Review A Touch Of Madness Restaurant - Observatory

Patrick is one of the best waiters I ever seen You guys were super busy, the restaurant was at capacity, and he was fantastic! I appreciate a server who does a great job, and he handled our table of 4 adults with a perfect display of relaxed competence. Well done!

Good food, reasonably priced. I ate there twice in the same week - lunch & supper. There was a nice buzz in the evening - though didn't have the same vibe at midday. There are several small rooms (each a bit different), which makes for an intimate & varied experience. Overall it was an enjoyable atmosphere & I'll definitely add it to my regular places to eat list.

Great restaurant and brilliant staff. I hosted a birthday dinner here. What makes this place unique is that it was a house converted into an beautiful aesthetic restaurant . I was able to book a room for the whole night at no extra charge. The room I was in could accommodate 20 people. The Manager Pooven was very helpful and made sure that the night went very smoothly. My night was very memorable thanks to how attentive and helpful the staff were.The food is amazing and not too expensive . I Would 100% recommend to anyone wanting to host or even to stop by for something to eat. There is also paid parking lot available across the street.

I never leave reviews but I had to for this place. the owner Pooven is one of a kind as goes the extra mile to create a welcoming space. he made my 21st very special and was incredibly patient. don't miss out

I don’t normally leave reviews but I feel compelled as the food was absolutely exquisite. the one waiter called Patrick his brilliant such a nice guy I will come there again just to tip him he's service was appreciated Saturday evening, I had to share this experience with my friends thumbs up Patrick🤗

The atmosphere was amazing! Very homey and hidden nooks and crannies all over the house. Our waiter, Bobby, did such a great job serving us. He was the only waiter and ran the whole shop on a Saturday night #thisguyneedsaraise. Naturally we waited a bit longer, but he attended to all our needs with such grace and we didn't mind the wait at all! The food was absolutely delicious, can recommend this place for an intimate or group dinner as well as a place for pre drinks/good bar vibes. Definitely a must if you're in obs <3

Came here for pre drinks, cosy atmosphere, a great place to chill and start your evening, 4 stars because the big window in the ladies toilet needs fixing other than that staff were friendly and we enjoyed our time here.

Phenomenally run place, with a great atmosphere, great food and awesome live music.

A go-to fave! Don’t come here expecting formalities or to be waited on hand & foot. The space is quite big & the team is great at making you feel welcome & comfy! Very much like you’re visiting your bestie’s house, if your bestie casually also made BOMB food & had great drinks on tap. Yummy snacks & meals, super cosy & comfy environment, great team that’s super welcoming & friendly. Side note: their coffee is really good. Like, better than you’d expect.

Went for dinner last night. They have ladies night on a Thursday so there are discounts on some cocktails. We had the ribs and the pavement special. The food was good and the restaurant is quaint and cute. Staff are attentive and always checking that you okay. Love the fireplaces in the house though we didn't sit too close as wouldn't want to leave. I will definitely be back to come and chill and have a drink. Sorry I took one photo of the pavement special as my love for all things rissoto knows no bounds.

Food was incredible. Best homemade hot chocolate I've had. Definitely recommend, affordable prices too!

It is, as the name suggests, a touch of madness. The menu is hilarious with things like "Roadkill and Mash" and "A Chicken called Basil." Quality of the food is very pub grub so very fulling but no michelin stars in this venues future. The culture of the place is very boring, and the pet friendly vibe works really well. I enjoyed both times I dined here

touch of madness never disappoints when it comes to their food and margaritas! From mussels to wings to pasta - they’re good! Definitely a must try when you’re in obs

Popped in to listen to se local jazz musicians doing there thing. Fantastic music and enjoyed the "homey" feel to the place. Well priced drinks, fair snacks which we ordered and comfortable seating areas all through the house. Worth popping in if you are looking for something different.

Trendy, upbeat restaurant offering indoor and outdoor seating in one of the most Boho suburbs in Cape Town. Beautiful garden seating out back with a graceful atmosphere throughout the venue. Busyness during the evening can lead to extremely long waits for even a bottled drink and from what I saw of the food, the menu is mostly tapas style with quirky combinations of battered and fried options.

The waiter forgot our order & was very slow to serve our meal bcoz the manager & staff were more focused on doing their stock inventory, than serving their patrons. The dessert custard was lumpy, milkshakes were flavourless & when my Mom fell in their toilet, no help or first aid was offered. I would not recommend this place to anybody. The service was very bad. A place I will definitely Not Return to.

a Place with a room for every type of event, person and vibe! Best local Craft beer selection. With there house beer as a Drunken Donkey that kick some serious ass! Great food and vegetarian options, and two fire places!

Having been on my to try list for a while, we were certainly not disappointed! The food was outstanding, from the chillie popper starter to the chicken tacos, cheese burgers, and chocolate brownie - 10/10!! loved the atmosphere and our waiter was friendly and attentive, we really can't wait to come again! Highly recommend! Thank you for an amazing evening!!

Was denied access to order food at the kitchen at 4:50pm today. Was told that the Kitchen closes at 5pm and that they have their own time(pathetic excuse). As far as I'm aware the kitchen has to take orders up to 5pm. When I visited this place with my 'white' friend we were motivated to put in food orders straight away when we arrived at 5pm, suddenly the rules change when you arrive with 'black' friends. I was also denied to talk to the manager by the lady at the front. Perfect example of what happens when you hire cheap & inexperienced staff, which was the general impression I got from the few times I've been here. Will never come here again and recommend my friends to stay away as well.

First of all I need to say we really love to go to Touch of Madness as it has such a nice vibe and is so cozy. But since a couple of months its lacking a bit with the presentation of the food. The Mezze Platter is not as nice prepared anymore as its used to be...it looks a bit loveless thrown together. Our malva pudding yesterday had lumps in the custard. It just seems a little bit as the people not putting so much effort anymore in preparing the food. Which i must say the food still tastes really good but as you say you eat with the eye first.

Great to have the options on your menu for Pescatarian. Snoek samoosas as a starter were delicious and then quite a few vegetarian mains to choose from. Chilli Poppers rank in the best I've ever had. Great Burritos and potato wedges and tasty Falafel Pita as well. Lots of salad on the side as well. I will definitely come back.

quirky, unpretentious, funky decor, good wine and food (with gluten free vegan options), decent tunes and a lekker vibe.

If you're interested in ordering food, or anything, but only really need it over an hour later... This is the perfect place for you... Every single time I visit this excuse for a lunch spot, I leave feeling so incredibly disappointed... Over an hour to prepare 4 wings???? I give this place the benefit of the doubt every single time and choose you over Obz Cafe, Jerry's and Sushi and Thai every single time... and the exact same pathetic result... Now your name makes perfect sense.. Myself along with the rest of your patrons must definitely have "a touch of madness" to choose you... Never again. P.S... Your wine and food is severely overpriced. Jerry's 300g wings - R65 Obz Cafe bottle of Tranquille - R104 Your 200g wings - R80 Your bottle of Tranquille - R140 Shame on you!

Delighted to have found "A Touch of Madness" whilst on holiday in Cape Town. Cool bar and restaurant in a Great little location tucked in behind Main Street. We were welcomed by Hope and Ben with some cheeky banter before being served up some local craft beer and the best Bunny Chow dish. With Hope and Ben looking after you the entertainment comes for free, their knowledge of James Blunt's back catalogue is the only worrying aspect!!!

I have been walking past this beautiful house for some time always wishing to go there. Friday night I got to go and it was a lovely experience. The owner is lovely and personaly went around all the tables introducing herself. The staff were also very friendly. The food was average, but the great atmosphere made up for it! Will definitely go there again

Just had the most fabulous 40th birthday party hosted by A Touch of Madness. Wonderful evening with warm, helpful service, delicious food enjoyed by all (and a lovely range of platters available) and then dancing to the wee hours. We reserved the front room and then spilled out into the bar area. Every need that came up was instantly sorted by Richard and Olivia (owners). So many comments from guests on the venue, food and the great atmosphere. Congratulations on a great space and thank you for a fantastic evening!

I had my birthday there last night and was blown away by the service, food and being so well looked after. Really appreciate the perfect evening and Geshman was super amazing at serving us. Thank you!

A great place with an awesome vibe. If you are looking for a great place to have a quiet tequila or two then this is the place. They have great specials everyday and during their happy hours which are from 5-6 and 9-10 they have several craft and standard beers on tap at R20 each!

Awesome evening. The food was delicious, decent portions and well priced. They also serve one of my favourite wines. Can highly recommend.

I love this place. Great quirky atmosphere and they are so open to suggestions and new ideas. I like that there are different events on and they are constantly updating their menu. Friendly service and good vibe. Lucky to have this as a local.

What a difference, the best place to relax with your better half or friends.

This place is amazing! Great bar selection, excellent food, and fantastic service all in this incredibly charming atmosphere in a charming neighborhood. One of the rooms even has a fireplace - perfect place for a date, group of friends, family, or whatever you like. I will be returning here often.

Don't come to this place during a busy dinner time. You'll order something on the menu and they won't have it. When you remark on the fact that how can a restaurant not have something on the menu, they will respond with a snarky, almost unapologetic comment. From the manager nevertheless! Come here for the eclectic decor , the amazing chicken wings and starters but never try and order pasta 😔

A lovely restaurant with a fireplace, perfect for Winter! The service can be a bit slow but the setting makes up for it. The food is tasty and wholesame, would definitely visit again.

Didn't enjoy the food at all. Had the ostrich burger which was bland and falling apart with no sauce to it. The "chips" should rather be called potato wedges as that is what they are. I was expecting to be wowed but left disappointed with the food!

I cannot stress how wonderful this restaurant is. I have only had amazing experiences here. The atmosphere is low key, quirky, and is the right mix between funky energy and calm away from the bus world. The food is always excellent and the service too! I will keep supporting this superb place for as long as I live in Cape Town!

What a little gem! The food was fresh and delicious and really reasonably priced. The decor and service was great too. We'll definitely come back!

Love it! The food is absolutely delicious! And the staff is very sweet as well, I keep going there for the good food and good vibes. Good experience

This is my favourite Mexican restuarant in Observatory. The atmosphere is great and relaxed. Sitting next to the fire place on a cold night with friends is a perfect night out. The food is delicious beyond comparison. At first look the tacos look small but they fill you. That coupled with their range of craft beers and events makes this a must visit spot

The ambiance scored this place a 3 on it’s own. Such a delightful place to visit and amazing design concepts. Each room feels like a different location, but each location as equally lovely as the next. <br/><br/>The coffee was okay, a bit below average. The food was not too bad, just a bit too spicy for my bland food loving self. However the portions are amazing for the price and it’s definitely a new experience.<br/><br/>The service was extremely slow, but it was a busy day(the manager personally came to explain this). So for that I won’t deduct anything.

I love the decor and how clean and fresh the place is. The food is lovely and the service is always good. The waiters have always been very friendly and helpful. It's a great place if you want to have a relaxed lunch by yourself - I do it all the time! Keep an eye out for those lunch specials!

Really enjoyed our meal here. Such an interesting and cozy venue offering a variety of seating areas. The jalapeno popper burger was just the perfect thing I was looking for. Generous, juicy and delicious. There was a DJ on the night, but the music did not overwhelm the conversation.<br/>I'll be coming back here regularly to try the different rooms and dishes.

Really cool setting which was ruined by kids running around literally screaming, no one asked them to quieten down. The burger tasted cheap, not really worth it. The ribs were average, again not really worth it.

Quirky little cafe hidden in lower Observatory. Delicious tacos, friendly staff and offbeat retro decor. Only concerning factor is the "beware of pickpockets" signed littered throughout the restaurant.

The name of this place suits it. I love the fact that the rooms in the house remain intact so you can have a meal in an actual dining room or tea in a living room by a fireplace. I've only ever been there during quiet times which has made my experience even better because it creates the illusion that I have the whole place to myself. A visit here is worth it.

Quirky decor and amiable service, however, the "large burrito" was far from large. I'd call it a "just below average size" burrito. I was left wanting for more as it was a tasty one, nonetheless.

What a lovely find... Tucked away in a quiet street behind the Spar in Observatory. We decided to go for a drink on a very quiet Tuesday evening, the waitress said surprisingly so. Every Tuesday is Taco Tuesdays, your choice of Taco with a complimentary glass of red or white wine OR a 300ml craft beer on tap of your choice. Wow! They have 12 beers on tap (no mass produced nonsense) and a pretty decent wine menu, very well priced. I noticed some lovely South African Gins on the shelf as well. We sat outside on the veranda overlooking the street, but they also have a large inside area and a small court yard at the back. The bar feels very homely and unpretentious with simple food, well presented and delicious. Think tacos, nachos, burger, home made pie etc. I opted for the Chicken Tacos which were delicious and definitely value for money, large green salad AND wedges with a very tasty garlic aioli on the side. Service was rather slow, but our waitress was very friendly and had a laidback vibe. We didn't mind as while we were sitting on the veranda it felt like we were visiting a friend at their home. I will definitely be back for their Saturday DJ sessions!

This place has been revived by new ownership. Quirky interesting decor, a varied menu and well-priced drinks make this a good hangout spot in Obs

A Touch of Madness were the hosts and venue for my recent 40th birthday party. What a fabulous space! We booked the front room and ordered an assortment of vegetarian and mezze platters along with champagne. Tables were pushed aside so guests could mingle. The staff were fantastic and quietly sorted out our every need, making guests feel really welcome. We spilled out into the bar area where later we took to the dance floor and partied until the wee hours. The restaurant is lovely in that there is a space for everyone, from the quiet courtyard out back, the cosy loungy back room, to the bustling bar and front patio overlooking the street. So many of my guests commented on the venue and how delicious the food was. A great, versatile and original venue at reasonable prices. Will definitely come back! Thanks for a wonderful evening ATOM!

ATOM is fast turning into one of my favourite Sunday lunch spots. It helps that this place feels like Sunday no matter which day of the week you visit. :) When I first spotted it on Zomato, the name held the promise of something unusual. And unusual it is, tucked away in a corner of Obz that's a few hops off the main street, in a quaint house that looks like your rich-ish granny could've owned it. I like that there's different kinds of spaces inside so you can pick where you feel like sitting - the atmospheric bar, the leafy garden, the cosy fireplace, the canteen-bench-esque hall. They have different specials every day, and the food is really good. I love the mezze platter, bunny chow, Mediterranean pita... and how crazy is it that I've had the BEST spring rolls of my life here, of all places?! The veggie burger is the only thing here I haven't liked so far (chickpea patty I can take but beetroot?). They also have pretty good craft beers on tap. The waiters are super friendly and I've had great service every time. Will be back for more!

It's always tough trying to find a Christmas Party venue for a small group where you aren't going to be charged an exorbitant amount, and also where you're able to bring your own wine at a reasonable corkage price. Well, this place was our venue on Friday night - and what a winner it was! Our waiter was incredibly attentive and very helpful. Management had no problem that we brought some Christmas crackers for the table and we were able to bring three of our own bottles of wine (at R30 corkage) before we started ordering off the menu. The food is well-priced and tasty. I had the spring rolls to start (I'd rather go here than a chinese place for these tasty morsels) and their vegetarian mezze platter for mains. Some in our party had the burrito which they said was incredibly good and a huge portion to boot. We were also the last people in the restaurant but not once did we feel rushed or hurried by anyone. Thanks for a great evening, Touch of Madness!

Very cute little space hidden away in Observatory.<br/>This place is well priced and just a great place to meet up with friends and have a cold beer and good food. The location is abit weird as your view is a Spar parking lot but it's no biggy, still had a fun Sunday evening. Give it a go, they have nice specials.

Was denied access to order food at the kitchen at 4:50pm today. Was told that the Kitchen closes at 5pm and that they have their own time(pathetic excuse). As far as I'm aware the kitchen has to take orders up to 5pm. When I visited this place with my 'white' friend we were motivated to put in food orders straight away when we arrived at 5pm, suddenly the rules change when you arrive with 'black' friends. I was also denied to talk to the manager by the lady at the front. Perfect example of what happens when you hire cheap & inexperienced staff, which was the general impression I got from the few times I've been here. Will never come here again and recommend my friends to stay away as well.

Obs is unique. If you're lucky enough to find a parking spot with your second turn around the block, while walking to your eatery of choice, you'll pass fresh faced kids (anything under 20 is still a kid!) dressed in uber cool shweshwe dresses or tie-died pants (either gender) and dreadlocks; shoestring tourists soaking up the alternate Cape Culture; friendly-if-slightly-swaying bergies offering to watch your car and some slick dudes hanging on the street corners. All very authentic.<br/><br/>A Touch of Madness seemed the appropriate place to stop for a light dinner/snack. Loved the name. Loved the decor (mish mash of old and new). Loved the atmosphere.<br/><br/>We were warmly welcomed and showed to a table. How happy we were when we realised we'd sat down before the end of Happy Hour (daily from 17h00 to 18h00)! We quickly ordered two craft beers for an affordable R25 each. One could get carried away . . .<br/><br/>Ordered Bacon Chilli Poppers (R55) and a Meat Meze Platter (R85). Loved it. Even though the portions were normal starter-sized , it filled the spot. <br/><br/>While we were eavesdropping on the lively conversations around us, we had a view of the gate and saw a steady stream of would-be diners. They all looked like newly-graduated, worldly-wise hipsters. We left just after the fire was lit in the room with a slight sense that we were leaving before the main event - it looks like a typical neighbourhood 'lekker kuier' place. We'll ask our friends from our student days to join us for a visit another time and show these youngsters how to party up a storm!

Popped in for a quick lunch. Had the steak and ale pie and the falafel pita. Food was good, portion size was filling without being excessive. Amazing beer and gin selection. Great service and nice ambiance. Will definately be back again!

Cute place! Checked it out coz I had friends who provided live entertainment (so that excellent!). The aesthetic and vibe of the restaurant is very cool. The menu was decent, well priced also, tho we just had starters. Nachos was great! Jalapeño poppers wrapped in bacon will always be a winner! And they have craft beer on tap, which my friends loved. Great place, will be back!

A wonderful little place with a style that is unequalled. I love their menu. Hearty food at reasonable prices. Amazing beer selection.the staff Jay and carly and Jean are amazing. The owners r such sweet people too

I'm now a regular at A Touch of Madness since it has recently re-opened.  First impressions on walking in are cosy, eclectic with lots of character.  The staff are super-friendly and welcoming and the owner/manager bends over backwards to make sure you are happy.  There were a few teething problems but this is to be expected with brand new staff/menus etc.  however, they worked very hard to resolve these issues! There is a nice selection of food which is reasonably priced - AND they have 2 fireplaces and a cosy lounge!  Loads of amazing wines by the glass and craft beer on tap.    I have no qualms about supporting these guys as I can see its a labour of love and they really care about their customers.

I'm surprised the average rating isn't higher for this gem! I've been a few times and while I've noticed a few issues I've put them down to the place being brand new. The decor, food, free wifi and excellent beer selection are enough to keep me coming back, not to mention the very fair prices. And they have super fun parties, awesome for people like me who are over the club scene but who still like to shake it from time to time.

Visited this little place after hearing that they had reopened. Upon arriving, first impressions were good. The actual building is full of character and the decor is fresh and friendly.<br/><br/>However after climbing the stairs,the atmosphere was less than welcoming. We stood around at the entrance without being seated until eventually the one waitress on shift showed us to a table.<br/><br/>The table was dusty and the plants a bit overgrown with a lot of bugs flying around.<br/><br/>We were then informed that the restaurant was out of power and they would only be able to serve salads. Bummer, but we were more than willing to give them a fair chance.<br/><br/>My drink arrived with two dead gnats floating around in it. I sent it back and my second drink still had another gnat in it!! (Eew)<br/><br/>When our food did arrive, the ingredients were fresh and the food was tasty.<br/><br/>Theres definitely potential here, but a sad attempt at management will destroy this cute little place.

I love the new decor! Their Sunday Funday burger special was awesome! Even though we only arrived at 5 the waiter took our order quickly and the owner made sure we had our food on time and it was delicious... A lovely place...

So got there for a friend's birthday. Ordered starters, kitchen was very quick! Then came the ordering of the mains. At our table we ordered about 4 chicken bunnies. Waiter comes out 30 min later saying they ran out of bunnies, so only 1 person needs to change. Mate changes his order....all the food is arriving, he gets his order plus the nachos he changed for. Eventually I ask where is mine, and there's where the shit started. Changed the order to the meat dogs. Food comes, they gave me wienners on burger buns. I declined and just drank more. Manager came to me and apologised with a shot of tequila....by the way thanks for that. I want to highlight that you guys need to pick up the communication between the waiters and the kitchen. I felt sorry for the waiter as it was out of his control.

My partner and I have a standing Friday lunch date, where we explore new or out of the way places. Most of the time (this is testament to the Cape Town food scene) we have an amazing experience. Unfortunately, A Touch of Madness was average at best. The food was very reasonably priced and quite good (he had the chicken bunny chow and I had the veg one) and they have a wonderful bar menu (I got one of my go-to-at-home wines by the glass). However, the service was unbearably slow and fairly incompetent. We waited for an hour to get our bunny chows. No member of management apologized for this. The waitress was apathetic at best. They tried to deliver our food to another table (which waited longer than us despite arriving first). My partner sat for half an hour with an empty glass. The place wasn't particularly busy. <br/><br/>If they sort out their service, I would recommend, but as such, unless you have a whole afternoon to spare and bring a bottle of wine yourself (they charge R30 corkage which is very reasonable), I'd stay away.

They used to do poetry readings here, once a week; Off-the-Wall, they was called. The full title was something like 'Off-the-Wall: A Touch of Madness at the Victorian Quaffery.'<br/><br/>The bar was good, but it had to be, because the readings were reliably terrible.

What a lovely establishment! A real gem in Observatory. We only had time for a glass of wine and some chilli poppers but will definitely be back for a lunch or dinner.

I have been walking past this beautiful house for some time always wishing to go there. Friday night I got to go and it was a lovely experience. The owner is lovely and personaly went around all the tables introducing herself. The staff were also very friendly. The food was average, but the great atmosphere made up for it! Will definitely go there again 😀

What an amazing place! Fresh, delicious food with plenty of veggie options, good drinks menu (craft beer, check), good chilli sauce, and a dash of friendly environmentalism. Oh and the owners are on hand. I had the veggie tacos and my partner the bunny chow (fresh warm bread and buttery chickpea curry). Love to see a restaurant run well. We'll be back.