Review Janse & Co - Cape Town Central

This is a 9 star rating. It would have been a full point score if one dish that just shouldn’t have been served unbalanced wasn’t so please don’t hold it against the restaurant and go and indulge, deciding for yourselves. We shared eight courses (small portions) and 7/8 were excellent. The desserts were some of the most exquisite I have had in a while despite my inclination to skip - I am so glad I didn’t. The wine selection is also wonderful and fairly priced for what it is.

We went for lunch and was pleased to fine that that restaurant design and decor is superb. They only have a tasting menu and the portions are small so you would need at least 4 to 5 course. Food was really tasty and well presented. Honestly, I must say that i wasnt that impressed by the food. They have an excellent selection of wine. Overall it was a pleasant experience.

Simplicity is sophistication here. Chef & Owner Arno is adventurous and elegant in his creativity. Great value for such artistic food. New ways of preparation and flavour exploration. Intetesting ingredients. Beautiful decor and open plan kitchen. Large outdoor courtyard with seating. Love this place!

Awesome experience. Despite of a very LOUD and UNPLEASANT young lady yelling her jazz off, we managed to have a delightful dinner. Portion was great for a fine dining restaurant and everything had a special twist. Great job guys.

Hottest new restaurant of 2017 - must must dine here. Perfect wines to pair as well. Read about them on Inside Guide and was inspired to try so really pleased we did!!

Really great experience, god interior and a really considered menu which uses sustainable methods and techniques in both farming and sourcing produce. Food was good, not overpriced and well worth the experience.

Janse & Co is something special. It was named best new restaurant in the Eat Out awards last week. How to summarise? Remember how you would make a fire on the beach when you were a kid and that smell of burning seaweed, grass, ozone, salt etc? Well, they've managed to turn all of that into a menu that is so magical that it will haunt you afterward.Will make you weep with pride at being South African. As I write this I'm thinking of goat's cheese and a strawberry consommé with an ash that was conjured by pixies. Or octopus with mango and some kind of dune plant I never knew you could even eat but which turns out to be like cucumber with actual flavour. Or the charred baby red cabbage with mullet. Or the the shallots with pangrattato and stingingly sharp cheddar. Oh, mommy!

An ingredient driven menu that incorporates a range of wild and foraged foods, but manages to completely transcend any faddishness typical of so many restaurants that dip into this trend. The team really go to huge lengths to make the food shine. The in-house charcuterie is phenomenal, as good as the best but still different and unusual. Unlike so many restaurants, the desserts are as phenomenal as the mains, no surprise with partner Liesl dedicated to sweets. The jasmine rice and koji sherbet was quite literally like nothing I've ever tasted before, and perfectly paired with chocolate. The wine list is exclusive, unusual and really superb, and the wine pairing option is a brilliant introduction. Decor, glasses and surroundings are sophisticated, service was attentive but not intrusive, and the ambiance is chilled, spacious and not at all noisy. The established team are friendly and all involved and knowledgeable. Pricing is structured as a tasting menu so you can choose 3-7 dishes from any of the 12 dishes available - portions are generous and the food quite rich - we were stuffed after the 5 course. You would have to be a big eater or very hungry to manage 7. Prices are reasonable considering the venue, and portion sizes, time, effort and quality that they represent. The usual caveats for adventurous eating apply and are reflected in the somewhat mixed reviews - if you prefer predictable and mainstream food this might not be for you.

Great dining experience! Cool restaurant, amazing food. Love the idea of selecting the number of courses you want. Service was great too.

Oustanding restaurant, excellent fine dining, remarkable service... I am running out of superlatives here. 🤩

Janse & Co has a posh air about it, but rightly so, since it really is a fabulous dining experience. I would venture to say its better to sit in the Main Area opposite the kitchen than in the front or next to the windows, unless your group is large. Be prepared to fork out loads of money for a scintillating and unforgettable night out.

Beautiful food, with inspired flavours made and sourced with care.

I believe that the kitchen at Janse and Co is creating some of the best dishes I’ve ever had. They were interesting and compelling, the ingredients were wholly local, yet most importantly (and I think that a lot of high level places miss the mark here), they were satiating. I was filled up by meal’s end. Heart and stomach. Great experience and great ambience-it was a culinary adventure.

My husband took me here for my birthday and this place certainly didn't disappoint. Food, service and drinks were original and outstanding. We ordered coffee and asked for almond milk and they.... quickly made the almond milk for us. We felt very spoiled and looked after from the moment we stepped inside, actually from the moment we approached the door where we were greeted by name. On top of it all they were running a special on the 5 course option so we even got a bit of a deal. Would definitely recommend.

Took our friends from the UK here as we wanted them to experience some unique tastes from the local surrounds, having an inkling as to what we could expect, but wow we were all thoroughly impressed by just how creative each course was! Service was top notch and staff very knowledgeable about each dish. Thank you for a fantastic evening Janse & Co.

An amazing experience. Dishes cooked by very passionate chefs who have a fresh look on tastes and textures. All the ingredients are sourced locally and have be prepped and cooked in ways that make the taste totally unique. Kitchen and wait staff all work as a unit to make you feel like you are getting a 5 star meal.

An exquisite dining experience. Chef Arno absolutely nailed it! (and the pricing too!) The simple sophistication - from the floors to the beautiful crockery (including special pieces from Diana Ferreira Ceramics) and how the cutlery is ‘stored’ on your table to the open kitchen at the back- is aesthetically inviting and that’s before you’ve even laid eyes on the menu! We loved the selection of the best locally sourced produce, not to mention the wine list (WOW!) and how every plate of beautifully presented food stirred excitement in us! The service is exactly what you expect from a fine dining experience - without the fuss - a very professional team! The food... OMG...Tasty. Every. Last. Morsel. Well done Janse & Co - it’s a winner!!!

We enjoyed a fantastic lunch in this beautiful & edgy new space today. The food is absolutely excellent and ingredient-focused, the service is welcoming & attentive and the place and design / decor itself is wow. Go now before the word gets out!

Had dinner with colleague on Wednesday 27th December. A great new space in town, decor stunning, service great and without doubt fantastic food. No expense has been spared and I only hope takes off, it is a great dining experience. Constructive criticism: Menu print to small for lighting and acoustics not great so serving team must speak up. Loved the cutlery box and table presentation.

Great impromptu lunch at #janseandco. If you enjoy casual fine dining – go now – while you can still pitch up without a reservation. Try the raw beef with black garlic (caramelized at 60 degrees for up to 60 days). Also great wine selection (per glass too).

Spent our 2 year anniversary at Janse & co. What a special evening, from the staff to the food to the decor it was absolutely sublime.

Great service, beautiful ambiance, great menu, food was phenomenal!

I saw the new space under construction yesterday, it’s going to be lovely and quite special, just like Arno & Liesl!

Went there for Saturday lunch. Whilst this wasn’t the worst meal I’ve ever had, it was only saved by the fact that there was hardly any flavour to criticise. Out of all the menu (we ate as a group and shared several dishes so ordered most of it) there was only one dish that wasn’t a washed out disappointment. Then they tried to overcharge us. Not going back.

Outstanding food & great service! How every restaurant should be run.

Absolutely fabulous - focused on the art and sanctity of the ingredients. Pure and focused...

A night to remember with the best food i have ever had in Cape Town. The waiter was great and honestly humble for such a fine dining experience and knew the menu very well which lead to a great dining experience.

Absolutely fantastic, with some seriously good solid cooking backed up by great service and quality wines, will be back soon

Amazing food and people!!! Go and check them out guys.

Some logistics problems when we were there,food and concept excellent!

First time I went there. It was excellent. the presentation of the food, the taste and the concept were very good.<br/><br/>Best pop all was the person who served us. An 18 year old whoo was amazingly knowledgeable. He presented the menu and was very helpful in the choice of wines. It was refreshing. <br/><br/>I highly recommend this restaurant.

Absolutely loved this experience. The food was amazing, see photos, the service was incredible with fantastic recommendations. I love the dramatic interior. Lost a star for me as the courtyard experience didn't echo the interior.<br/>Food: 5/5<br/>Ambiance: 4/5<br/>Service: 5/5<br/>Best for: Romantic winter evenings (the fireplace is bound to set a mood)

The restaurant is larger than what it looks on the outside. Love the black/grey simple decor. Service was incredible from the host to the waiters. Love that it's an open kitchen so you can see what's going on. Food was spectacular. Had 3 courses but my boyfriend and I ordered different things so we got to taste 6 meals. Out of the 6. 4/6 were really GOOD. The mussels and ribs let me down a bit. Had THE BEST DESSERT OF MY LIFE. Everything was just so perfect about the blackberry dessert. Even the sweets at the end were such a treat. The only fault is that it doesn't have that "comeback" factor were I'd definitely go back to the restaurant again. It was a good once off experience.

A real foodie experience. Creative menu. Relative small portions, but you decide the number of courses. Beautifully prepared and presented, though with a natural touch.

Finally got to go here after much anticipation for their opening and their being on board for restaurant week of which we frequent every year. The space is moody and elegant with industrial touches. A beautiful courtyard with herbs and other plants with a water-wise watering system which was great to see.<br/><br/>Food was beautifully presented and for the most part tasted good but it all seemed a bit lack-lustre until we received the line fish dish which was perfection on a plate. Sadly, nothing after that came close to it. <br/><br/>Service was good but waiter left our table whilst in the middle of discussing the wine options. He just walked away while i was still talking and i couldn’t help for my mouth hanging open in disgust. He went to another table and came back to ours continuing the topic as if nothing had happened. Weird to say the least.<br/><br/>Would like a second visit with a new menu. I’m keen to try out the dishes we never got to.

Had an early lunch as part of restaurant week in april. What a discovery! Food was excellent, service too. I had the most amazing carrot dish. Wow! It really is an awesome dish! I also had the beef, fish and duck liver dishes. The only crit i can give is that the liver dish needs more liver... The liver is grated over the top, which leaves you with a rather fruity left over. The fish dish could also do with something more fresh to go with it. But other than those few minor improvements, this is a truly awesome place. Loved it, and will be back for sure! #Janse & Co Lee Muller

I am really really upset that I cannot score this place any higher. I came as part of restaurant encore week and was super excited to try out this new place on Kloof street. I’m starting to think this location may be doomed as restaurants don’t last long here. <br/><br/>The decor is stunning. I love the minimalist modern Japanese feel to it. Some may however feel it’s a tad too cold. The crockery and cutlery sets are super chic! The service here is absolutely top notch! Not too stuffy or serious, but inviting and you can feel the passion for food. There’s even an organic micro herb garden in the courtyard! Love! The wine list is also really well thought out, with a great selection that would pair well with the dishes on offer. <br/><br/>Complimentary bread is served before your meal. 3 types of mini breads were presented on a wooden board: a corn bread bun, a seed bread slice and a mini ciabatta bun. The ciabatta was so good, I asked if they would sell me a loaf of it. They agreed and baked a special loaf for me to collect on my specified date. <br/><br/>As part of the restaurant week menu, you get 4 courses which are up to the chef’s inspiration and ingredients he has on hand that day. <br/><br/>I opted for the springbok, then the chicken bresaola with potato gnocchi, followed by the brussel sprouts with chickpea ‘gnocchi’, then the line fish with curried daikon and ended off with a pear and cotton candy pudding. <br/><br/>The springbok was definitely the piece de resistance. It was shot in Ladysmith that morning. Served practically raw (it’s more rare than blue), with celery, slippery jack and shiso sauce. The flavours worked so well! I don’t think I’ll ever eat venison cooked again after tasting that dish. <br/><br/>Next was the chicken bresaola served with potato gnocchi, celery and peas. I was looking forward to the gnocchi, but it was a tad too charred and the bresaola far too dry and chewy. I was also not a fan of the broth the dish was presented in either. <br/><br/>Then came the brussel sprouts with chickpea panisse aka ‘gnocchi’ and almonds. This dish was refreshing and executed well. I actually preferred this gnocchi over the traditional potato gnocchi. <br/><br/>Last course before dessert was linefish (which I believe was kingklip) served with broccolini and curried daikon. The fish was a tad overdone. And the dish itself was not a balance of flavours ie the fish was bland and the daikon overpowering. <br/><br/>Dessert was pear pudding with cider, caramel and cotton candy. It was lovely, but nothing extraordinary. <br/><br/>If I were to score this place on the Service, ciabatta bread and that springbok dish, it would be a 5! Sadly the other dishes let them down slightly. Maybe this was early day jitters, so I’d definitely like to return to give them another chance.