50 Orange Street, Gardens, Cape Town Central 8001, South Africa
Cuisine:
Bistro, French, Italian
Good for:
Breakfast/Brunch, Dinner, Doing Business, Entertaining Clients, Large Groups, Late Night, Local Cuisine, Lunch, Reservations, Romance, Special Occasions
Expert Review
Societi Bistro is quite a large bistro style restaurant hidden behind high walls at an old corner house in Gardens...
Societi Bistro is quite a large bistro style restaurant hidden behind high walls at an old corner house in Gardens neighborhood. The restaurant is in a 200 year old, renovated, Georgian style house with seating spread through the different rooms of the house and packed into a huge courtyard outside. Societi Bistro strives to be “a sanctuary for Capetonians and visitors looking for a home away from home”, and with its cozy yet quirky atmosphere, it succeeds in putting visitors at ease. The décor inside consists of dark wood, exposed brick, and a lot of interesting artworks. In bistro style, the menu changes frequently and daily specials are written up on a chalkboard menu.
I stopped by for a weekday lunch and was pretty surprised to find the huge restaurant mostly empty and very quiet. I took a table inside because the courtyard was way too sunny. For starters, I enjoyed a really delicious watermelon salad with mint, vodka, goat’s cheese, and bitter leaves. The salad was really good and refreshing but way too huge! It had several giant slices of watermelon. For the main course, I had the fillet au poivre, a pasture-reared cut of fillet, served with a Madagascan green peppercorn and brandy cream sauce, wilted spinach, and hand cut French fries. The steak was unbelievably tender and cooked perfectly. The fries were super crispy and delicious.
Service was very attentive and helpful but not over the top. Prices are a bit high, which might explain why the restaurant was empty at lunch. Or perhaps no one was there because it’s a real chore to find any parking within a radius of several blocks during the day. Lack of parking is the biggest downside for the restaurant. The Societi Bistro also offers a few interesting experiences such as “Kitchen Unconfidential” cooking lessons and a “Chef’s Table” dining option.
Expert Review
It’s a rare night when all the tables at Societi aren’t fully booked. And yet this is no tourist trap...
It’s a rare night when all the tables at Societi aren’t fully booked. And yet this is no tourist trap snaring unwary visitors from the hotels of Kloof Street.
Societi is a much-loved local where, as a visitor, you can shake off the mantle of “tourist.” Book a table, settle in and live like a Capetonian for the night.
If the weather is fine, a table on the terrace is where you want to be. If you’re clever and call in advance the friendly folk here will book you a table both indoors and out… just in case the Cape’s capricious weather turns.
On the terrace or in the cosy (but often smoky) Snug Bar a local craft beer or bottle of Cape wine is the perfect prelude – and somewhat of a ritual for me – to dinner at Societi.
Chef Stefan Marais has been at the helm here for years now, and offers well-priced bistro dishes in the French and Italian tradition. The menu changes with the seasons, and Stefan takes sourcing local, free-range and ethical produce seriously.
Pasta is handmade on site each morning, and the mushroom risotto is spoken of in hushed tones. Both are available in half and full portions, depending on your appetite. South Africans do love a good steak though, and although a touch pricey, the fillet in cream and peppercorn sauce is worth every rand.
While the service can be hit-and-miss, the cosy confines and fine food more than make up for the occasional misstep. The small wine list is well priced, with plenty of options by the glass. Look out for seasonal menus touring France and Italy.