157 2nd Avenue, Kenilworth, South Africa
Cuisine:
Caribbean
Good for:
Breakfast/Brunch, Dinner, Large Groups, Late Night, Lunch, Reservations
Banana Jam Cafe
17 Visitor Photos +
REVIEWS
2 Reviews
Expert Review
Although technically it does "Caribbean food," most people in Cape Town consider Banana Jam a Jamaican restaurant, and one of...
Although technically it does “Caribbean food,” most people in Cape Town consider Banana Jam a Jamaican restaurant, and one of the cities best. So to check it out in proper fashion I took a Jamaican with me to check it out.
Despite the out of the way location in Kenilworth, Banana Jam was packed when we visited mid week on a warm summer evening. The garden and deck areas were completely full, so we sat inside, at a comfy booth to the side of the busy bar area that was actually perfect for people watching and quiet enough to have a conversation.
Banana Jam has a lengthy cocktail menu, but despite being a Caribbean restaurant, it was missing the key ingredient in any Caribbean cocktail – coconut juice, milk or pulp. Even the pina colada was lacking in any coconut flavoring other than in the Malibu rum it was made with. My friend, who now lives in South Africa, wasn’t phased, pointing out that most Cape Town establishments substitute coconut flavored rum for the real thing, but I was slightly appalled and ordered a beer instead of rum punch.
Moving on to the food, as mentioned earlier, the menu covers more than just Jamaican, although jerk cooking is featured prominently. But countries like Trinidad and Cuba are also represented with local dishes on the menu, and many people also order off the pizza menu here – which does have a Caribbean theme, including a jerk chicken pizza. My friend ordered the Jerk Chicken Pasta and ordered it extra spicy. He said while it wasn’t Kingston cooking, it wasn’t bad for Cape Town – and they took his spice notation seriously, it was burn my face off hot when I tasted it and I like spicy food.
I opted for my favorite Cape Town protein: calamari. Although I prefer my calamari grilled, the pan-fried tubes here were actually quite tasty (they weren’t over-breaded or greasy) and had a nice Cajun flavor to them. They came served with Jamaican style rice ‘n peas.
Overall this is a vibey spot for decent Caribbean influenced cooking. It works great for a first date or a night out with friends.
Expert Review
Banana Jam is a local favourite in Kenilworth and serves some delicious pizzas, burgers and Caribbean favourites. The venue boasts...
Banana Jam is a local favourite in Kenilworth and serves some delicious pizzas, burgers and Caribbean favourites. The venue boasts a wonderful chilled-out vibe where friends gather to unwind after a hard day’s work. The décor is Rasta all the way with a great Rum Shack-themed bar, outside seated area, and indoor smoking area. In summer you’ll have to book a table if you want to sit outside, but winter is just as comfortable outside when they light fires. Banana Jam is big on cocktails, pizza, craft beer, and of course, Caribbean food. Authentic dishes include jerk chicken, pulled pork and spit braais. Check out the specials board before you order, it’s totally worth it!
For starters, I tried the grilled bacon poppers with jalapeno chillies, cheese and wrapped in bacon. It’s a great twist on chilli poppers and because there is no batter, they are much less greasy and easier to eat. I love these bacon poppers and would recommend them to anyone who loves chilli poppers, bacon or trying something exciting. Salty, spicy and full of cheese! Great bite-sized pieces too!
For mains, I went with the pulled pork pizza on the specials board. My pizza came with red onion, rocket, a little bit of BBQ sauce and of course, delicious pulled pork. The thin base was perfectly crispy and held the toppings well. Although the toppings are added sparingly, they definitely pack a punch in the flavour department and these pizzas will fill you up quickly. I would definitely recommend any dish with the pulled pork as it’s absolutely delicious. So tasty, I can’t wait to order it again!
All in all, the service was good, the atmosphere on a Sunday night was festive, upbeat and friendly and the food was great. Banana Jam is great for any occasion, but it’s even better if you’re hungry.