Salsify at the Roundhouse

I was disappointed with our New Year’s Eve dinner at Salsify. This was not my first visit, I have been here several times before, and unfortunately this was the weakest experience so far. The wine pairing, which is usually outstanding and accompanied by an engaging and knowledgeable explanation, felt very weak this time. When a red wine was served with the wagyu and we asked what it was, the server could not answer and had to check. When she returned, she described it simply as a “typical Bordeaux blend,” which was far from sufficient for guests with some wine knowledge. Overall, we missed the thoughtful, detailed storytelling we had experienced during previous visits. A proper sommelier came to our table only a couple of times during the evening. The final pairing was a light cocktail and it was served without any explanation at all. As for the food, nothing surprised us. Many dishes were repeated from the standard tasting menu, whereas for a New Year’s Eve dinner we expected something more distinctive. Desserts were average. Overall, it was a weak impression and not an experience worth USD 1,200 for dinner. The wine pairing alone costs 3,650 ZAR per person (approximately USD 200). It is particularly disappointing because I had long been a strong promoter of this restaurant. Even as new, fashionable places appeared, Salsify always remained a benchmark for taste and exceptional service. Sadly, it feels like that era is over, and the restaurant is now focused on volume rather than the level of attention to guests and detail it once had.

We visited Salsify recently as two girlfriends and did their tasting menu, which was the chef’s choice. From start to finish, our experience was absolutely seamless. We were greeted by name at the door and began with their signature hand-washing ritual — a beautiful touch where you receive a hand scrub before entering the first room. We were then guided into the cocktail and welcome room, where we enjoyed a smoking cocktail alongside a king crab tartlet that was incredible. Watching the mixologist prepare our drinks added to the experience. I’ve never dined anywhere that transitions you through different rooms during a meal, and it made the evening feel truly special and immersive. Afterward, we were brought into the main dining room for the rest of the tasting menu. Our server, Luke, was exceptional — incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about every dish, explaining each component and technique in detail. The food was innovative, flavorful, and beautifully cohesive, with each course building perfectly on the last. Because we had an early flight the next morning, we opted out of the wine pairing and chose the tea pairing instead — something I had never tried before. I’m so glad we did. The depth, aroma, and thought behind each tea pairing were incredible and elevated the entire experience in such a unique way. Overall, I highly, highly recommend Salsify if you’re in Cape Town. The views are stunning, the atmosphere is refined yet relaxed, and the entire experience feels world-class. As American tourists, we also found the price to be extremely fair for the quality and creativity you receive. Truly a memorable dining experience.

This will be a review slightly different to most. The food is exceptional. All of the dishes were balanced and delightful on the eyes and mouth. However, after 9 courses and some tasty snack extras, I wasn’t expecting to leave Salsify hungry, particularly not for the price paid (pizza was eaten on the way home). The above issue could be rectified in two ways: 1. Slightly larger portion sizes 2. Have the meals come out faster - we started our experience at 6pm and were not complete until 9:30pm. The service was fine - nothing exceptional and I wouldn’t say overly personal either. There was a mix up between what dessert we were having and we almost missed a course completely. We waited for the palette cleanser before dessert for about 25 minutes before staff cleared the cutlery for the course that we weren’t served. Again, small things but you are paying a premium and expect premium product as a result. Finally, the views are stunning so it may be better experienced at lunch. But that completes the comments on atmosphere. I still enjoyed my experience overall, but, I wouldn’t be rushing back quickly. There is likely other fine dining restaurants that charge less of a premium and leave you with your appetite satiated.

I can easily say this is the best all round restaurant experience I’ve ever had. The menu was pleasing to the mouth and the eyes. I had a wine pairing and it was beautiful but I also really appreciated how they had a ‘soft’ pairing for my non drinking friends. They were also very accommodating with substitutions which I appreciated. From the hand scrub at the welcoming to the welcoming room with the art on the walls and the local ingredients in the cocktail and snacks it was a great experience. As a historian I loved how they told us a story about the place’s roots and appreciated details about the art. Amazing evening all around.

Visited in December 2025. South Africa 🇿🇦 Cape Town. I planned this visit in advance, as I always enjoy tasting set menus and seeing a chef’s vision of ideal flavors and combinations. The interior is elegant and refined, fitting perfectly with the setting. Upon arrival, you’re invited to wash your hands with a beautifully scented scrub — a thoughtful and memorable detail that immediately sets the tone. FOOD: This is a tasting menu restaurant. We opted for the lighter lunch version with fewer courses. The experience begins in a lounge area, where the story of the restaurant is introduced and the first bite is served. The opening tuna tartlet with layered sauces was excellent — rich in flavor with a delicate, crisp shell, instantly raising expectations for the meal ahead. Once seated at the table, we received several compliments from the kitchen, including a dish inspired by open sushi with abalone. While well-balanced and pleasant, it felt more like a conceptual reference than a bold interpretation — personally, I would have preferred a more contrasting and expressive protein. After the trio of amuse-bouches, we were served bread with mushroom butter, and the butter was outstanding — deeply aromatic, rich, and earthy, adding warmth and comfort to the early part of the meal. The savory doughnut felt slightly heavy and oily as an early course, while the fresh oyster was a highlight — clean, bright, and refreshing. The yellowtail dish was more problematic: the coconut pairing didn’t complement the delicate fish, and there were noticeable sinewy fibers that were difficult to chew. Overall, the dish lacked textural harmony. The artichoke course was thoughtfully constructed, with the artichoke itself cooked well — crisp and vibrant — but the accompanying gnocchi didn’t work. While the artichoke remained light and fresh, the gnocchi turned dense and chewy, clashing with the dish rather than enhancing it. The main course, lamb presented in two textures — a steak and a skewer — was a mixed experience. The steak was disappointing: dense, chewy, and lacking tenderness or depth of flavor. In contrast, the skewer was outstanding — rich, tender, and meltingly soft. If you enjoy fattier cuts, this was easily the best dish of the day. Desserts were a strong finish. Everything was carefully thought out — textures, flavor layers, sugar balance, and presentation were all spot on. A beautiful and satisfying end to a long lunch. SERVICE: Service was excellent. The staff were friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable, explaining each dish clearly. VERDICT: Overall, this was an interesting and pleasant culinary experience, but for me, the menu still feels slightly unfinished in terms of balance and execution. The restaurant clearly aims for a high level, yet some dishes lack the refinement and perfection you expect from this category. We’ve visited restaurants of a similar caliber where the overall satisfaction was higher. That said, it was undoubtedly a memorable and enjoyable experience — just not quite at the level it aspires to.

Salsify at the Roundhouse We have previous experience with this restaurant and know what level of fine dining it used to represent. We have been here twice before, including once on New Year’s Eve, which is exactly why we decided to return and welcome 2026 here. Unfortunately, this visit turned into one of the biggest dining disappointments we’ve had in a long time. It genuinely feels like the restaurant has been left to run on autopilot and is slowly but steadily declining. Food & Menu There were no new or exciting dishes. The New Year’s menu was essentially no different from the regular menu served on any ordinary day. Sauces, ingredients, and flavor profiles closely resembled previous dishes and brought nothing new or memorable. For a New Year’s Eve fine-dining experience, this is simply unacceptable. Service The service was inattentive, forgetful, and at times unprofessional. We experienced gaps of up to 10 minutes between courses with no explanation. Information about the dishes was either missing entirely or delivered in a rushed, unclear manner, with no story or enthusiasm behind the food. Wine Pairing The wine pairing, which should elevate and complement the dishes, felt like a formality. Wines were poured with a very dry explanation along the lines of “this is a wine from South Africa” and nothing more. No insight into the pairing logic or how it interacted with the food. Wine Service Issues Wine was poured inconsistently, clearly “by eye”, with some guests receiving noticeably more than others. A 2012 red wine was poured in a minimal amount and contained sediment that should not have been served. Overall Experience At the end of the evening, no one asked whether we enjoyed the dinner, the service, or the overall experience. There was a strong sense of indifference, as if guest feedback no longer matters. Some tables received complimentary desserts, while others did not, despite everyone being on the same New Year’s menu. Champagne we ordered took around 20 minutes to arrive. With a bill of approximately 18,000 ZAR, this experience is extremely difficult to justify. In its current state, the restaurant does not live up to its reputation, pricing, or the expectations of fine dining, especially on New Year’s Eve. It is truly disappointing to see what has happened to a place that was once genuinely special.

We opted for the full chef’s menu and it was such a treat! Will definitely recommend and can’t wait to come back for another menu.

Salsify offers a very special dining experience. Upon arrival I was offered an aromatic hand wash with salt scrub. I was then guided to an antechamber containing incredible wall art, a shelf full of assorted ingredients and a small bar. I was served an amuse-bouche with accompanying small cocktail while the services shared many interesting details of the houses history and prior owners. We then preceded to the dining room, where each table has a phenomenal view of the coast and 12 apostles. I chose the full tasting menu, but did not opt for the wine pairing. Each course was beautiful and delicious, but the services and overall experience was really the stand-out for me.