Last night, on a recommendation by a local, we headed down to Panama Jacks in the Table Bay Harbour where it has been for more than 28 years, and where fish doesn't get any fresher..
Panama Jacks is a quirky, hidden gem with LOTS of character, and I was almost sad to hear that it will be moving in February to the E-Berth Cruiseliner Terminal in the Port of Cape Town (opposite the Silo District), as its current location seems important to its authentic reputation. However, I soon realised that with such a loyal following and team, Panama Jacks will probably make anything its own and thrive.
Onto the food:
We selected the Seafood Platter for Two on our first visit which was authentically served in a large pan. Kingklip, calamari strips, grilled scallops with garlic butter, mussels with cream sauce, deep fried prawns and grilled baby Mozambique lobster accompanied by savoury rice and a trio of sauces.
Service:
We were served by the uber efficient, knowledgable and friendly Prina who I could not fault. She did a lot to ensure that our first visit here was seamless and we would return gladly.
*Recommendation: Panama Jacks is the Orignal Cape Town Harbour Best Seafood Restaurant since 1989 for good reason, and its hidden gem status has made it a favourite for locals for as long as I can remember. Think seafood heaven: deep sea South Coast lobster, monster Abalone, oysters, fresh fish, and lobster sushi.
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Could not find any fault with their food this evening. Tasty seafood platter for 2 which was well worth the money spent. Platter consisted of prawns, calamari, mussels, kingklip, langoustine and savory rice. Tasty sauces accompanied the seafood. We ordered chips as a side. Our waiter was a bit quiet and did not engage much with us. The restaurant itself is also a bit scruffy...
But.... Very fresh and tasty seafood.
Amazing! Love this place! The food was out of this world! Prices are REALLY good too and the staff are all friendly and fantastic and looking after You! Will def be back soon!
A much hyped seafood restaurant inside the port. It’s 10 min from waterfront. Food is okay, not the freshest seafood, there are better seafood restaurants in capetown
Old and quaint thus be prepared for a rough and ready venue.
Service is excellent and the food is delicious.
Wine menu is average
Well worth a visit to taste authentic cape seafood
It's situated in the harbour and in my personal opinion , it's not the easiest of places to find.
We opted for lunch and noticeably you can see it's very popular as it was packed .. The Restuarant itself very simple , plain chairs and wooden tables , couple of flags on the ceiling , nothing really special about the decor if you into that kind of thing ..
The service was good . The waitress to always checking up and ensuring all is well ..
The food was delicious !! We ordered the seafood platter for 2 .. The calamari in particular, so so tender . Calamari a definite favourite..
Pasta made from scratch and quite a healthy portion .. value for money .
Will we go back ... for sure
Been for: Dinner
Ambience: 💠💠💠 - - Driving through the docks, you wonder if you've come to the right place. Panama Jack's is not a trendy night out, but it has an authentic dock-side charm.
Food: 💠💠💠💠 - - We had the bouillabaise as a starter and the grilled fish misto platter for two. The bouillabaise was delicately flavored with tender prawns and mussels, but the fish was a bit overcooked. The misto was great, with the king prawns stealing the show.
Value for Money: 💠💠💠💠 - - The food was very good, and the portions generous. The wine list was also reasonably priced. They also offer corkage at R40/bottle.
Service: 💠💠💠💠 - - Attentive and warm service. The table next to us was having some trouble choosing a wine, and the waitress spent about 15 minutes helping them install apps to help them choose the best option for their tastes.
Lunch Sunday
Great ambiance
Seafood great; platter for two; Additional prawns
Enjoyable; fresh; well prepped;
Great fish; prawns great; calamari & mussels excellent
Service ok for Sunday lunch
Scintillating dry white wine
Thanks, enjoyable afternoon
A real harbour experience. No fuss or bother, and definitely not fine dining. I had the langoustines which came with salad and rice and they were delicious. Others had calamari and Mozambiquean prawns. The seafood was fresh and filling but we found the service to be lackluster and to lack a vibe/energy.
The food was excellent, everything we had. Two seafood platters, calamari, salmon, chocolate volcano and fruit sorbet. Our waiter was attentive and food was delivered quickly.
It is a little difficult to find so check your directions first. Once there, it is a charming out of the way spot.
Lots of live lobster and abalone. Best way to eat it. You pick your own from their tanks
A big thank you to the managers who, when our second Uber cancelled on us promptly ordered a taxi which was there in minutes.
Definitely a great restaurant with very fresh fish and 🦞 lobsters. The menu is great, even for no fish lovers. The view is fantastic, directly on the port and the service is very professional and friendly. Thank you very much for the great treat.
A great place for an very informal good meal and value for money. The food is good and the service was a bit slow but we were not in a hurry so it did not matter. A big cruise ship 'spoiled' the view. You can see the Harbour and Bloubergstrand when there is no cruise liners. A Sailors paradise. Makes me think of Peter Sport Bar in the Azores Islands.... Just much bigger 😁
Amazing seafood and a beautiful view. Great service and wonderful atmosphere. This place offers it all. A must for all seafood lovers. Great selection of wine as well.
One of the best seefood dinners I ever had. Includes oyesters, tuna stake and good wine. Nothing to say more, just that this is exceptional place for seefood in Cape Town. Few pictures attached.
The seafood salad was excellent, and big enough for a main course. The hake was the best hake that one of our group had ever had. One of our group had a tough calamari, and the other not tough. The waitress was attentive and friendly, and the view of the harbour is so interesting. I would definitely return
Had pur year end event there and really enjoyed it. Always like the food but now the new venue is great. Little pricey but over all menue is well priced.
Must visit for great seafood in the docks of cape town. Have the platters. Snails to start also great. Nice service. Quite good value for money.
The best sushi and a great vibe and view now. So glad they changed locations think they will do great here, they just need to update address on website! Now located close to Silo hotel in Waterfront- just continue till the end of the clocktower road and through gate. Situated in building of new cruise terminal.
Can't wait to go back and try the delicious looking seafood platters!
If you sit on balcony it’s a very nice spot. Probably the best spot at the waterfront. Inside is a bit dark.
They have great lunch specials. Seafood is wonderful. Sushi too.
The prices are actually cheaper than some other well known restaurants at the waterfront.
I did prefer the other location, but the food is still good.
What I liked about this place is that so far, despite being at the Waterfront, the parking is still free. The food was great. The views of the harbour great. You just need good company!
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