Asoka Restaurant, Bar and Lounge — Restaurant in Gardens

Asoka is lit! In fact, it is so candlelit that an inexperienced observer may be tempted to call the fire department. I am secretly regretting 90% of my 5-star ratings for atmosphere because they should really be reserved for places like Asoka. Their VIBE (yes, in capitals) is splattered with sexy lines, moody lighting, and lively Acid Jazz all they way from the steps on Kloof Street to the back wall of the toilet.

If you are booking a table for a romantic evening with your partner, Table 20 under the 180-year-old olive tree is the way to go. You'll sit close enough to each other to have a conversation when the joint gets busy, and if you are tall, you'll fit under the table. (If you are taller than 6ft, the ottomans by the fireplace are not for you.)

As you would expect from the setting, the service is top notch. Hosts, waiters and runners, and even the smiling bouncer at the door, are all easy-going, friendly, and professional. (Thanks for the great service, Jo)

When it comes to drinking and eating, the only thing in the bar more impressive than the actual shelves holding the bottles, are the cocktails.

The tapas-style dishes coming from the kitchen were beautifully presented (I think). It was slightly too dark to see the colours and textures of the actual food, but it was clearly expertly plated. Overall, the food was good, but not mind-blowing. We shared seven different dishes, curious to see how Aisan Fusion is interpreted at Asoka. From a flavour perspective, it did not quite hit the mark, as you would hope considering the price point. Don't misunderstand me on this one... EVERY dish was packed with flavour, but almost overpoweringly towards a single note. The Duck Spring Rolls are deeply salty, for instance, and the accompanying reduction is not quite sweet enough to balance it out. Adding a unique complimentary contrast to each plate will go a long way to making the taste profiles pop (like shiso leaf with the ostrich).

This is a longer than usual review, because Asoka is a place I instantly loved. I'll go back to soak up the atmosphere, and I will happily recommend it to anyone looking to spend their evening in style.

If you are specifically visiting Cape Town for a culinary tour, I would lean towards Belly of the Beast and Chefs Warehouse at Beau Constantia for menu dégastation, and for tapas-style plates, Bistro Sixteen82 at Steenberg...

The actual restaurant interior design is gorgeous hence me giving some stars for my experience at this location but the beauty of interior design could not convince me to return to this restaurant for a 2nd time for an evening meal:

I booked for the Sunday R295 dinner special. Every dish,from each course I ordered, was very small, yet some of the other dishes, that the other guests I was with, ordered (also part of the dinner special) had fair portions. I actually made a comment to some of people that Iwas with about how much bad luck I had as every dish I chose ended up having portions way smaller than those of the dishes they chose from the course menu. They laughed in response as they could not deny it.The fact that there is such a stark difference in portion sizes depending on the dish in a course is a shame as we are all charged the same amount of money.

However, the MAIN reason I am giving a low rating is linked to the 1 litre jug of cranberry fruit juice that I ordered:

There was no price in the menu, and I forgot to ask, but I thought... how bad can it be (since a 3litre costs approximately R50-70 in supermarkets). When we got the bill, it turns out the cost for the 1 litre juice

A month after the below was posted and I'm editing this review to say that I've reached out to the owner, Warren Cowdy, as he asked me to, only for him to not reply to my email nor the follow-up email I sent a week after. This can only lead me to believe that Warren hopes his reply to my review will be enough to seem like he cares, trying to fool review readers into believing that he tried to rectify the horrible experience his customers endured.

Very disappointed in this establishment and its owner. Will never return.

I went with my boyfriend last night. We had a reservation and the receptionist, I assume, seemed like she’d rather be anywhere else than have to look at our faces.

We paid about R1800 for the two of us and WHAT A WASTE!!! The starters were the best of the 4 courses even though the sauce that came with the two deep fried cream cheese balls tasted EXACTLY like the orange chip dip from Spar.

The main seemed to be only a plate of 5 slices of duck for both of us to share. Why? Because the other plate of one 🦐 and a tiny piece of fish was completely forgotten about. And when our waitress (whose breasts were in our face) told us they made a mistake by not bringing us our food, she also suggested that she box our meal for us because we only had the table until 8 pm.

The dessert options made me feel like I was at Spur. 3 options. Cheesecake, malva pudding and a chocolate lava cake. We were not moved and after tasting the lava cake, my boyfriend never wanted to finish it.

I might sound like a snob but R1800 is not small change.

Dress your waitresses properly, try better with your food, PLEASE. make it...