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Salsify @ the Roundhouse

Reviewers' Choice 2024 - Top 50 Reviewers' Choice 2023 - Top 100
Location Pointer 394M+HX Cape Town, South Africa
4.8
(1006 reviews)
RRR+
Favourite

Attributes

  • Romantic
  • Great Views
  • Sunsets
  • Fireplace
  • Gourmet Guide Plated
  • Reviewers' Choice 2023 - Top 100
  • Reviewers' Choice 2024 - Top 50

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With sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean and the majestic Lion’s Head as a backdrop, Salsify is a cornerstone of Cape Town's fine dining scene and work to preserve heritage – paying homage to history, stories, and ingredients while crafting light, delicate dishes.

The interiors offer not only a glimpse of the building’s history but also challenge the ways and graces of the time period, merging old and new. From hand-made origami ceiling installation, to the 1.3m Lady Salsify to pops of colour and touches of local art, Salsify’s space is grounded in its location – between land and sea.

Chefs Ryan Cole, Nina du Toit and their team, serve modern cooking, inspired by nature and driven by the seasons. Within the richly storied walls of national monument, The Roundhouse, an opulent culinary journey finely balanced between history, seasonality, and sustainability – a meal at Salsify is unlike any other.

Gourmet Guide™ Description

The setting is sublime, sandwiched between the Atlantic Ocean and Lion’s Head, with the Twelve Apostles providing a dramatic backdrop. Housed in the historic Roundhouse, Salsify gives a subtle nod to the site’s history while its menus and décor change seasonally and sustainably. You’ll be welcomed with a washing of your hands and taken to the new
Preservation Chamber, where fermentation is showcased in various stages of development. Settle in for a world-class 10-course chef’s menu or a reduced menu, knowing that your meal will redefine the way you love food.

A coal-roasted oyster with spekboom and ginger is dubbed ‘rys, vleis en aartappel’. The charred West Coast abalone with squid ink custard and Madagascar caviar is without doubt the finest way of indulging in this precious hero protein. Move on to the cold-smoked yellowtail with amasi whey, dill, and sorghum, knowing that while chef Ryan is dedicated to sourcing the finest local ingredients responsibly, his first choice is to catch from the sea himself.

The vegetarian course of a parsley dumpling with Jerusalem artichoke and wood sorrel transitions seamlessly into butter-fried line fish with lime leaf and a local squid emulsion, before the pork jowl with sultana and pork skin crumb shows that the chef’s boundary-pushing extends beyond ocean fare. Karoo Wagyu beef sirloin, joined on the plate with beef shin-baked rice and chakalaka, is cooked to perfection. The predessert of Madagascan vanilla and guava may lead into ‘Bertie’s pecan nuts’ with cherries and ancient grains. Every course is thoughtfully married with a wine of note and is completely in sync.

Opening Hours

  • Monday 18h30 - 20h30
  • Tuesday 12h30 - 14h00, 18h30 - 20h30
  • Wednesday 12h30 - 14h00, 18h30 - 20h30
  • Thursday 12h30 - 14h00, 18h30 - 20h30
  • Friday 12h30 - 14h00, 18h30 - 20h30
  • Saturday 12h30 - 14h00, 18h30 - 20h30
  • Sunday CLOSED

Reviews (1006)

4.8 out of 5.0
Based on the past 12 months
Food 4.8
Value 4.6
Service 4.8
Ambience 4.7
  • Lauren M. Dined: 2 days ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Wed 06 May 26
    Had an incredible experience at Salsify at the Roundhouse for my birthday. genuinely some of the best food I’ve ever eaten, and definitely the best we’ve had in South Africa. Having eaten at some of the world’s top restaurants and previously worked at The Fat Duck, I don’t say that lightly. The food was outstanding — creative, beautifully balanced and full of unique indigenous and foraged ingredients, including flavours I’d never experienced before. We also loved the ambience, views, history of the building and the warm, friendly service. A huge plus for us was how welcoming and relaxed they were with our 6-month-old baby, especially as many fine dining restaurants understandably don’t accommodate children. It made my birthday meal feel really special. Absolutely phenomenal and somewhere we’ll remember for a very long time. Highly recommend.

  • Theo V. Dined: 3 days ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Tue 05 May 26
    This is an unforgettable experience, in a verry good way. I didn’t know I entered The Garden of Eden. Well, with Some differences: no tree of wisdom, no animals (living ones) and everyone had clothes on. The food however was what it would have been in a heavenly garden: no less then exquisite. Refreshing simple and beautiful, as well as creative, honoring the ingredients and caressing my taste buds in many nice and unexpected ways. The service lives up to it: knowledgeable, more then friendly, dangerously charming and lots of fun. The bubbels from Le Lude at the start blossomed in my mouth, opening up and refreshing my mouth. I took the wine pairing of ‘future champions’ (according to Salsify). Real good for a sort of wine tasting, a pleasure for all the stories that went along with each glas and far too much, even for me😅. Since it was evening, I couldn’t enjoy the view. Thank you to all, especially Eden, who really made my day by joining me in sheer fun when we met and had the opening ceremonie of hands cleansing. And Stanley, who I am sure will recite all wine-stories when awakened in the middle of the night. I sincerely hope he doesn’t talk in his sleep😇👍🏼 So, a sincere THANK YOU to all chefs and team for orchestrating a wonderful and delicious evening in every way possible.

  • Marion H. Dined: 5 days ago
    4.5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 4.0
    Ambience 4.0

    Reviewed on: Sun 03 May 26
    A wonderful autumn dining experience that had us love every dish. And thank you for providing the perfect frame for our anniversary 🙏🏻

  • Matthew R. Dined: 1 week ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Fri 01 May 26
    Shout out to Stanley for the great hospitality and service. Can’t fault anything in the dinner. Food amazing, Kershaw wine paring amazing. Setting obviously incredible

  • Brad C. Dined: 1 week ago
    2.8
    Food 2.0
    Value 2.0
    Service 3.0
    Ambience 4.0

    Reviewed on: Fri 01 May 26
    We accidentally stumbled into a collaboration night with a local winery. It was not the usual Salsify experience. The service was erratic and only one of the six courses was exceptional. I don't usually drink wine because of health reasons but was forced to pay for a wine pairing I didn't want. I don't think we'd return.

  • Renate v. Dined: 1 week ago
    4.3
    Food 3.0
    Value 4.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0
  • JoAnne S. Dined: 2 weeks ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Sun 26 Apr 26
    Always exceptional.

  • Ruth M. Dined: 1 week ago
    4
    Food 5.0
    Value 3.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 3.0
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