Loading Bay — Restaurant in City Centre

I had been there a couple of times before, but that was a few years ago. I had pleasant memories of the place so I was happy to go again with my daughter, who is visiting from overseas. She had been the day before and said that I would really enjoy the plant based ( oat milk) latte's. She said she had eaten a really nice avo on toast snack, which she was sure I would enjoy. The layout hadn't changed since my last visit, with an outside long table with high benches, which looked out onto the street. Inside there were still two stores, on of which was to the side on a half-mezzanine level, selling high end clothing and the other was a little higher on the full mezzanine level selling bathroom soaps a creams and the like. The two store definitely added something to the ambiance, even though I never ventured into either of them. The oat milk latte was as excellent as I had remembered it from a few years back, which tells me that their quality had remained consistently high. We ordered an avo on toast to share, as we were in a bit if a rush. I was a little disappointed that they did not offer rye as an optiona, which I generally prefer because it is a more wholesome snack that the sourdough white bread that we settled for. I had taken a few bites of the avo on toast, which was very tasty, when I noticed my daughter holding her half of the toast up just high enough that she could study the underneath side of the bread. I watched her for a while and eventual felt I had to ask her what she was doing. She had a puzzled expression and she replied that she was "trying to figure out whether the toast was coated in olive oil or butter. Both my daughter and I are vegan so I could fully understand why she would want to know the answer to such a question. What I didn't get is why she was even questioning this. She signalled to the waiter and asked him whether it was butter or olive oil on the toast. He replied that it was butter. My daughter proceeded to explain to him that we are both vegan and there was nothing on the menu that indicated the the toast was pre-buttered. He apologized and offered to make us another. We were shirt on time, but accepted his offer. Thebl replacement sandwich arrived quite quickly, but it was a far more rudiment "sandwich" with just a piece of toast and sine sliced avo on the side. The original serving had mashed avo on the toast and the avo had a few other things mixed into it. If I recall correctly, it was something like chopped onion and herbs. The replacement food was ok, but not as tasty ( not due to the lack of butter)! We made a point of checking the menu carefully and there was definitely no mention of butter in this avo on toast item. We were quite disappointed and agreed that it was no fault of the staff, but rather whiver is responsible for compiling the menu. Would I go back there? Definitely for an...

The food is good, but unfortunately, when everything else is dreadfully disappointing, good food just is not enough.

We were a table of 5 and sat down for what we thought would be a quick breakfast. It wasn't. We waited 20 minutes before someone came to take our drink orders. The order was simple. A watermelon juice, a cappucino, an iced coffee and two bottles of water. The watermelon juice took 20 minutes to arrive, and was the only drink to arrive. At this point we asked if the cappucino was not yet made, if we could swap it out for a matcha latte. The waiter said the cappucino was almost ready. 5 minutes later the iced coffee arrived. Still no cappucino and still no water. We asked what the delay was, especially the water which does not need to be made. We were told that the restaurant was full and we must be patient. Another 15 minutes passed and we finally received the cappucino and waters. At this point we placed our orders for our food... and then we waited... and waited... and waited. 45 minutes later the food arrived. The food was good but at this point everyone was feeling frustrated and agitated at how unpleasant the whole morning was.

We finished our food and waited another 10/15 minutes before someone came to remove the plates. Given how long everything was taking we ordered another bottle of water and asked for the bill at the same time. The bill arrived 20 minutes later, except it was not our bill. They brought another bill ten minutes later, except it was again not our bill. The water had still not arrived. We moved to the counter and threatened to leave without paying if the bill was not given to us immediately. We were asked if we could remind them what we ordered as they did not have it on the system. At this point I pulled one of the wait staff aside and voiced my dissatisfaction at the service. He did not take this well and started yelling at me and coming so close to my face, it was threatening. Everyone around us commented on how rude and aggressive he was.

A bill was printed and handed to us, except it had an additional three juices on there that we did not have. We asked them to rectify it and were finally given bill number 4, which seemed to be right.

All I can say is, this was an awful experience. The truth is, Cape Town has an abundance of restaurants and cafes with excellent food. I will rather go anywhere else and get good food AND good service. Not only was the service the worst I have ever received, I am shocked at the arrogance of the wait staff telling us (not asking us) to be patient. There is a blatant lack of accountability. Yes, the restaurant was full but you are a restaurant that should know how to still give customers relatively good service despite how full...

Loading Bay – Cape Town

Loading Bay is a beautiful, modern space that effortlessly combines great food, good coffee, and a stylish retail store. It’s the kind of spot where you could spend hours. Whether you’re working, catching up with friends, or simply soaking in the relaxed atmosphere. The interior is sleek, contemporary, and thoughtfully designed, making it one of my favorite places to settle in with a coffee and some good food.

Speaking of coffee, it’s excellent. It’s rich, smooth, and consistently well-made. My only gripe is that twice now they’ve only had oat milk available, even though almond milk is listed on the menu. Small detail, but worth mentioning.

The menu at Loading Bay reflects a clear ethos. Nourishing, carefully sourced food that not only feeds the body but supports regenerative and ethical farming practices. Their commitment to sustainability is evident, and as someone passionate about food, I appreciate a space that values the bigger picture. It’s refreshing to dine somewhere that takes its responsibility to the planet seriously and reminds us that our food choices matter.

I ordered the Green Goodness, and the dish truly lived up to its name. Organic kale and spinach, blanched in butter and tossed with sesame seeds, lemon zest, and a hint of chili flakes, were served alongside their signature green goodness sauce, two poached eggs, and grated Asiago cheese.

The broccoli was perfectly al dente. I felt it could have used a touch more seasoning, a challenge I often find with these greens. That said, the dish as a whole was deeply satisfying. The green goodness sauce was nutty and umami-rich, providing a beautiful depth of flavor that complemented the buttery greens. The Asiago cheese added a lovely sharpness that cut through the richness, tying the dish together.

The dish was paired with beautifully buttered sourdough toast, which was crisp, golden, and indulgent without being too heavy. Every element on the plate was well thought out, delivering a dish that felt nourishing and vibrant.

Service was quick, and the staff were warm and attentive without being intrusive, adding to the overall ease of the experience.

If you’re looking for a spot that combines nourishing, flavorful food with a stylish, laid-back vibe, Loading Bay delivers. Their food reflects a thoughtful approach to sustainability, and their focus on quality shines through. Whether you’re stopping in for a quick coffee or settling in for a full meal, it’s a space that leaves you feeling well-fed and inspired. I’ll definitely be back to try more...