp with Teriyaki Glaze and Snoek Pâté. Additional bread can be ordered at R35 per person.

The tapas offer is ongoing and available from Wednesday to Saturday, 12h00 to 15h00.

Published September 2019 | Originally compiled for Getaway Magazine