We think we’re so above it all, don’t we? Cape Town locals love to avoid ‘hot-spots;’ during season, as they attempt to ‘avoiding the chaos’ – but the joke’s actually on us.

It’s not like we have any inside knowledge that the tourists don’t have – we end up going to the same places – just at different times of the year. Not to be confused with secret beaches and the like, one’s choice of restaurant in Cape Town can only be kept a secret for a short while – especially if it’s good. In other words there is no such thing as locals’ ‘best kept secrets.’

But there’s a special irony about this situation. What about when it comes to restaurants at the Waterfront? And I’m talking about restaurants that tourists know about, but locals don’t. It seems to be happening way more readily than we care to admit.

I grabbed a lunch last week at Mondiall restaurant at the V&A Waterfront. Almost a year since they launched, I clearly seem to be behind the curve with regards to what’s hot in town. The rest of my crew began sampling Mondiall in the last couple months – an age after the last season which apparently saw tourists falling over themselves to get a table. And I can understand why.

You know when you have THAT chat with your mates? You know the one.. You’re all sipping wine, pretending to be the world’s greatest restaurant buffs and the conversation turns to the ‘lack of choice in Cape Town’ and the fact that there is ‘nothing like what they have in New York.’ Well let me tell you, Mondiall has FIRMLY claimed that ‘New York restaurant’ you’re looking for. And the joke is that the tourists knew about it before the locals.

I pulled this from their website (here):

Cape Town’s most anticipated new restaurant, Mondiall Kitchen & Bar has opened its doors in the V&A Waterfront. A joint venture between acclaimed Relais & Châteaux Grand Chef Peter Tempelhoff (Executive Chef of ‘The Collection by Liz McGrath’), and international Restaurateur Patrick Symington of Cape Town’s Café Dharma and Asoka fame, it is a feast for all senses – and set to become the Mother City’s hottest new dining destination and social hub this summer.

Mondiall is open seven days a week, offering breakfast, brunch, lunch, tapas, cocktails and dinner in a modern Brasserie style setting. The restaurant underwent a complete transformation in the original ‘Green Dolphin Jazz Restaurant’ location, a prime Waterfront setting with spectacular harbour and Table Mountain views. Symington was heavily involved in the interior aspects of the restaurant, in consultation with Ali Kemali (Kemali Architecture and Design) and Simon Fraser, founder of Earthcote Paints (Simon Fraser Design & Consulting).

Peter Tempelhoff has created an exclusive menu featuring timeless classics, re-interpreted in a contemporary manner to give dishes a fresh new look and taste. With Head Chef Oliver Cattermole (ex Le Franschhoek Hotel and Dash/Queen Victoria Hotel) in the kitchen, assisted by Sous Chef Jodie Carolus (ex Vineyard Hotel and Zingara Group), Mondiall seduces with truly international cuisine, journeying from France and Austria via Sweden and England, all the way to Japan, the US and South America.

Tempelhoff explains the concept for Mondiall: ‘When I first thought of Mondiall, my vision was of a New York style Brasserie serving French/American classics in a traditional white tiled and wooden panelled dining room. But like most things, it evolved… and like Ali and Paddy’s transformation of the building, the food took on a more modern appearance too. I was a little sceptical about making the food too classical, even though I am a classicist at heart when it comes to food.

Read the rest here – under ‘The Story.’

From crispy Asian mushrooms, goats cheese, prawn toast and Luderitz oysters, to lobster, risotto, sirloin, burger, salmon and tacos, you really can’t put this restaurant into a box. It’s a seafood restaurant, but it’s not. It’s a Brasserie, but it’s not.

I was there at lunch time last Monday and I was compelled to order a bottle of wine – on a Monday. THAT’S how much it felt like I was on holiday. Lucky tourists! The wine went very nicely with the fish tacos and I think it’s fair to say the day ran away with itself.

You can see exactly what’s going down by checking out their menu here. Not that I needed much convincing. They had me at ‘live online reservations’ long before I heard about their menu.

Yes, that’s correct – you can book your table online here and get instant confirmation.

Now that the ‘New York style restaurant’ conundrum has been settled, whatever will we bitch and moan about next?

Well done, Mondiall – you got me.