Folk Cafe St. James — Restaurant in Western Cape

Today is Woman's Day in South Africa and I thought to leave a special thank you to the woman that will read this review. .

My partner and I came to your Café a few Sundays ago for our first date..The service and setting was beautiful.. My grandparents ashes are scattered just after Bailey's Cottage, you'll see the names engraved on the rocks if you go looking.. My gran passed away on my 21st Birthday, that is coming up to 5years in November.. I been to Kalk Bay many times through the years but only in the past few months did I stumble upon Folk Cafe... Joining the que of early birds looking for coffee their AM coffee fix.. Although the line was long...We thoüght it can only mean good things...And thus it has!

Sunday routines soaking up the sun after live streaming mass is so much better since there's a new spot to uphold thy vegan values with...And tonight the Happy Vegan Pizza has resulted in one truly, happy Vegan!! My non vegan (yet)...lol.. partner could not stop speaking about the pizza.. From being accidentally locked out but still feeling at home and finding a back route to asking the Pizza MakerMen for tobasco sauce and or chillies..There's even vegan ICE CREAM 🍦🍨 and the most mouth watering LEMON MERINGUE DATE BALLS 🤤🤤🤤💃🤗🙃I could honestly eat these on the Daily!!! Also..the little pantry where you can buy things to take home helps a lot when you're looking for coconut milk to make your own ice cream, especially since the doors are open till 8pm!! Like EVERYTHïNG about this Café is amazing and purrrfect! The quality of your Café speaks from the second you lay eyes on the building, to the first words spoken to the staff serving you at the door.. To the homelyness of all the folks whom enter and just the general upkeep and tiny attention to every corner of detail.

The ladies and gents is always clean and means that you can coffee up to recharge that tank without having to worry about being right next to the beach and not knowing where to take a leak... 😅😫💃🕺

The tasty food and tiny treats always leave us coming back for more and we are grateful for a place that upholds it's name of feeling like folktale or simply being a place for all folks... Whatever the meaning we are making memories and are amazed and proud to know that our hometown hosts such a remarkable place..

I wish the folks that own this Café every success and possiblity of growth and expansion..The smile and professional service behind every staff member speaks loudly about whom the owners are as the respect and hard-work shows that they are happy and proud to be where they are. Everyone should have a job where they can beam their brightest light and through the service that folk Cafe offers, thus is clearly evident.

We can only imagine how much effort and commitment it constantly takes to keep on keeping on but the result resounds in your success and truly is inspiring. Your ambience has left us motivated to make the most out of manifesting our own folk tale into reality..And that we have such a cute and spectacular setting to help set the scene in our own journey when going on our adventures and making memories, we are eternally thankful and hope that folk Cafe exists for many many more years... And that everyone that comes into Cape Town has the opportunity to be a folk at your Café x

Thanks again and happy woman's day to the woman holding it all together x We...

Review for Folk Cafe St. James

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Folk Cafe St. James, and I must say, it was an outstanding experience from start to finish. This charming cafe effortlessly combines a warm, inviting atmosphere with exceptional service and high-quality food, making it a true gem in the area.

Upon entering, I was greeted with a friendly smile and a cozy ambiance that instantly made me feel at home. The decor is a delightful blend of rustic and contemporary elements, creating a relaxed yet stylish environment. It’s the perfect spot for everything from a casual lunch to a cozy dinner with friends.

Now, let’s talk about the service. The staff at Folk Cafe St. James truly sets this place apart. From the moment we were seated, our server was attentive without being intrusive. They took the time to explain the menu, highlighting their specials and making recommendations based on our preferences. It was clear that they were knowledgeable about the food and passionate about providing an exceptional dining experience. Throughout our meal, our server checked in at just the right moments, ensuring that our glasses were filled and that we had everything we needed. It’s rare to find such a well-trained team that genuinely cares about their guests.

As for the food, it was nothing short of spectacular. The menu offers a diverse selection of dishes, showcasing locally sourced ingredients and creative preparations. I started with the roasted beet salad, which was beautifully presented and bursting with flavor. The balance of earthy beets, creamy goat cheese, and a zesty vinaigrette was simply delightful.

For the main course, I opted for the herb-crusted salmon, and it did not disappoint. The fish was cooked to perfection—crispy on the outside and tender on the inside—served alongside a medley of seasonal vegetables and a rich, velvety sauce that elevated the dish even further. Each bite was a testament to the chef’s dedication to quality and flavor.

To finish, I couldn’t resist trying the homemade dessert. The chocolate lava cake was indulgent and decadent, with a gooey center that oozed rich chocolate. Paired with a scoop of house-made vanilla ice cream, it was the perfect ending to a wonderful meal.

Overall, my experience at Folk Cafe St. James was exceptional. The combination of attentive service, a warm atmosphere, and delicious, high-quality food made it a standout dining destination. I wholeheartedly recommend this cafe to anyone looking for a memorable meal. I can’t wait to return and explore more of their menu. If you’re in the area, don’t miss the chance to visit Folk Cafe St. James—you won’t be...

We came here for breakfast, having seen the cafe a few times on the way past. Our last day in Cape Town, so a bit of a treat. We were in the end pretty disappointed.

We got menus and ordered our food. So far so good. Reasonable choices, plus coffee, drinks, etc. While we were waiting, the main 'maitre d' came to our table several times to ask if everything was OK. The first time she asked if we wanted menus. We said we'd actually already ordered. Which if she ran things properly, she should have already known. Several more times to aimlessly ask if everything was OK. At that stage it was, except for her constant interruptions of our conversation, for no reason.

Our food arrived. Avo smash for myself, really nice. French toast, with berries and bananas for my friend. She requested no bacon. There was no bacon. Great, that had been noted. But there were also no berries. So she had a stodge fest with no freshness.

Where was the maitre d to check that everything was OK? Nowhere to be seen. My friend went to find her, and asked about the missing berries. Oh they had none this morning. Well surely she should have come and mentioned this and asked if we still wanted the French toast? The answer would have been no.

While we were finishing our food, she came over yet again to ask if everything was OK. I said well obviously not, no berries and a stodgy breakfast. She said sorry. But did nothing to fix it. Like offer an alternative, offer to charge less, offer a dish of something else. So despite the constant and intrusive checking, she wasn't actually interested in fixing anything.

We waited a while for the bill. Nothing came so we got up and went to the counter. There she was. Can I help you. Well could we have the bill. Oh OK, what was your table number? Why is this something that a customer should know? Surely she should have known.

I then asked to chat to our original waiter. The maitre d had no Idea who that was. 'Can I see your bill, it will be on there'. I showed her the bill. 'Oh, did you order at the counter? It says you ordered at the counter '. No we didn't. We sat down, and one of your waiters came to take our order when she saw we were ready.

We paid the bill (noted we had been charged the full amount for a dish with significant missing item), found our original waiter to leave her a tip -- the only decent bit of service in the entire fiasco --- and left.

Definitely not coming back. Avo toast was very nice, french toast was mediocre. Service, apart from original waiter, was dreadful. And the prices were a little on the high side, especially given the average to...