$$$$
IndianCity Bowl
Bukhara on Church Street in Cape Town has run a North Indian tandoor kitchen since 1995, best known for its butter chicken and its lamb rogan josh.
OrderButter chicken with tandoor-baked naan
TipAdd the dal makhani, black lentils cooked overnight in the tandoor, and a naan hot from the clay oven.
$$$$
EthiopianCity Bowl
Addis in Cape on Loop Street, Cape Town, has served a communal Ethiopian spread since 2007, with injera, doro wat and a traditional coffee ceremony.
OrderDoro wat with a double order of injera
TipBooking is essential, the room is small and the sharing platters need a table that can spread out.
$$$$
ThaiGardens
Yindee's cooks tom yum, green curry and pad Thai in a Victorian house on Kamp Street off Kloof Street, Cape Town, with a floor-cushion room for groups.
OrderTom yum goong with extra chilli on the side
TipAsk for the back room with cushions on the floor if you are a big group, and book ahead through the online table form.
$$$$
Japanese SushiV&a Waterfront
Willoughby & Co at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town takes no bookings, drawing a queue for its crispy rice sushi and grilled saikyo miso salmon.
OrderCrispy rice sushi topped with spicy tuna
TipNo bookings are taken, arrive right at opening or expect to queue for a table at peak dinner hours.
$$$$
SeafoodCamps Bay
Codfather in Camps Bay, Cape Town, skips a formal menu, with waiters helping each table build a meal from the day's fresh fish, seafood and sushi.
OrderThe day's fresh linefish and sushi, put together with your waiter rather than off a printed menu
TipFrom October to April dinner runs in set seatings from 16:30, 18:00, 18:30 and 21:00, so book a slot through Dineplan.
$$$$
BrasserieNoordhoek
The Foodbarn in Noordhoek, Cape Town, is French chef Franck Dangereux's cafe by day and tapas bar by night, with tapas dinners Tuesday to Saturday.
OrderTapas dinner sharing plates, order enough to cover the table
TipThe tapas dinner only runs Tuesday to Saturday, so come for breakfast or lunch on a Sunday or Monday; the deli shop next door opens daily until 20:00.