NV-80 Grill and Bar is one of Cape Town’s top restaurants, so I thought I’d try it out on a warm, summer evening. Located in Sea Point on the first floor of a new development, the restaurant is absolutely stunning. It is incredibly upmarket, modern and definitely located somewhere special. When I walked in I was immediately overwhelmed by the amazing service and the amount of well-dressed, formal staff.
The menu offers a great selection of wines and cocktails as well as amazing steaks and grills. For starters, I ordered the grilled calamari tubes in a light garlic marinade. I’ve eaten a lot of calamari starters, but this one was by far the best I’ve ever tried. Soft, tender and absolutely beautiful with the subtle garlic sauce — I’m definitely coming back for this starter!
For mains, I ordered the rump steak with chips. When my meal arrived, I was impressed with the size of my steak as it doesn’t specify on the menu. I also tried the side portion of mash which was presented beautifully and a great, tasty side dish. If you’re in the mood for a prime cut of perfectly cooked meat, NV-80 is the place to come!
For dessert, I just about had room for the baked cheesecake with white chocolate ganache. The presentation was almost as incredible as the flavour and texture of my baked cheesecake, and I would definitely recommend ordering this dessert if you’re at NV-80, no matter how full you are.
NV-80 also serves great lunch options and if you’re in Cape Town, it’s somewhere you definitely have to try, especially in summer! If you’re looking for somewhere really special to enjoy, you should definitely check out NV-80 but make sure to make a booking as this place is very popular!
For some reason I tend to give restaurants located in shopping centers a miss, but after hearing only good things, I finally got around to giving NV-80 a try. I arrived at 18H45 only to be told they were fully booked, so I reserved a table for the following day at 18H30.
NV-80 at first glance appears vast, due mainly to the double volume ceiling & floor to ceiling windows. There appears to be something missing in terms of decor, leaving the place feeling a little clinical.
Within moments of entering, it becomes evident that a great deal of attention has been paid to both the establishment and management of the restaurant. Two servers attend to your table, one for drinks, and the other for food.
I ordered the rump steak, medium rare, with only a baked potato and sour cream. My aim was to really taste the steak without the intrusion of a kaleidoscope of other flavors.
My meal arrived within 15 minutes, during which time the place quickly filled up. I took a good look at the plate, and being a closet minimalist, I smiled and thought to myself “perfection.” Although a rump, it was not as tender as expected, but wow, what a good- tasting steak. The baked potato was just that, nothing more, nothing less, but served with a sour cream of good consistency. Very often sour cream turns to little more than sour milk at the slightest hint of nearby heat, this was not one of those.
For dessert I chose the Dark and Blonde chocolate mousse, presented with mint Anglaise. It was good, but not worth writing home about, though I would certainly order it again.
The level of service is unsurpassed in every aspect, quite out of character for Cape Town.
NV-80 is very new, but without doubt will mature rather nicely, so for this very reason, I will be back.
NV-80 Grill and Bar is a recently opened steakhouse located in newly developed “The Point” shopping center in Sea Point. It’s owned by the same restaurateur brothers who run the well regarded Pigalle brand, with locations in Cape Town and Johannesburg. Although it’s inside a mall, the chic interior of NV-80 hides that fact quite well, and the atmosphere is elegant and even a bit retro with a Cuban feel. The dinner menu is simple, yet provides a wide variety of steak and seafood offerings that should please most. The lunch menu has sandwiches, salads, and a few fish and pasta options.
I stopped by on a busy Saturday night and couldn’t resist the NV-80 platter. It’s three king prawns and three langoustines, both from the Indian Ocean waters off Mozambique. Fittingly, they were served with a lemon, garlic, chili and parsley basting and a side of peri peri sauce, a spicy Mozambican specialty. The langoustines were so sweet and delicious; it was also very interesting to have them next to the similarly sized but differently flavored king prawns. Both were great, but I’m told the smaller queen prawns are actually tastier, if a little more work to deal with. The portion size was just right, and I had room to try the server-recommended apple tarte tatin with chai ice cream for dessert. It lived up to the server’s praise, and was a simple dessert with complex flavors. The wine offerings were also great.
Service was very fast, friendly, knowledgeable and eager to please. The dining room is very pleasantly decorated, and even though very busy, didn’t feel crowded. In particular, the seating was very comfortable. The only downside of the place is the lack of a sea view in Sea Point, but the huge windows are nice anyway and the architecture of the neighboring buildings that make up the view contribute to the retro vibe. If you’re in the neighborhood, definitely give NV-80 a try.
Expert Review
NV-80 Grill and Bar is one of Cape Town’s top restaurants, so I thought I’d try it out on a...
NV-80 Grill and Bar is one of Cape Town’s top restaurants, so I thought I’d try it out on a warm, summer evening. Located in Sea Point on the first floor of a new development, the restaurant is absolutely stunning. It is incredibly upmarket, modern and definitely located somewhere special. When I walked in I was immediately overwhelmed by the amazing service and the amount of well-dressed, formal staff.
The menu offers a great selection of wines and cocktails as well as amazing steaks and grills. For starters, I ordered the grilled calamari tubes in a light garlic marinade. I’ve eaten a lot of calamari starters, but this one was by far the best I’ve ever tried. Soft, tender and absolutely beautiful with the subtle garlic sauce — I’m definitely coming back for this starter!
For mains, I ordered the rump steak with chips. When my meal arrived, I was impressed with the size of my steak as it doesn’t specify on the menu. I also tried the side portion of mash which was presented beautifully and a great, tasty side dish. If you’re in the mood for a prime cut of perfectly cooked meat, NV-80 is the place to come!
For dessert, I just about had room for the baked cheesecake with white chocolate ganache. The presentation was almost as incredible as the flavour and texture of my baked cheesecake, and I would definitely recommend ordering this dessert if you’re at NV-80, no matter how full you are.
NV-80 also serves great lunch options and if you’re in Cape Town, it’s somewhere you definitely have to try, especially in summer! If you’re looking for somewhere really special to enjoy, you should definitely check out NV-80 but make sure to make a booking as this place is very popular!
Expert Review
For some reason I tend to give restaurants located in shopping centers a miss, but after hearing only good things,...
For some reason I tend to give restaurants located in shopping centers a miss, but after hearing only good things, I finally got around to giving NV-80 a try. I arrived at 18H45 only to be told they were fully booked, so I reserved a table for the following day at 18H30.
NV-80 at first glance appears vast, due mainly to the double volume ceiling & floor to ceiling windows. There appears to be something missing in terms of decor, leaving the place feeling a little clinical.
Within moments of entering, it becomes evident that a great deal of attention has been paid to both the establishment and management of the restaurant. Two servers attend to your table, one for drinks, and the other for food.
I ordered the rump steak, medium rare, with only a baked potato and sour cream. My aim was to really taste the steak without the intrusion of a kaleidoscope of other flavors.
My meal arrived within 15 minutes, during which time the place quickly filled up. I took a good look at the plate, and being a closet minimalist, I smiled and thought to myself “perfection.” Although a rump, it was not as tender as expected, but wow, what a good- tasting steak. The baked potato was just that, nothing more, nothing less, but served with a sour cream of good consistency. Very often sour cream turns to little more than sour milk at the slightest hint of nearby heat, this was not one of those.
For dessert I chose the Dark and Blonde chocolate mousse, presented with mint Anglaise. It was good, but not worth writing home about, though I would certainly order it again.
The level of service is unsurpassed in every aspect, quite out of character for Cape Town.
NV-80 is very new, but without doubt will mature rather nicely, so for this very reason, I will be back.
Reservations are advised.
Expert Review
NV-80 Grill and Bar is a recently opened steakhouse located in newly developed “The Point” shopping center in Sea Point....
NV-80 Grill and Bar is a recently opened steakhouse located in newly developed “The Point” shopping center in Sea Point. It’s owned by the same restaurateur brothers who run the well regarded Pigalle brand, with locations in Cape Town and Johannesburg. Although it’s inside a mall, the chic interior of NV-80 hides that fact quite well, and the atmosphere is elegant and even a bit retro with a Cuban feel. The dinner menu is simple, yet provides a wide variety of steak and seafood offerings that should please most. The lunch menu has sandwiches, salads, and a few fish and pasta options.
I stopped by on a busy Saturday night and couldn’t resist the NV-80 platter. It’s three king prawns and three langoustines, both from the Indian Ocean waters off Mozambique. Fittingly, they were served with a lemon, garlic, chili and parsley basting and a side of peri peri sauce, a spicy Mozambican specialty. The langoustines were so sweet and delicious; it was also very interesting to have them next to the similarly sized but differently flavored king prawns. Both were great, but I’m told the smaller queen prawns are actually tastier, if a little more work to deal with. The portion size was just right, and I had room to try the server-recommended apple tarte tatin with chai ice cream for dessert. It lived up to the server’s praise, and was a simple dessert with complex flavors. The wine offerings were also great.
Service was very fast, friendly, knowledgeable and eager to please. The dining room is very pleasantly decorated, and even though very busy, didn’t feel crowded. In particular, the seating was very comfortable. The only downside of the place is the lack of a sea view in Sea Point, but the huge windows are nice anyway and the architecture of the neighboring buildings that make up the view contribute to the retro vibe. If you’re in the neighborhood, definitely give NV-80 a try.