CLUB KLOOF: A FUN VIBE AND SOME GREAT ITALIAN-ISH FOOD
The Cost - $10 per person
The Atmosphere – Club Kloof is unsurprisingly located on Cape Town’s Kloof Street. The front of the restaurant has a small outdoor space with great views of Table Mountain and the interior offers a very cool space in which to have drinks or a meal. The restaurant has a dedicated bar area and features tastefully done bright orange walls. There was high energy club-like music playing that was very upbeat and fun to listen to – it got me in the mood to have lively conversation, drinks, and a great time. The restaurant’s furniture and décor are modern but have a hint of old school glam which makes the space special. Reservations are highly recommended and casual attire is acceptable though people will certainly be more dressed up on Friday and Saturday night.
Club Kloof opened its doors in the beginning of 2023 and hasn’t looked back ever since. The popular eatery has gained quite a reputation for its eclectic dining experience and focus on its ingredients – starting with the restaurant’s importation of 103 year old sourdough starter directly from Italy. That starter is now the base of all of the pizzettes that Club Kloof makes and also finds its way into some of Club Kloof’s small plates as well.
The Order – Mac and Cheese Arancino, Heirloom Tomato Stone Fruit Salad, Garlic Confit Pizzette, Roasted Baby Potatoes, and Roasted Broccoli.
The Great – Three dishes stood out from this meal: the Mac and Cheese Arancino, the Heirloom Tomato Stone Fruit Salad, and the Garlic Confit Pizzette. The Mac and Cheese Arancino came one piece to the order. The large fried ball was filled with mac and cheese on the inside and was topped with a healthy dose of grated parmesan. It came sitting in a lovely bit of tomato sauce that was fresh and very tasty. The arancino was a nice way to kick off the meal and while it wasn’t very shareable, it is easy enough to order one per person for anyone who wants in.
It may seem strange to place a tomato and fruit salad on the list of best dishes, but the Heirloom Tomato Stone Fruit Salad was delicious and is deserving of the recognition. A cold salad with lovely fresh tomatoes, some fresh fruit, goat cheese, and mint that is drizzled with a white balsamic dressing, this dish was a light, healthy, and delicious appetizer that I would absolutely eat on every visit to Club Kloof without hesitation.
It would not have been right to go to Club Kloof and not try one of the restaurant’s pizzettes, individual sized pizzas that are made with the imported Italian sourdough starter and cooked in a wood oven. There were quite a few options to choose from, but our waitress recommended the Garlic Confit Pizzette and we were not disappointed. What sounds like a pretty basic pizza (the ingredients include the dough, balls of buffalo mozzarella, and some chopped marinated tomatoes that sit atop a garlic confit base with fried basil leaves) turned out to be packed with great flavor, a true sign of quality ingredients and excellent sourcing. The garlic confit was beautifully done and really took the pizza to the next level. At a price of less than $6, this pizzette is a great value.
Though it does rank slightly below the other three dishes that were previously mentioned, the last dish to earn our Great rating was the Roasted Baby Potatoes. A substantially sized side, the very pretty roasted potatoes were served with a hazelnut crème fraiche as well as some crushed hazelnuts on top. The potatoes were crispy and very tasty, and the hazelnut crème fraiche was a clever and welcomed addition. I do wish there wasn’t such a temperature difference between the potatoes and the crème fraiche but the flavors and textures of this dish were very enjoyable.
The Good – The Roasted Broccoli was another side that was ordered, and it was solid. It was also a nice-sized side and was served in a very nice metal dish. There were capers and a green olive salsa on the broccoli that gave the small plate some uniqueness and it was topped off with some red chili flakes (though it could have used some more). Given that there were plenty more dishes on this menu I wanted to order I wouldn’t run to order the broccoli again, but I definitely didn’t regret the choice.
The Verdict – Club Kloof is absolutely one of the best value meals in Cape Town. There aren’t many places where you can get quality, tasty food in a fun, chic setting for about $10 per person. If I lived in Cape Town, this would be one of my go-to spots but whether you live in the city or not, it is a great place to have a meal with friends or loved ones.