Banana Jam Cafe
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+27 21 674 0186+ Add websiteImprove this listing
Hours
Sun
11:00 - 23:30
Tue
11:00 - 23:30
Wed
11:00 - 23:30
Thu
11:00 - 23:30
Fri
11:00 - 23:30
Sat
11:00 - 23:30
Ratings and reviews
4.0
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Food and ambience
Caribbean, Bar, Pizza, Pub, Jamaican, Vegetarian Friendly
Is this restaurant good for special occasions?
Details
CUISINES
Caribbean, Bar, Pizza, Pub, Jamaican
Special Diets
Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, After-hours, Drinks
FEATURES
Takeout, Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Free Wifi, Table Service
Contribute
4.0
161 reviews
Excellent
76
Very good
63
Average
12
Poor
6
Terrible
4
Veronique
Cape Town733 contributions
Sept 2022 • none
If you go to a Caribbean restaurant, I assume this is to eat Caribbean food... This is what I wanted, but there are actually not that many options. The general south African dishes took over the menu (burgers, calamari or Mussels...
Having said that, the cocktail menu is quite diverse, and not too expensive.
I liked the decor and the service. More music would be great for a more Caribbean atmosphere...
Written 6 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.
yycyycyyc
652 contributions
Oct 2022 • none
One of the few restaurants open on a Sunday evening, and it was very good. It's also home of the Afro Caribbean Brewing Company, who brew a very wide variety of beers! While the food wasn't especially Caribbean, it was tasty and filling -- the Chicken & Chorizo Jambalaya was particularly good. The Double Citrus was perhaps too citrussy, while the Jungle Paradise West Coast IPA was great.
Written 18 November 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.
Hugh T
70 contributions
Nov 2023 • couples
Round the corner from where we were staying and a very chilled and lovely place as evidenced by the full tables good choice of beer great music and jambalaya what more could you want?
Written 2 November 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.
Lindsay
1 contribution
Feb 2020 • friends
We were so disappointed in this Terrible restaurant! We all travel to the Caribbean frequently and living in America, we have so many Caribbean restaurants that are actually good down the street. First, this place is in the middle of nowhere, its tucked beside a shopping center and there were many homeless people right outside so it was unsafe for uber drop off and pick up. Coming from America, smoking is frowned upon around other people because second hand smoke is just as harmful to people around you. We are aware that it is the culture here and I have asthma so we asked to sit inside away from the open windows by the smokers outside. They proceeded to sit us right by the open windows and we asked to move but they said no. The service was bad and we asked for water 3 times to our waiter without receiving it. We also asked the hostesses and did not receive water until after our food arrived.
So on to the food. We were super disappointed and confused why the menu did not consist of oxtails. Why would a Caribbean resturant not have oxtails? I decided to order the jerk chicken which I thought was hard to mess up. My friends ordered the beef patties and jambalaya, one friend also ordered jerk chicken with me. Literally all of our food was inedible. I don’t know how someone could make jerk chicken nasty but Banana Jam did it. The beef patties tasted like dirt and the Jambalaya was a disgrace to creole food. We were so excited to try this place and were left with disappointment after disappointment. I don’t know why the hell their are any positive reviews.
Written 5 August 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.
Stacy
8 contributions
Feb 2023 • none
The management's attitude is terrible. My husband was not able to stay for dinner with the group that was eating there so asked if he could just buy his drink from the bar and pay the bar directly so that his portion of the bill was covered before leaving. Management and the waiter told him absolutely not and were not interested at looking at options to make his visit easier or more pleasant ito the bill. Then a party at our table proceeded to buy a separate bottle of wine and was permitted to do so straight from the bar. Why the double standards? Management did not visit the table once and seemed more intent on being seen and chatting with the staff than actually doing his job. When asking to see the Manager, I was told that I would have to wait because he was in the kitchen?!?!?
One of our party waited for a VERY long time for her food, it was so long that most of the party was half way through their meal by the time her food arrived.
My food was freezing cold and another woman in our party said that her burger was also cold.
I have worked in the hospitality and customer service industry for a number of years and was absolutely disgusted by management's attitude - I have informed him that we will never set foot in their premises again. In my opinion it was not a good experience at all.
Written 16 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.
RHINOTHOMAS
Kenilworth396 contributions
Jan 2023 • family
Extensive beer menu with a number of interesting IPAs brewed on the premium and good burgers are available plus what looks like a very good vegetarian option.
Written 9 January 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.
wheely72
Sindelfingen409 contributions
Dec 2019 • none
great food, super choice of beers. Also the service was great, and the guy knows everything about the diffent beers!
Written 25 December 2019
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.
Quest822182
9 contributions
Dec 2019 • friends
Banana Jam is the place to go if you want a relaxing lunch. The pizzas are world class and their range of Craft beers are out of this world. You have to try the Jungle Paradise, SA's best beer.
Written 19 December 2019
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.
Gill_tripping
Cape Town Central50 contributions
Oct 2019 • friends
Fun Reggae/Caribbean eatery with an award winning brewery upstairs. I Shared a mixed platter that had a bit for every taste bud. Chilli poppers that were super hot. Tender calamari. Tasty mussel pot. Chicken wings. And a couple of bites I can’t remember. 3 dipping sauces and very good beer to wash it down. We asked for a recommendation regarding the beer and were brought a few tasters to help us decide. The services was friendly and good. It’s a fun place with an island style them.
Written 16 October 2019
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.
Calista
Hermanus57 contributions
Oct 2019 • friends
Quick staff and amazing cocktails. The smoking area is also fairly big and open for good ventilation! Yet to try the food
Written 9 October 2019
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.
Les T
Johannesburg29 contributions
Jul 2019 • family
I went here with family and we all really enjoyed our meal. The gluten free pizza was really nice! A nice crispy base and it tasted really good! The Blue Cheese burger was also amazing! The staff are really friendly and we’re so nice to our dogs. We sat outside and they brought our water for the dogs and they just really made us feel comfortable.
Written 26 July 2019
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.
Barry F
Guelph45 contributions
Jun 2019 • family
A perfect venue to host our family reunion, 39 years in the making.
A fantastic selection of beers from all over! A super menu of authentic Carribean cuisine... South African style. Great patio area and lots of dining space inside.
Friendly knowledgeable staff that were able to handle our large family.
Highly recommended!!! 👍
Written 16 July 2019
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.
lymajo
Cape Town37 contributions
May 2019 • family
My wife and kids visited Banana Jam... Awesome food... They were very accommodating with regard to the kids. Great tasting cocktails.
Written 20 May 2019
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.
Adventures of Ellie
9 contributions
Apr 2019 • friends
We visited Banana Jam Café last night and can't wait to go again. The decor, music, staff all contribute to making this a true Caribbean experience.
We ordered the Jammin' Island platter to share. It should come with a warning though, it's super spicy! Luckily we love spicy. Hottest poppers I've ever had in Cape Town. The chilli mussels are to die for. We ordered extra cuban flatbread to mop up the sauce.
If you love craft beer then look no further. We ordered a bunch of 150ml tasters and discovered a few new favourites.
Overall this place is definitely worth a visit!
Written 6 April 2019
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.
FamilyM2
Iowa33 contributions
Apr 2019 • friends
I visited Banana Jam twice during my recent travels in Cape Town, once for late night snacks and drinks, and another for lunch. Both times I thoroughly enjoyed the lively service staff and delicious food. Favorites included the calamari and jambalaya. The list of craft beers is impressive.
Written 6 April 2019
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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