The food at The Kitchen certainly earns it a spot among Cape Town’s best restaurants, but it is altogether a different animal than most others on that list. Open for breakfast, lunch, or coffee, the menu is very simple, and the experience is a far cry from fine-dining formal.

If you wish to dine in, your lunch options are very simple—a salad plate or a sandwich. For the salad plate, you choose a helping of five salads from the 10 or 12 featured in the display case. You can add chicken, bacon, ham, falafel, or sausage for a small additional charge. Sandwiches feature an artisanal roll and come with pesto, mayo, salad and dressings. Or you can have coffee and a sweet treat—croissants, brownies, fudge, or cake. Takeout is very popular as well. If you opt to take your food with you, you save a few rand, and you could have a delicious picnic.

I popped in for a weekday lunch and found the experience very enjoyable. I picked five salads and added some surprisingly delicious baked ham. The salads are very unique and flavorful. I had one with sweet purple cabbage and apples, one with crispy broccoli, a more traditional cucumber, olive and feta number, a yummy coleslaw, and a basil pesto potato salad. It’s great food for a quick lunch, especially if you’re a little bit burnt out on big heavy meals.

The atmosphere is busy and energetic. There are a few tables outside on the sidewalk, and inside there are a few long bars to eat at. Much of the clientele appeared to be working professionals from the area, and I saw a lot of takeout orders go through the door.

The Kitchen is located in the Woodstock neighborhood, historically impoverished but experiencing an urban renewal of sorts. Woodstock has recently become the media hub of Cape Town and is full of art galleries, studios, ad agencies, production studios, and interesting shops here and there. If you’re visiting the art galleries, make sure The Kitchen is on your list for lunch.