Upper Union — Restaurant in Gardens

We had passed by several times on our way in an Uber to black sheep, and it always looked cute and candlelit, so finally gave it a try on a Saturday night. It was still cute and more refined for Cape Town, however, it was annoying when the server picked up and moved my white R200,000 Dior purse to make room for wine when obviously she could be putting it in something dirty on the table (there was nothing on the table as we don’t eat until late at night, so pretty much impossible to in Cape Town; but no shortage of table space), the wine list (nonetheless by the glass) is very limited (but we don’t like South African wine anyway, nor American, Chilean, Argentinian - really only specific French or New Zealand wines, which we aim to travel with, but inevitably run out).

It took a VERY long time to pour two glasses of wine with the place basically empty (I worked at a restaurant in University and also graduate school, so not just a difficult patron, nor did we complain about the time).

Also, the co-ed bathrooms present a problem, as of course no “men” in Cape Town put the toilet seat down (and you’re sharing a bathroom with them as well, ie not just a putting the toilet seat down issue with 5 or so shared stalls and sinks).

Anyway, the biggest problems being that there were rats running around (but so is Cape Town - and New York, Paris, London, the cities that we live in), they did not bring the bill when we asked for it (only when did not ask for it, but asked to order another round, earlier in the night), their card machine and Wi-Fi weren’t working (no relation to load shedding), and they kept saying the card was declined when they should have just said, let me try it in a different location where the Wi-Fi might be stronger (eventually they did this at our insistence, and shock! It did work).

We missed our Uber back to Ellerman house since they did not bring the bill and then could not get the card machine working, and when trying to rush out and grab him so he would not leave (while still waiting for them to sort out the card machine), many very trashy people (typical for Cape Town) were smoking their cigarettes in areas that are not permitted, getting cigarette smoke all over the R60,000 Gucci blazer I bought for my boyfriend years ago (not saying that’s nice, but this is Cape Town).

It’s still more charming and put together than most places in Cape Town, so we will give it another go.

We have stayed at their hotels previously when filling time between our hobby Instagram hotel collaborations or houses we rented, which also wasn’t great (so haven’t been back to...

I look forward to reconsidering and hopefully changing this review a few weeks from now. This brand new restaurant features gorgeous modern Victorian decor (except for some ghastly b&w chairs) so the initial vibe is great. The sharing menu is not explained well, neither the menu itself nor the wait staff succeed in explaining how it is supposed to work (take some queues from Chef’s Warehouse maybe?) so our table of 5 ended up with 3 people taking the set menu and two taking sharing plates (though I suspect these should be called side plates considering the reaction of the waiter). I rarely say this in SA but the portions are way to small and completely off balance. We had the garden main dish and the main feature - delicious goat cheese balls, featured 3 balls for 3 people. It should rather have been 3 per person… there were far too many sides and too little main elements - and I think all these sides confuse and slow down the kitchen. Perhaps chef better work with less ingredients to speed up service. We only had two courses and we left as soon as we finished the second - and this was 3.5 hours after arriving. 3.5 hours for a 2 course meal is wrong. The other tables were also waiting forever. There was a lack of experience on the wait staff side who were constantly asking if they could clear our bread when it was the only sustenance we had, and with an inability to fully explain how the menu works and all the delays it was frustrating. The mussels first course had 3 mussels… I mean… and the Ndudja was not ndudja. They comped our wine but they should have comped more to make up for the waiting and the strange portion sizes. The main we shared between 3 people was more like a main for 1 person. And I say this being someone who considers 90% of dishes served in SA to be too big. Further there were way too many sweet elements, grapes and cherries and candied fruit and peanut lettuce and sweet beetroot. It was all delicious and fresh but it wasn’t balanced. Then the final bill was wrong even though we mentioned not getting some items. So much confusion, I think the restaurant opened prematurely. It has the bones to be great so I do look forward to returning and hopefully changing...

Visited in January 2025. South Africa. Cape Town.

This trendy gastro-bar, conveniently located on the street bearing the same name, is a study in contrasts. The interior is compact yet stylish, but it was the charming outdoor terrace, boasting lovely views, that captured our attention and became the setting for our evening.

Menu:

The menu presents an appealing choice: a set menu that allows for creative combinations, or the a-la-carte option, featuring a selection of small plates designed for sampling. We opted to explore a few intriguing offerings. The snoek pâté with smoked mussel was an exquisite start—a delicate mousse of snoek complemented by succulent prawns, ideally enjoyed spread upon the complimentary, delectable brioche. The grilled red cabbage was a revelation; the smokiness of the grill married beautifully with the cabbage, which remained remarkably crisp and juicy. Lastly, the lamb shoulder was a masterclass in cooking—the meat, tender and falling apart within, contrasted delightfully with a thin, crispy exterior. Each dish we sampled was clearly prepared with skill and precision.

Service:

Unfortunately, the dining experience was let down by the service, which was in stark contrast to the calibre of the food. Seated outside, we felt somewhat neglected by the staff. They forgot our wine order, were slow to clear our plates, and we ultimately had to go inside ourselves to settle our bill.

Conclusion:

This is a restaurant of considerable merit when it comes to the culinary experience, offering innovative and delicious food served in a pleasing small-plate format that encourages exploration. However, you should come prepared with very low expectations when it comes to service. If you have an important evening planned and cannot risk disappointment, then I might suggest looking elsewhere. However, for those simply seeking a flavorful and interesting dining experience, this gastro-bar is...