It’s no coincidence that the owners of The Roundhouse Restaurant in Camps Bay also own the company that trains the staff at the 5-star Cape Grace Hotel . It is to this end that Fasie Malherbe and his team seem to stop at nothing to ensure you experience service never seen before in any Cape Town establishment, let alone a restaurant.

People who understand true service are well aware that there should be no rules when it comes to fulfilling a customer’s request. I tested this logic by booking a table at the Roundhouse Restaurant for lunch. But not just any table – I requested they put together a table at the bottom level of the sprawling lawn terrace leading down from the main Roundhouse building. Something I hadn’t seen done before.

“Absolutely!” came the genuinely excited reply, suggesting (then) that it had not been done before and should result in a fantastic afternoon. I’m sure you would agree that coming up and following through on new ideas is NOT something our local service industry folk would EVER contemplate, let alone follow through on. This was the result..

Bliss is the word you’re looking for.

I think a big nod needs to go to Lord Charles Somerset who built the original residence and hunting lodge back in 1786, when Camps Bay offered lions, leopards and buck for his and his friends’ hunting pleasure. None of those are around anymore, except, of course, the occasional cougar cruising around the Camps Bay strip. You would require a long range snipers rifle for those these days, as The Roundhouse Restaurant is positioned in the heart of the Camps Bay Glen – as close as one can get to “wind free” in Camps Bay, gazing down, over and across the bay and 12 Apostles.

I brought along my iPod speaker (with Pink Martini freshly loaded), as well as a set of petanque/boule (located and acquired for me within two hours, funnily enough, by the concierge at the Cape Grace Hotel during my recent stay there), which would all tie in very nicely with the Great Gatsby theme I had requested of my guests.

No Great Gatsby themed lunch would be complete
without a TBG appearance

Very stressful

The desserts were ludicrous.
With the chocolate pudding in the foreground bordering on crass

I tended to G-man, who couldn’t be blamed for eating so fast

Inside the Roundhouse Restaurant in Camps Bay
Dine from the very spot Lord Charles Somerset took pot shots at lions!

A magnificent day was had by all, as we over-indulged in the best way possible. We left the ordering up to Fasie Malherbe, who managed to maintain a constant flow of Pimms with fresh fruit and, literally, PILES of the most delicious foods selected from the Rumbullion Menu (courtesy of their new chef, PJ Vadas, who has done his time with the likes of Gordon Ramsay). Rumbullion is a 17th century slang term meaning “a riotous good time,” which is exactly what we had!

I found a little video for you of The Roundhouse Restaurant Rumbullion experience:

Rumbullion at The Roundhouse Restaurant, Camps Bay

Thanks again to Camps Bay’s Roundhouse Restaurant for a spectacular day which left me and my guests speechless. Look, we were absolutely WRECKED from the Pimms, but speechless nonetheless!

Whatever you do, make sure you get there – you have no idea what awaits you.

If you’re struggling for a table, I apologise, they’re in demand. The best help I can give is for you to tell them that 2oceansvibe sent you. It be just enough to push you through.

Check out their website for info and menus at www.roundhouserestaurant.com
or give them a call on +27 21 438-4347.