The decor, music and ambiance added so much to the dining experience. Our waitress Taylor was incredibly attentive. The chili garlic prawns were divine, I’d eat a bowl of that sauce any day.
We visited Asoka on a Monday evening (13 January).
They have a Monday madness special where you get to select 3 courses for R195 per person.
Asoka is all about small plates and sharing and my mother was not entirely sold. However, she was after tasting the first course.
We chose the Prawn tempura, a mezze platter as our first course. The mezze was absolutely divine and I wish I had chosen this instead as I literally only got 3 prawns but it is a starter portion.
The second course we decided on the poke bowl, calamari and the ostrich fillet. It was absolutely delicious.
For our last course, my sister opted for the west coast mussels, whilst I chose the butternut, spinach and Parmesan gnocchi. My parents took the braised lamb shoulder. All of the these were tasty and plated well.
All in all, worth every penny and quite affordable. I love that I got to taste so many different foods which were well prepared. Our waitress was efficient and well-mannered.
I have been to Asoka on 3 occasions and have loved absolutely everything from food, vibe and service.
Absolutely fantastic food, great ambiance, trendy vibe in a must do restaurant, don’t miss out on one of the best restaurants in Cape Town
My partner and I visited Asoka on a date night, and what a great choice in restaurant it turned out to be. The interior is beautifully decorated and loved how the trees were incorporated into the interior. It was a rainy evening so the fireplace created a nice and cozy vibe as well.
The waiting staff were professional and service was good.
But the food is the real star of the show. Absolutely loved every plate we ordered, compliments to the kitchen!
We will definitely be back.
Thank you for a great evening and amazing food.
Brilliant! Their service is amazing and the waitress we had was extremely well informed and gave the best recommendations! Our food arrived in a matter of minutes and tasted absolutely delicious! This is a must try! I will forever return! This is without a doubt one of my favorite restaurants!
The food was out of this world. An amazing taste sensation. The decor is perfect. The cocktails wow. The DJ was incredible. Vibe great and so was Annie, our waitress. Will defs return.
I previously missed out on an opportunity to go to Asoka for an supplier supper.
The next day in the office my colleagues were raving about the food. Valentine's day came around and this was the perfect opportunity for me to try out the restaurant. I booked way in advance to avoid disappointment.
The food was excellent, the service was superb and the atmosphere passed my expectations. Where have I been all this time... Why haven't I tried Asoka before?
The night turned out perfect.
Now to visit sister company... Kloof Street House.
Very cool place!! The dinner is nice, the service good and the atmosphere very characteristic. I've been there for the jazz night, and it was really beautiful! Will definitely go back
I finally got a chance to actually sit down and enjoy the food at Asoka! When it comes to dining levels, expect the same quality as its sister restaurant “Kloof Street House” but more tapa-style. Their kitchen closes pretty late which is awesome when you’re looking for a good dinner and a night out (I recommend coming on Tuesday and Friday evenings). I had the fillet and I tasted some of my friends butter chicken curry and it was delicious. I suggest you order maybe 2 or 3 tapas for you to be full and enjoy your meal because the portions are quite small. Whether you’re coming for a dinner date with your partner or drinks with friends, the atmosphere and the food will make for a good dining experience.
This venue has been around for many years, unlike many others ventures that sadly did not make it, the quality of food, service and ambience has been consistent from day one.
Still one of our favourite places in Cape Town.
A must for any visitor to CT.
Keep up the good work guys, well done.
R
I had been coming here frequently since late last year until April this year mostly on Tuesday nights for a good time, starting of with a live jazz band and a Dj later after that. My co-workers would call it Asoka Tuesdays, a booking is imperative or else you’ll stand in a long queue outside so make sure that you make a booking and don’t arrive too early, I think they open at 17:30 and Jazz band starts at 19:30 until 21:30 or 20:00 until 22:00. Reservations are made by call & email. Their cocktails are amazing and I’ve had the best cocktails here! So do give them a try!
The cocktails were good, espresso martini is exactly how I love to finish a dinner. Started with a Manhattan which was well made.
The mezze plate was good although the hummus was heavy of citrus which is not to my taste but in no way was this a reflection of whether it was delicious or not.
Tuna tostada (tacos) were excellent.
Tenderstem broccoli came with a very nice and well spiced sauce.
We went to this amazing restaurant on a Sunday and had incredible food to share. The food was delicious and the staff was very friendly. I recommend the butter curry chicken if you like something warm and the tuna tartare if you like something cold. The chocolate brownie was also amazing. The meze platter was also perfect as a starter for all five of us.
![5]( "Recensione")
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 Wine Estate.
Really loved this place. From the candles and incense, the wonderful, helpful staff eager to alter the menu to make it gluten-free friendly to the cosy, relaxing atmosphere. Well priced great venue, even on a Monday night. Would love to visit near the end of the week. Only downside was I found the low seating a little uncomfortable when eating. NB. Service of 12.5% is automatically added to bills so careful on tipping.
A really busy vibe and fantastic tapas. The decor is cool but watch out for the low hanging branches in the restaurant!!
Service was attentive, and they have some fantastic wines.
Definitely worth a visit but book in advance.
This place offers a unique experience, a hip concept and ambiance. Our choice included three tapas each and we sampled some cocktails. Overall, Asoka is a cool spot.
Very cute, hip restaurant! Has a live tree growing in the middle (you’ll have to duck 😂) Small plates (tapas) and we shared quite a few. Creative drinks as well! Neighborhood is a little sketchy (our driver wouldn’t leave the van!) but definitely worth the effort! And so affordable!
Food was incredible. Drinks were good & ambiance was beautiful! Tree in the center is 180 years old and the building was built around it. Tons of branches and other plants inside. Food pictured from left to right is ostrich filet, butter chicken, then below is grilled prawns and salmon. All were so flavorful and cooked well!
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