Food
Breakfast is served all day and includes a vast range of Banting friendly options. The signature Benedict are among the most popular items on the menu, try the green eggs and ham variation which is named so because of the basil hollandaise that is served spooned over the eggs.
For lunch, my favourite is the "cheeky chicken burger" which is a marinated chicken breast, served on a pillowy homemade bun, topped with sweet, sticky caramelized onion, fresh avo and a drizzle of mustard mayo - if you're a fan of burgers, then this is a definitely must try. Another signature is the homemade chicken pie made using all butter puff pastry made on the premises. For those who prefer something lighter, there are numerous salads on the menu, each seasonal and offering interesting combinations.
To satisfy your sweet tooth, there is a selection of homemade cakes and pastries that include gluten free options. For something a little fun, try the milk and cookies, a soft and gooey dark chocolate biscuit served with some homemade vanilla milk in a cute little mini carafe.
Drinks
The drinks menu is pretty extensive; in fact, it is as large and varied as the food menu. Drinks offered range from coffees, to speciality teas, a selection of gourmet hot chocolates which are the perfect comfort on a chilly winter’s day. If you prefer something fruity and cold, try the homemade raspberry & thyme cordial made from fresh, pressed raspberries, it's served with fresh sprigs of thyme and topped with soda water, so refreshing, and not too sweet either. The wine menu includes a variety of local, affordable wines sold by the bottle and glass. Each lunch menu item includes a recommendation for a wine pairing which is a lovely added touch.
Ambiance
A truly delightful and inviting place that charms you into staying longer than you intended. The restaurant is decorated in a shabby-chic style with quirky mis-matched tables and chairs giving it a relaxed homely feel. In the corner at the entrance is a bright pink upholstered almost regal-looking lounge set. Above the front store windows hang lights made from metal colanders and whimsical handmade felt birds swaying in the breeze formed when the front door is opened. On the walls hang pieces of artwork by local designers, all for sale.
Service
The staff is some of the friendliest I have come across, a mix of both young energetic students as well as older more reserved servers - all equally excitable and eager to greet you and make your visit memorable. The restaurant fills up considerably during lunch time, so expect a bit of a wait for your meal, I waited no less than 40 minutes for my lunch order. (I would have given the service a 5, but marked down for the long wait). The restaurant also has a pantry of items for sale, ranging from homemade preserves, wines as well as gift cards.
Best for... Pretty, delicious café fare.
(2018)
Eat Out critics dine anonymously and pay for their meals in full. Read our editorial policy here.
User reviews
★★★★★
6 Reviews
RedWine79
★★★★★
Preventable bad service overshadowed by what could have been a very enjoyable brunch.
Overall exeprience = 1 star
Food = 4 stars
The food here is usually pretty damn good and I always leave feeling a bit stuffed but always satisfied. Unfortunately NOT this time - the service was just so bad that I can't even remember what I ordered or how it tasted.
To highlight what stood out for me the most - particularly as we are in the midst of a pandemic when even stricter hygiene standards should be maintained and at the risk of sounding like a Karen:
My waiter served both my coffee and later a glass of water by passing them to me by holding them by their brim. Even though the cups had saucers (not a tray in sight). Not really acceptable in non-pandemic times either... After ordering our food the waiter didnt check up on us once - even after I had to ask for serviettes and condiments. He only seemed to perk up after we flagged him down for the bill.
This is the type of service I'd expect to find at a fast food establishment, certainly not at a well to do ladies-who-lunch kinda place.
I would recommend better training for the waiters and to instill a supervisor to run the front of house. I won't return here in a hurry. It's such a pity as more and more great eating establishments in Cape Town are being let down by bad service.
Daniel Von Ess
★★★★★
While out of the country I have been craving Four & Twenty's pie's and cheesecake. The chicken pie and accompanying salad were fresh and delicious! Exactly as I remembered! And they STILL boast the best cheesecake in Cape Town with wholesome macadamia nuts on top for good measure.
Sara Lohmaier
★★★★★
Love this quirky Little spot with their mismatched furniture, beautiful crockery and out of this world pastries.
If you haven't been there before check out their Facebook page to see what I mean about the pastries and cakes. They are so beautiful and the first thing you see when you walk in the doors.
The breakfasts are delicious, with some odd creations like a sweet hot dog, which my boyfriend ordered and loved, and my sister swears they make the best flapjacks in the world, I on the other hand love a savoury breakfast. I had the eggs belicious, silky smooth Hollandaise, perfectly soft poached eggs and crispy crispy bacon.
The coffee was tasty, however slightly cold.
The service was very friendly and efficient and our waiter remembered what who ordered even though we were playing musical chairs all morning.
The cafe is complimented by a pantry full of local produce, and homemade deli items.
Definitely want to go back for lunch, some of the salads flying out of the kitchen looked amazing.
Jessica Stein
★★★★★
What glorious breakfasts! We tried the flapjacks with caramelised apple and mascarpone, and the shakshuka with poached eggs. Both were huge (we took home doggy bags – from breakfast!) and really delicious. The shakshuka was particularly good: their tomato sauce is scrumptious. Not sure what they put in it, but there must be some secret ingredient. It also came with kale that had been covered in tempura batter and fried to a crisp. Possibly the first time I have actually enjoyed eating kale. The hot chocolate – made with real dark choc – was sublime, too.
NAdia Sitas
★★★★★
I recently visited Four and Twenty with a group of girlfriends for a long overdue brunch. While the food was tasty (apart for some fizzy poached pears), and our waitress was very nice and attentive, we were collectively amazed at the size of the portions (they were teeny) and the disproportionate prices linked to all the added extras. We totally get that the restaurant is committed to using high quality ingredients, but the prices do not justify the dishes served. My poached eggs came on less than a handful of mushrooms and there was no toast (I totally understanding charging extra for gluten free options but a couple of slices of toast would have made the teeny portions seems less extortionist- or at least to be told that the meal did not come with toast). To their credit, when we complained, the owners responded quickly and gave us reasons for our concerns - but its never nice leaving a place and feeling ripped off- if it was one meal or item that was disappointing its understandable, but we were all a little bleak with our choices.
Tips for those planning on going: Don't go hungry, build it yourself options work out cheaper than the pre-built (same) options, and make sure to smuggle in your own soy/almond milk and honey as they come in teeny portions (think milk and honey for ants) at high prices.
