Review Panama Jacks - Cape Town Central

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!

Very rustic place but the food was amazing and so was the service. Ordered the grilled prawns and grilled lobster. Perfectly simple and delicious

Good seafood Had a seafood platter with lobster. Lobster was a bit small but overall quality was good

Good bew location fir afternoon drinks. Still good food that holds its history.

Very impressed with their new venue. Seafood platter very nice

What a great seafood place. One of the best. And a rare treat when you can afford it and crave some amazing seafood

Loved the food, helpful staff, and had a wonderful evening. It's not what it seems from outside!

Avoid at lunchtime or whenever a cruise ship is coming in or going. The cruise terminal is chaotic. <br/>The food is so-so, service variable, and the much admired view non-existent if a cruise ship is berthed opposite.

I mean the view is amazing. Beautiful sunsets that my heart is always chasing. But the food is mediocre. I had the Thai green curry...looked more Indian than Thai...it was good. However my friends who opted for seafood platters were less than impressed. The mussels, for example, could’ve done with more garlic!

We use to go to their old location all the time and absolutely loved it. Even though the interior wasn’t great, it didn’t matter to us. <br/>Recently went to the new location and was so disappointed. The food was tasteless, service poor and the prices were crazy high. <br/>I hope they take note of all these reviews and try to make a change.<br/>

Arriving at this restaurant we already felt unwelcome as the manager was shouting at a waiter, super distasteful. Our waiter was attentive and friendly and he tried very hard to work around the uncomfortable situation we walked into. We ordered starters which were average and then each of us ordered platter of seafood (prawns&lobster), for the price non of a walk away satisfied and we resorted to eating the half raw rice. Not a good experience, but thank you to our waiter for doing a great job!

I haven’t been here in yonks! They’ve moved and are now at the cruise terminal. Strangest walks in to the restaurant. But it’s beautifully done and less dingy than it’s old location <br/><br/>Ordered the lunchtime seafood platter for 2. There was an option to add baby kingklip for an added amount. However they were out of the kingklip and suggested a range I could choose from. We then selected swordfish. <br/><br/>Since we were quite a large group, food took about an hour to be brought out. Then we waited close to 10 min for the very last dish and subsequently everyone had to wait for me person’s order - because hashtag manners. By the time we could eat, our platter was cold. Then the trio of sauces for the platter came when we were already midway through the platter. <br/><br/>Sigh...the platter itself was not the best. Calamari and mussels overcooked. Hake panfried (panfried is not the best cooking method for hake). Swordfish completely forgotten - we didn’t even bother to ask for it. Rice galore. And any other side had to ordered separately. <br/><br/>The chocolate soufflé dessert is however outstanding! Forgot to take a photo. <br/><br/>I’m not sure if it’s because we were a large group, but the food was rather average.

Was really looking forward to going to Panama Jacks after about 7 years. Was disappointed that it moved from the old premises, which as dilapidated as it was, added to its uniqueness. The new place is nice but i missed the old place. The service was excellent and so was the food. Just like I remember. The chef has been there for 21 years and it was great to interact with the owners and staff.

Not what I thought it would be. Limited menu devoted to a cruise boat tourist clientele. Chips were cold and very obviously fried in old oil. <br/>

Great location with good food but service was inattentive and and slow. Had to call the waitress numerous times for ordering more. Expect to be charged automatic tip even if you only four adults and two children. Would have loved more garlic and lemon taste to the butters with seafood platters but enjoyable food just pricy for what you get.

Was here with a seafood platter voucher. Brought a relative visiting Cape Town to try some cape Town sea food. Portions are large and the worth was there. Sadly the mussels weren't cleaned properly.

It’s a D for disappointment! Before you scroll, just know I am an easy going person but a lover of great tasting food. My experience at the newly located Panama Jacks was both lacking in flavour and atmosphere. The food was bland, the staff non-existent and skilled at playing dodge-em; and the ‘taste of the ocean’ - watery. Yes, watery, as you bite into a prawn, at the cost of R230, excluding the oiliest slap chips at an additional price, which would be tastier and easily bought at your local fisheries was lacklustre. Picture this, an overpriced prawn hitting your lips and water running down your chin, the very water it was boiled in, not the deep fried, deliciousness, butter as promised. Five meals, two bottles of the cheapest wine and a whopping R 1500 later; and of course the imposed service charge, I was left gobsmacked and empty-full. Don’t know what empty-full is, then here it is, the feeling of paying over a R1000 for a bill, but leaving with most of it in take away boxes. Having approached Management and relocating my waitress, I was asked for my contact details. My tasty dreams of mouth-watering Panama Jack prawns have been tossed into the bin, just like my overpriced takeaways, and I’m left with only my thoughts, “Will the Manager call, will she make amends, will she on Father’s Day, bring back my father’s favourite memories of enjoying lip-smacking prawns at Panama Jacks?” only time will tell.

What a horrible Mother's day experience. We arrived there at 12:45, our mains only came at 16:10. At 14:30 we were told our food would come EVENTUALLY.No apology from waitress  or manager. Manager, Mark, was rude and dismissive. First we were told they didn't have enough staff in the kitchen then we were told our order ticket fell on the floor. Poor service and average food. Definitely not what it used to be at the old location. Would not recommend and definitely won't go back.

Was there because of great reviews of the food. Food was not to bad had the platter for 2. The service however was shocking waitress forgetting to bring some of the orders and then want to argue about a tip because she can't do math. Will not be going there ever again we gave the normal ten percent tip because the service we got deserved only that yet she argued for more.

On a quest for great seafood and a fantastic setting we made our way to the Silo district at the Waterfront, eager to sample the culinary offerings of Panama Jacks. <br/><br/>It took us a while to find it because it had moved to new premises. The website didn’t provide proper directions and after driving around for over 10 minutes we eventually had to call to get directions. <br/><br/>The restaurant has seating both inside and outside. We sat outside to enjoy the autumn sun and the beautiful water views. It was really very peaceful and pleasant out there.<br/><br/>We ordered a prawn in a peri peri sauce, mussels and sushi between the 3 of us. The portions of the prawns and mussels were overly generous and we couldn’t finish it. <br/><br/>I found the peri peri sauce a bit bland and underwhelming. It was seriously lacking in chilli. The flavor of the tomato was overpowering as if it was out of a can and not properly cooked. <br/><br/>The mussels were good but the sauce could have been a bit more seasoned. <br/><br/>The sushi was great. I loved it!<br/><br/>The average price per person was R250.<br/><br/>I’m giving this place a 3 star rating because the prawns and mussels were mediocre. Overall it was a pleasant experience but I’m not likely to go back anytime soon. <br/><br/><br/>

HOW IS SOMEONE SUPPOSED TO MAKE A BOOKING WHEN YOUR PHONES DON’T WORK. Terrible experience. Was really in the mood for crayfish. Very expensive place but was prepared to spend for a really good experience. Phoned ahead and was told they had plenty crayfish. Arrived at their old location. Was not told that they had moved a month before. Eventually arrived at new location. Much nicer ambience overlooking all the boats. Tried to order. NO CRAYFISH. NO LANGOUSTINES. NO FONDANT. Waitress was strange and disinterested. So we ordered 6 king prawns for R400. They were all different sizes. Some of them were queen and prince prawns. Tasteless. Soggy legs and very undercooked. When I told the waitress she sighed and said the chef is tired of her complaining all the time to him about the customer’s food. So I said it sounds like a lot of customers are complaining then? Will definitely not be going back there. Also the service was shocking. We had to try find our own serviettes etc. Jessica Notelo Steve Notelovitz

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..<br/><br/>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. <br/><br/>Onto the food:<br/>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.<br/><br/>Service:<br/>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. <br/><br/>*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.<br/> <br/><br/>For more, find me on Instagram, Facebook & Twitter: LaurasWorldza

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...<br/><br/>But.... Very fresh and tasty seafood.

Needs a revamp in place, staff and quality of food. For a place that does a tremendous about of seafood regularly, the quality of what is served is actually very poor. <br/><br/>Won't be back in a hurry

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.<br/>Service is excellent and the food is delicious. <br/>Wine menu is average<br/>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.<br/>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 .. <br/>The service was good . The waitress to always checking up and ensuring all is well ..<br/>The food was delicious !! We ordered the seafood platter for 2 .. The calamari in particular, so so tender . Calamari a definite favourite.. <br/>Pasta made from scratch and quite a healthy portion .. value for money .<br/>Will we go back ... for sure

The interior layout needs lots of work. Apparently i have heard that the food is good but the unwelcoming attitude of the front desk manager/manager on duty caused that we did not stay long enough to order anything. Yes we were the only table of color that evening and a simple logistics issue from outside caused him to raise his voice for others to hear even though we kept calm. Waiters are constantly complaining about him. It is also prevalent on other foodie review that he has no clientele respect.

Been for: Dinner<br/>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.<br/>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.<br/>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.<br/>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.

The food was okay but below my expectations. It would be great if we could have grilled abalone. However we had no such luck. The location is not easy to fine.

Mediocre food and poor service. Waited almost 10 minutes after arriving to even be acknowledged or greeted. Prawns and lobster was dry and tasteless. It's taken 32 years for me to visit this place, perhaps I'll return after another 32.<br/><br/>

Panama Jacks is dirty and delightful. We've visited it many times over the years, always during lunch time (the lunch menu is cheap & cheerful) and I've never been blown away, but I always walk away happy: the seafood is predictably nice. Judging by the other reviews I've read, we've been lucky. Often. :)

Lunch Sunday<br/>Great ambiance<br/>Seafood great; platter for two; Additional prawns<br/>Enjoyable; fresh; well prepped; <br/>Great fish; prawns great; calamari & mussels excellent<br/>Service ok for Sunday lunch<br/>Scintillating dry white wine<br/>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.

WORST PLACE OF MY LIFE. I only went to this place because my boyfriend wanted to try the tuna fish and this was one of the very few restaurants that had it. We were seated and as soon as we sat down, the waiter was gone again, didn't even introduce himself etc. We were ready to order and probably waited almost an hour until one waiter asked us what we would like to drink, we ordered non alcoholic drinks and still waited. She didn't even ask us what we would like to eat. So we had to wait again. The waiters were more focused on pouring the other people wine and didn't at all pay attention to our table. After about another hour, I still got no drinks as well as nobody taking my order. We then decided to leave. This is the worst service I've ever gotten. I really looked forward to trying their food because their seafood looks amazing. But I would never go back again. The worst restaurant I've ever been to. I don't care that their food is good, but if you have bad service, you are a bad restaurant to me.

We sat down at 13h20 and by 15h00 our food was still not served. Although not fantastic, the food was not bad either, which could be overlooked if the service was up to scratch. The service is where their biggest downfall lies. The waitress made cameo appearances every once in a while and when confronted, brought up lame excuses for the poor service. I will not be returning even if i was offered the next meal for free.

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. <br/><br/>It is a little difficult to find so check your directions first. Once there, it is a charming out of the way spot. <br/><br/>Lots of live lobster and abalone. Best way to eat it. You pick your own from their tanks<br/><br/>A big thank you to the managers who, when our second Uber cancelled on us promptly ordered a taxi which was there in minutes. <br/><br/>

If it was possible to give a zero review, I would. This restaurant was appalling! <br/><br/>I have been told to try it by a couple of different people and I cannot imagine why? It is on the harbour, which is the only charming thing about it. <br/><br/>The shop is extremely tired and the food is basic. But not in a nice simple grilled way... in a slapped together, tasteless, covered in oil way. The worst thing however, was the service. Not is worse then being served by a drunk waiter. Unable to string his sentences together clearly, one of the few things I did catch was that he was actually the manager on duty too. <br/><br/>This was just a bad all-round experience!

I went to Panama Jacks for a Sunday lunch visit with the hubby. We both had the escargot for starters and shared a seafood platter for two with baby kingklip option. Although the waiter fumbled a bit through our orders, he made up for it with service that was prompt and friendly. We special ordered our fish and calamari to be cajun style. The food was superb and portion sizes filling. I would recommend this restaurant for anyone in the mood for decent seafood. The vibe is chill and they have an excellent selection of wines on their new winelist. Well worth a visit.

We had a company dinner here. My first time at Panama Jacks. Scallops were delicious - a very rich dish. I had the Prawn Sanagi - this was also very rich. The seafood platter looked amazing. My friend had the grilled Kingklip and he said it was superb. This is an expensive restaurant. it does get very busy so make a reservation. I think this restaurant is overrated for the prices they charge - I have had better prawns at the Ocean Basket.

Had to mark this place down since my last review as the service and quality has dropped so much <br/>Before it had a rustic charm whilst still serving high quality seafood.<br/>Now it's more shabby and the charm isn't quite there.<br/>Might have been partially due to our waiter being completely stoned and throwing a basket of hard bread at us, or the fact the table was still dirty from lunch service, or the fact the plate had a live bug on it, or maybe the saddest part of all, their once famous seafood bisque is now more like vegetable soup. <br/>The platter for 2 is still awesome but when you add all the other factors you probably won't have a great overall experience

Overrated. <br/>This restaurant was talked up a lot before we got there but there And while the food was nice for the most part they the dishes were definitely overpriced.

Dock like eating experience. This place is legendary with locals and foreigners alike. 'Famous' for their seafood. Choose your own crayfish from the ponds in the restaurant! Great quality food, good service and casual dining.

We have been there 3 times in the last few months. Our first time was amazing, and second time the same. However on the last occasion we got the impression that the portions got a bit smaller. The wine list was being redone so you have to order wine without actually knowing what you're getting or what you are going to pay. In the end, the food and vibe was still good

Seafood is good, but not special. You would expect much better device but the etiquette is more like we need to appreciate the fact that we are being served,. I am here for my daughters birthday & would expect some real attention. But none is forthcoming. Been here 10 years ago & was looking forward the same great experience. Unfortunately, it has not kept up to.original experience.

Love this place! The food is great and the decor is awesome. Apparently, it's been there since the early 90s, which already tells you they have a winning recipe here. <br/>The service is a tad slow, but the waiters are all pretty cool and always up for a laugh.<br/><br/>The banofee pie changed my life forever, it's incredible.

Pretty decent seafood restaurant. Its literally in the middle of the docks and is a tad bit difficult to find but the food is great! Did the seafood platter for 2 followed by desserts. I had the banoffee pie which was super sinful. 🙈

The lunch menu was really delicious, and a great place to get seafood. Really enjoyed the food and the portion size and price is really reasonable. The service was OK, and the fish tanks were a little dirty, but very cool little place!

I can't fault this place!! They had my favourite wine - Springfield Whole Berry & the food was amazing. I can recommend the lobster calafornia rolls and the prawns, crayfish, scallops, calamari rings, kingklip fillet even down to the bread roll was amazing. The waitress gave us friendly and attentive service and we had a great time. Will be back soon!!

Bad service the staff are disgusting. We booked but they couldn't accommodate, they ignored us, and had the worst attitude ever. Disgusted with that prick

Great service! Very well done Kingklip in the most beautiful setting we've all loved as a breakfast: Florantine. Well executed and beautiful flavours. The starters I tried oysters (I'm afraid you can't take too much credit lol) however the Mexican version was divine. An overall great dining experience. I would recommend giving this harbour restaurant a try :)

Very goof place for sea food lovers....ordered king prawns and they were huge....if u want everything the sea has to offer just order the sea food platter

Love the food! the prawns, the crayfish even the rice, super delicious ymmmm.<br/>We will always go here for decent fresh seafood.<br/><br/>the staff and the interior is a bit of a unique quirk but you get over it once you dig in.<br/>(best to visit on a cool day, for it can get boiling inside, and a bit oudated but part of the charm)

Hidden away in the habour by the container terminal, this place is rustic & offers a wide variety of seafood!<br/><br/>The lunch menu is reasonably priced & the portion sizes very big - Main menu sides comes at an additional cost. If you feel like something a little different, it's worth a visit ☺

Haven't been here in years and nothing has changed much other than appearing a tad more "grubby". We started off with the Cuban black bean and lamb soup which was quite tasty, although I did think more of the beans could have been left whole as opposed to blending it as much. I had the Portuguese mussels thats says: "sautéed in garlic, peri peri sauce, basil pesto butter and drenched in spicy tomato passata" although what I had was a tomato passata of sorts which was overwhelmingly sweet with at least 3 unopened mussels. Next up was a rump steak with pepper sauce (served with a "film"on the gravy). The steak was tasty though. I ordered Butter prawns which was to be fried in butter, chillies, garlic, curry leaves and soy. It was tasty, although the curry leaves and soy got lost in the overwhelming garlic chinks (the tub sort of horrible garlic chunks). The onion rings were sad and not crispy. Although they were pretty full and the last reviews were good, I found it a disappointing.

Had a lovely crayfish lunch!!! I did think they were in the harbor with a view, but alas there is no real view!!<br/>The crayfish was super yummy and really well priced!! <br/>Be sure to go at lunch though as their prices change on the evening menu!!<br/>It was a really good lunch and I will definitely be back!!!

Love the no fuss interior. Service was good. For starters I had the chardonnay mussels off the a la carte menu and was given the large portion because it's only R5 more than the starter portion. The serving was good but needed some fresh bread for the sauce. My prawns off the lunch menu was a generous potion however it was a tad overcooked and it would have been awesome if it was butterflied. The sole looked delicious but the veggies looked a bit sad. Definitely not the best place in 30 degree heat but fortunately we got a table right by the aircon. Lunch menu is definitely good value for money.

Besides some of the freshest fish I've had in Cape Town, what I absolutely loved is how non pretentious this place is, it's all about their food!<br/><br/>For starters my boyfriend and I had the mussel chowder, was very tasty, I generally prefer the clam variety. My mom had the avocado crayfish, absolutely delicious! We all shared the seafood grill misto for two, was more than enough for three people especially after starters. Really recommend it!

Delicious meal once again with Chris Wingrove, Dylan Wingrove and Alan Wingrove. Tuna and Kingklip were delish, as were the prawns. Very tasty mussel chowder served by an efficient, bubbly waitress. Will definitely be back!

Best restaurante in Cape Town. My girlfriend had a great a sushi platter, and I tried the most amazing oysters followed by a Lobster. I really recommend this place, great location and atmosphere.

I had never been to Panama Jacks before and was really looking forward to it. The food was good but I feel that the flavors could have been bigger. The chocolate soufflé I had was outstanding and I would go back for that alone

Although we had to wait quite a bit for our meals to arrive; I can gladly say that it was well worth the wait. Best fish I've had yet - The Baby Kingklip with plum sauce is a sure winner. Brilliant service from the friendly waiter as well.

This used to be a favourite and always consistent. A recent visit left me very disappointed and unhappy.<br/><br/>The menu appears to bee well-priced until the dishes are served and you realise the portions are kiddies size. The butter prawns were overcooked (if not standing since lunch) and there was no butter but rather an overpowering soy-based asian sauce. Not sure they understand the meaning of "butter" on a menu item.<br/><br/>They charged R150 for a "fresh" hake, but this was overcooked and the size was more for a child than main meal for an adult. The cost per head versus the value-for-money aspect has left this restaurant and it is cheaper to eat at one of the ''touristy" places on the Waterfront.<br/><br/>Take this off your reliable restaurants and find a new local fish restaurant.

Was very excited to come to this Cape Town institution, which lived up to its name. A solid dining experience, with generous servings of fresh seafood...but was not overly impressed given the old decor and expensive prices. Prefer Cesco's in JHB...

The food was excellent. had oysters to start which were super fresh. For Mains had the platter for 2 which was really good value for money and extremely tasty.

Your quintessential dive bar. Don't expect any frills or 1000 thread count napkins. What you can expect is good quality seafood, huge portions, criminally low prices and friendly service. Truly a hidden gem. I'd definitely recommend it!

The food is utterly tasteless and it is not even reasonably-priced. Given its advertised as "the place the locals go", I'd say the locals can keep it.

This place is amazing. The vibe is awesome, the food is awesome and i really like the placement in the harbour, you get to see a very different side of the harbour. The sushi being amazing is a bonus!

I seriously don't know what the hype is all about! All my colleagues frequently hang out here and they love it.<br/><br/>Personally I feel it's overrated overpriced and the food is nothing to write home about !<br/><br/>Unfriendly waitress waited long for our order and when it was served it was nothing I had hoped for. <br/><br/>Drinks were ok. Sorry Panama Jacks is not for me!

Always a great seafood choice. Never disappoints. Service is always good, regardless of how busy it gets. If you're unsure of what to have, order the prawns!

Tucked away gem at the Cape Town harbor. Decor very rustic. Service was friendly and efficient. The seafood platter that we enjoyed consisted of delicious crayfish, scallops, kingklip, calamari, mussels and rice. The prawns however was severely overcooked. Platter can definitely be shared between 3.

Worst service ever. After waiting an hour our waitress informed us that she did not place our order and now we would have to wait a bit longer for our food. Won't return to this place any time soon

Best seafood and sushi in Cape Town. Amazing vibe, great people and great food. Booking is a must, especially during the holidays. Menu offers a wide variety.

I know this is a CT institution but personally I think it's had its day. I personally find the decor grungy and tired rather than eclectic. The last food experience we had was very disappointing and barely met the standard of a local fish and chip shop...

A great evening, ambience very similar to Cesco' s in JHB. The food and service were both excellent despite them being understaffed which they advised upfront on the phone when making the reservation. <br/>The menu provided so many mouth watering selections that it was difficult to choose, as was the wine selection. The variety of wines was better than in most upper range restaurants. I vote this a BIG yes for a Friday evening out with someone comfortably special!<br/>

Hidden away and normally quite busy. Panama Jacks offers a cosy interior with an interesting menu. Great tasting seafood. Waiters are a bit slow at times.

Panama Jacks is a really nice sea food restaurant right on Cape Town's habour. The big platters are really nice to share between a few of you as you get to taste a bit of everything! Apparently it's often fully booked, so if you do decide to go, be sure to make a reservation!

First visit was 8 years ago, then 4 years ago and then a month ago. Food has gotten worse on each visit. From being really unique, fresh and tasty 8 years ago, they are pretty average now. The place has always been a dive but the food made it bearable...not anymore though.

Still an awesome place after all these years. The waiter, although good, lacked some skills in attending to the table, unless it's the style? Food came out exceptionally fast (we did arrive a little before 12 tho and were the second table in the restaurant). Even when the restaurant filled up, ordering desert saw a super speedy delivery too. It did take some attention grabbing of the waiter again though. <br/><br/>All in all a great experience, great food, friendly staff, chilly venue, but sitting close to the fireplace resulted in a nicely rounded (bellies and overall) experience.

I had so much fun here. It was freezing and horribly windy but once we were inside it was warm and cozy!! Surprisingly big place, and full of people. Amazing food and good vibe. Can't wait to go back

This gem is hidden away in the docks of the waterfront and I definitely recommend you find it! From sushi to fresh lobsters that you can pick out yourself, I challenge you to not find something you like! The staff are very friendly and it's a fantastic vibe..

I've only been here once, so my review is only based on that one experience. The food was absolutely divine, and the portions were large. Both of us tried the butter prawns, and they were nothing short of super yum. They're cooked with butter and soy sauce - a combination I've never seen with prawns before. I love that the restaurant is willing to branch out from your standard lemon butter prawns - it makes the dining experience that much more interesting. Their service was okay. The blond lady who is at the front of the restaurant and seats people was pretty rude (we didn't have a reservation), but out waitress was okay. Location-wise, it's in the middle of nowhere - good luck finding it :'D I liked the decor - it feels like you're in a ship almost - with the decorations, lighting and lack of large windows. Overall a good experience :)

Went there with 8 friends last night. Great hidden gem in Cape Town harbour. Little difficult to find at first, but its worth it. We shared 2 Platters for 2 between 5 people and its was plenty! Amazing fish, brilliant lobster and the rice is a winner. <br/>Decor is busy, old and fits the vibe of the restaurant to a tee. Staff are friendly and the food doesnt take long at all. Awesome

No view, but who needs a view when there is Great food, good atmosphere, fairly priced. Good service. Had the cold Atlantic platter, which was good, however lacked a "kick".

It has old school ship decor and creates a vibe in the restaurant. This spot is great for dates very nice atmosphere. Amazing seafood!!! A must . Staff was friendly , prices are above average but it is worth it..

Wish I lived in Cape Town so I could eat here at least once a week. Hubby and I ate here last year October and fell in love. We don't have the opportunity to eat seafood like this is Joburg. Okay there is no view but who needs a view when the food is so good. My only complaint would be that our waitress seemed disinterested and the tables and chairs are wonky. We ordered the baby crayfish cocktail for starters and wow! Cooked and chilled to perfection. We shared the crustacean platter for two and gobbled the whole thing up. Expensive but not expensive for what you are getting. Huge prawns, nice size lobster and we didn't eat the rice, we didn't want to waste the space. Love the live lobster and abalone tank. This place lives up to the hype.

Been staying in Cape Town since 1991 and always wanted to come here.<br/><br/>Well the past week I did .. Had some nice company and decided that this is the evening ...<br/><br/>After all the writeups I've read .. I'm disappointed ..<br/>1. The foid was okay<br/>2. Service was slow<br/>3. Table was not proprrly set<br/><br/>Won't go again ..

What a disappointment.... My wife and I went to Panama Jack's for lunch. I have eaten there before and have always been impressed. Today this was not the case. Where do I start? The service was poor. The restaurant was visibly understaffed, which shouldn't be the case for a quality restaurant such as Panama Jack's especially during peak season. Our starter order never reached the kitchen (or our table). One of my favourite dishes has always been the seared tuna steak. I have enjoyed this dish many times in the past. Today was not one of those days. The steak arrived far from seared. It was closes to medium. This is completely unacceptable and a terrible way to destroy a wonderful piece of tuna. At least the sushi I replaced my main with was well prepared. Unfortunately today's experience will make me think twice about going back to Panama Jack's. Last time I was at Panama's was two years ago and I was not greatly impressed. It feels as if Panama Jack's is not what it used to be.

Amazing meal.. Try the butter prawns with chile, or baby sole with plum sauce, nuts, and spring onions! Had a blast cool vibe, interesting lobster selection pool, a must try at cape towns Harbor

Very good seafood we had a seafood platter tasty and satisfying. ..They have a pool of live shell fish, so you know its all fresh and good.

One of Cape Town's secret seafood restaurants. It's not at the V & A Harbour - no, its somewhere in the docks. From the outside it looks okay - nothing special, until you step inside.<br/><br/>Wooden furniture, brass boat instruments as decor, creative table coverings and the whole ceiling covered in flags and the food ... the food ...<br/><br/>You can choose your own lobster, crab and abalone from big water tanks. Totally amazing!<br/><br/>I had a Mexican Tomato Oyster shot ... deeeeeelish!!!!!! We shared a bowl of mussels in tomato - one word - yummy!<br/><br/>Hein had Sole with a sauce and said it was really good.<br/><br/>I had (yes, I'm a piggie) a Seafood platter for 1. Oh my gosh! It had a bit of everything on there and it was just out of this world!<br/><br/>Sadly one of my favourite dishes (deep-fried whitebait) can't be ordered anymore ... sad, sad face! But I've included a picture of it.<br/><br/>The prices are reasonable, the ambience is just amazing and the service and food is outstanding!<br/><br/>Forget about going to the Waterfront for seafood - Panama Jacks is the place to go!

HAVE BEEN PROMISING TO VISIT PANAMA JACK'S FOR THE PAST 6 YEARS. MANAGED IT AT LAST AND ENJOYED EVERY MOMENT AND EVERY BITE.<br/>HAVE THE ADMIT THAT THE SITE OF THE PREMISES IN DAYLIGHT CAME AS A BIT OF A SHOCK, BUT<br/><br/>ONCE INSIDE THE ATMOSPHERE TOOK OVER AND IT WAS DEFINITELY MY SCENE.<br/><br/>MENU WAS GOOD - FOOD EVEN BETTER.<br/><br/>WILL DEFINITELY VISIT AGAIN SOON - CAN'T WAIT

Great little place, perfect little lunch stop if you are in the area and don't mind a very fishy smell.<br/><br/>They offer fantastic Lunch Specials and have a wide variety of seafood available. Food was delicious and well worth what you are paying for. Service was good. The Atmosphere is suited to the location of the place as it's situated in the harbour and definitely gives off a "Fisherman's Pub" type vibe :-) <br/><br/>All and all if you are in the area pop by you'll enjoy it. <br/>I'll be keen to pop by here again for a dinner sometime.

Cool place for those looking for a more relaxed and somewhat Cape Town experience. Yes, its in a shed in the harbour and that's by design!<br/><br/>The food is brilliant and I love the thought of having a beer served in a court bottle! Its cool.<br/><br/>I took some JHB folk, and CPT folk, there for dinner and they all loved it.<br/><br/>defiantly a recommendation from me!!

Omigosh! All the dishes we had were absolutely superb. We started off with Prawn Nigiri and Prawn Fashion Sandwiches which was totally sensational! Next we had the half kilo prawns with veg, what a feast my tastebuds are still buzzing! last but definitely not least we had the Chocolate Volcano for dessert, ooh what to say but totally awesome! All in all compliments to the chef and I will definitely be back!!!! Thanks Panama Jacks for an amazing meal all round, loved it!