526 reviews
#1 of 33 Restaurants in Gordon's BayRR - RRR, Seafood, Mediterranean, Vegetarian friendly+27 21 200 2605+ Add websiteImprove this listing
Hours
Sun
12:00 - 21:00
Tue
12:00 - 22:00
Wed
12:00 - 22:00
Thu
12:00 - 22:00
Fri
12:00 - 22:00
Sat
12:00 - 22:00
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Ratings and reviews
4.5
Travellers' Choice 2024
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Details
Someone from this business manages this listing.
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CUISINES
Seafood, Mediterranean, European, Contemporary
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, After-hours
features
Does this restaurant accept bookings?
Details
About
Zest Restaurant is a Mediterranean Bistro located in the small coastal town of Gordon's Bay. Zest serves contemporary Mediterranean cuisine with a twist. It is located on the beach front, which offers spectacular views of False Bay. It is a quaint family owned Restaurant that boasts with two qualified Head Chefs. It offers the best dining experience in the Bay, which will even satisfy the hardened critics. Their stylish menu features a wide variety, including fresh seafood, poultry, beef, pork, in season vegetables from local gardens and farms, as well as homemade soups, breads and decadent desserts, always presented tastefully. Come to Zest and enlighten your senses!
CUISINES
Seafood, Mediterranean, European, Contemporary
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, After-hours
FEATURES
Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Parking Available, Street Parking, Free off-street parking, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Mastercard, Visa, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Waterfront
Contribute
4.5
526 reviews
Excellent
294
Very good
167
Average
43
Poor
14
Terrible
8
Lizcode94
Parma35 contributions
Mar 2021 • couples
Zest is a really lovely restaurant. The menu is not extensive, which is a guarantee of freshness! The food was delicious, tasty and the ingredients were fresh. The kitchen opens out onto the restaurant allowing you to watch the Chefs prepare your meal.
Staff are wonderful, friendly and fun! Hermine, the owner, is such a wonderful woman, warm and welcoming.
It was my partners birthday and she very kindly offered him a glass of wine on the house - such a kind and thoughtful gesture.
You must absolutely try the chocolate fondant - it is to die for!!
You must definitely eat here when in Gordon’s Bay, it is a true gem!
Written 29 March 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Santelle Allgeier
Strand10 contributions
Oct 2021 • couples
What a lovely experience! I thoroughly enjoyed the beer battered hake, crispy outside and buttery soft inside, served with cooked-to-perfection potato wedges. The home made mayonnaise (requested extra) was a pleasant surprise. Hubby found his fish and veggies to be hearty and bursting with flavour. A visit to our table by the chef himself provided a final personal touch to an already amazing experience and meal.
Written 16 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gilliemay
Skipton114 contributions
Jan 2020 • couples
Excellent food and great service. We have been researching the local restaurants before we arrived in Gordon’s Bay and Zest was the top of our list. We weren’t disappointed. The food was exceptional (chicken liver parfait and beetroot risotto to start and Chicken in Beurre blanc sauce and Hake to follow) No room for desserts but hope to try them in future. We are staying in the area for 4 weeks so we will definitely be back. Small but good wine list and you can bring your own bottle if you prefer.
Written 19 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Susan L
Johannesburg30 contributions
Dec 2022 • couples
Great setting and service but food disappointing and over priced. We ordered the line fish as main course and although tasty, the portion was small - more like a tasting size.
We are locals and support our restaurants throughout the year but feel ripped off
Written 18 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jip
10 contributions
Dec 2022 • couples
Zest is really thé Best! We had a late lunch today and started with mussels in a white sauce with toasted ciabatta. The fish of the day was sea bass and gorgeous ! We asked for crispy thin sliced potatoe wedges and were they crispy ! They could hear my crack in the kitchen ek sê! We also asked for a salad with slices of a hard boiled egg and yes exactly how we like it. In one word fantastic food, very pleasant service and reasonable priced. Zest Café is echt The Best !
Written 3 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hannelleb
4 contributions
Feb 2023 • couples
Hermien and her staff at Zest were excellent hosts, giving attention to detail and offering a wonderful variety of world class dishes.
We shared several of the tapas options for starters. The calamari with lime mayo was the winner! That was followed by the best pork belly I have ever had!
It was a difficult vote to decide whether the choclate pavé or Basil Panna Cotta should come out top - both were creamy with depth in taste.
We will definitely be back!
Written 24 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
George H
Barcelona18 contributions
Aug 2023 • friends
What a lovely restaurant and the most perfect setting. Zest has a wonderful outside seating area - almost on the beach. The inside of the restaurant warm and cosy and still you have the great views. We had pre-theatre meal last night. Zest is labelled as being Mediterranean food. Starters (tapas style) all look great but we went straight to mains. 2 x great pork and my fish and chips (it is by the sea after all) where lovely sized portions as well as reasonably priced. Every one enjoyed immensely. Only one pudding was had (a choice of 4) Sticky Toffee Pudding with ice cream - enough for two. The staff are so attentive. Just a great experience and well worth the journey out of Cape Town. We will be back very soon. Thank you again.
Written 17 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
marcilsa
Benoni95 contributions
May 2021 • none
We booked for Sunday lunch via the internet. Received a telephone call to confirm booking and suggestion about seating.
Although the menu is not extensive, great care is taken to use produce in season. The food was absolutely fantastic and presentation beautiful. Very friendly and neat servers as well. Pricing is reasonable as well.
The only issue that could arise is emissions from the cars passing by on the road.
Written 30 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
annekesteyn
Pringle Bay53 contributions
Sept 2022 • friends
Shocked with prices and quality of food. 3 crab cakes with tartar sauce for R65...as a take away for a friend. Beef quasudilla tasty but also over priced. Waiter had no idea about menu and what dishes on the menu consist of. Won't come again sorry.
Written 21 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paula F
Cape Town Central79 contributions
Sept 2020 • none
In my opinion you cannot beat Zest! It truly has everything - great, fresh food on a changing blackboard menu, friendly staff, excellent service, reasonable prices and views over False Bay to die for! Nothing is too much trouble for Chef Ruben. He comes to greet you at the table and then disappears off to whisk up the magic. And magic it really is. My hubby and I are always in trouble because we want everything on the menu (literally!). This week was our wedding anniversary and we enjoyed the most beautiful line fish with bombay potatoes and a citrus salad; the best beer battered hake and wedges - and all that after 2 amazing starters! We were then surprised by the best chocolate fondant in "the west"! Excellent rose wine, which is always ice cold - really not so in many restaurants these days. Zest deserves to be packed, even in COVID times. Really, really excellent. Can't wait to return
Written 16 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert M
Pretoria184 contributions
Oct 2023 • couples
We we had our last night to ourselves and wanted a quick bite to eat. We scouted out the local restaurants and chose Cafe Zest. Upon arrival, we were greeted very friendly and guided to our table. The menus are written out on the wall with a fair variety available. Drinks order was taken quickly and then the food order. Service was great. Food came fairly quickly and well presented. The plates matched the descriptive menu and both platters were delicious. The waiters were friendly and caring and the owner/manager came to check that all was in order.
A modt enjoyable last minute dinner was had.
Will go there again.
Written 2 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FredAdkins
Marseillan67 contributions
Mar 2020 • none
We visit the Cape each year and stay in the Strand/Gordon's Bay area. Last visit to Zest, a couple of years ago,we felt we could only give Zest three stars. Well last night we had an experience of a different kind. The menu is exciting and delivered exactly what it promised. Delicious slow roasted pork belly with generous and tasty vegetables. The welcome was warm, the atmosphere friendly, the service quick and attentive and the sunset glorious. We will be back soon.
Written 6 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PsyberFox
Gordon's Bay17 contributions
Jul 2023 • family
We've been going there on and off for the past few months, and I must admit the quality and consistent quality of their food is phenomenal. If you're ever in the area you HAVE to visit. It has a fairly decent selection of wines, a stunning view and great service to accompany absolutely great food!! And the hospitality from the owner is unmatched
Written 28 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lynn M
Gloucester16 contributions
Nov 2024 • couples
We hadn’t booked but still got a great table. The service was excellent and so was the food. Great choice - Tapas fish and steak but also really delicious traditional fish and chips for less than R100. The proprietor came to speak to us which was so nice! The rose wine is also excellent! Thank you all at Zest for a memorable last evening in SA - the sunset was breathtaking too!
Written 2 November 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Philippe1964e
Geneva65 contributions
Sept 2024 • friends
Our loving host Jeanette from 185 on Beach recommended us to go to this restaurant and that was the best decision we’ve made. Their hospitality, food and the atmosphere of this place, no words can begin to describe how wonderful the place is. Hermien doesn’t see customers in her eyes but she sees special guests that she’s honored to serve, ensure their comfortability and makes one feel at home. The staff makes you feel like they’re your extended family ready to cater your needs and you won’t feel alone. Highly recommend this place beyond measure and we’ve just found our new dining spot in Gordon’s Bay. ❤️
Written 7 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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