Jonkershuis

Jonkershuis Groot Constantia, Groot Constantia Rd, Constantia, Cape Town

Tel | 021 794 6255

Hours | Mon-Sat 9am-10pm; Sun 9am-4pm; winter no dinners

Style | Casual

Features :

Alfresco

Breakfast

Family

Guests

Cuisine :

Website |

Email | info@jonkershuisconstantia.co.za

Owner/manager? Update details, add pics and more here.

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Reader Reviews

Jonkershuis Constantia, Cape Town

Hard to swallow | By Johan | Tuesday, 20 March 2012

What is the answer if you take a beautiful view, add a historic wine estate, divide it by so-so service and subtract mediocre, overpriced food? Full marks if you chose Jonkershuis.
This restaurant on Groot Constantia wine estate in the Constantia Valley just south of the Cape Town CBD is supremely popular, particularly with tourists. (Just when I was there for lunch I heard Spanish, Japanese, French and what I guessed was Serbian being spoken at surrounding tables.) And that's not counting the bus that arrived later with a tour party of Chinese.
Tables are placed outside under umbrellas near a double row of towering oak trees that frame the original driveway to the historic Manor House, now a museum. Groot Constantia itself was once part of the historic (there's that word again) Constantia estate established in the late 1600s by Simon van der Stel and is the birthplace of the South African wine industry.
Firstly the positives. The setting is lovely and the view across vineyards and out towards Wynberg hill is doubly so. The sound of the breeze swishing through the oaks is probably better for the soul than years of therapy. Unfortunately no-one, at least that I know, goes to a restaurant just to look at the view. Usually eating and drinking rates a bit higher … On the drinking front the wine list is comprehensive and doesn't just include Groot Constantia's offerings but my lament here - and it's not a new one - is that for locals to pay nearly R130 for a bottle of Groot Constantia Blanc de Noir (about 45 odd bucks from any bottlestore) at the very source of its origin really grates. At least it was properly chilled but it took ages to arrive and while our waitress was friendly she certainly wasn't up to scratch for what is an overseas tourist hotspot (for example she didn't know what the line fish was and had to go and check. Sloppy.) Then there was the food. My friend and I shared a starter (R55) on the specials list - a tweaking of a Waldorf salad and it was quite tasty but the portion was small. Fair enough, two of us were sharing it. Mains were a different story. Both of us went for the line fish at R120. Yellowtail. It was a fair sized portion but was so dry and compacted it could have easily been used as the puck in an ice hockey game. The only way we could get through it was by having a bite followed by a swig of wine. It came with little potatoes and an unidentifiable relish (the potato portion was so meagre it was hidden under the fish). Eating it was an exercise in perseverance and it was frankly a relief when I could put down my knife and fork. About the best thing that passed my lips that afternoon was the milk tart (R32) with sultanas and an apricot preserve. Flavoursome, tasty and unusual. Pity about the rest.

Overall Rating: 2.5

Food:

Service:

Ambience:

No, I would not go back.

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Jonkershuis Constantia, Cape Town

Surprisingly good food... | By Tony | Thursday, 09 February 2012

Great setting after a long wobbly walk on the old cobbles and dirt track from the car park! Lovely views and outside area for the kids.

The evening was quiet and the menu huge - usually both curses of death! However, we had a very good meal.

Highlights were beautifully fresh yellowtail, vegetable curry and salt&pepper calamari.

Service standard and typical Cape Town...

Woudl certainly return for a decent family offering.

Overall Rating: 4

Food:

Service:

Ambience:

Yes, I would return!

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Jonkershuis Constantia, Cape Town

Great Cape Town landmark \| By Lindsey \| Friday, 04 February 2011
I enjoy coming here for breakfast or brunch. The outdoor seating is nice, especially in the summer with the great view of the city. They have a nice breakfast menu and good coffee. Their dinners are not as great.. not bad, but nothing to write home about. I like to take out of town visitors here because of the historic feel and amazing views.

Overall Rating: 4.5

Food:

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Yes, I would return!

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Jonkershuis Constantia, Cape Town

Brunch Under the Oaks | By Bryan | Thursday, 06 January 2011

A wonderful place to recharge after a hard week or to entertain visitors at a uniquely “Cape Town” venue. Jonkershuis at Groote Constantia is located less than 20km from the City and 8km from Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. The ambience has that special meld of historical Cape Dutch buildings, mountain side vineyards, oak lined avenues and distant sea views. It's a wonderful place to have brunch under the oaks or entertain guests in a more formal setting inside the restaurant or in the courtyard. The menu will have something to suit most tastes and some of the Cape Malay curries are particularly good. Budget around R250,00 per head for a hearty meal, with starter, main, sweets and a couple of glasses of good quality wine or a little less if you stick to a main and sweets.

Overall Rating: 4.5

Food:

Service:

Ambience:

Yes, I would return!

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