Nelson's Eye

Someone from this business manages this listing.

1,509 reviews

#32 of 890 Restaurants in Cape Town CentralRR - RRR, Steakhouse, Barbecue, European

+27 21 423 2601+ Add website

Hours

Sun

18:00 - 23:00

Mon

18:00 - 23:00

Tue

18:00 - 23:00

Wed

12:00 - 23:00

Thu

12:00 - 23:00

Fri

12:00 - 23:00

Sat

18:00 - 23:00

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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

1,509 reviews

#32 of 890 Restaurants in Cape Town Central

Travellers' Choice 2024

RATINGS

Food

Service

Value

Atmosphere

Details

Someone from this business manages this listing.

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PRICE RANGE

R 350.00 – R 700.00

CUISINES

Steakhouse, Barbecue, European, Grill

Special Diets

Gluten free options

meals, features

Location and contact

9 Hof Street Gardens, Cape Town Central 8001 South Africa

+27 21 423 2601

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Does this restaurant serve Romagna food?

Yes

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Details

Manage this business?

PRICE RANGE

R 350.00 – R 700.00

CUISINES

Steakhouse, Barbecue, European, Grill

Special Diets

Gluten free options

Meals

Lunch, Dinner

FEATURES

Takeout, Reservations, Seating, Parking Available, Street Parking, Television, Highchairs Available, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Digital Payments, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, BYOB

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4.5

1,509 reviews

Excellent

941

Very good

361

Average

105

Poor

Terrible

Kimberley L

Edinburgh170 contributions

The best steak I've ever had!

Nov 2019 • none

We ate a lot of amazing food in Cape Town, but Nelson’s Eye stands out as one of my highlights. Red wine and steak are 2 of the obvious things to try in Cape Town, but I wasn’t aware seafood was such a big deal – but it makes sense since the city is close to the coast. We decided to share the tempura prawns and the calamari to start, but the garlic roll looked delicious! I didn’t look past the fillet steak for my main and I chose 280g, which was more than enough for me, but there was 230g, 330g or 500g as well. All main courses are served with creamed spinach and a choice of baked potato, golden fried chips or savoury rice. I rashly ordered the baked potato because it looked really good at our neighbours table and I also added a creamy Roquefort sauce to the side. The wine kept flowing and the food didn’t take too long to come. The starters were tasty, but the standout was definitely the main course. It looked like such a simple plate of steak with a baked potato on the side, but it’s the best steak I’ve ever eaten. It had incredible flavour and was cooked just the way I like it – lovely and pink in the middle. The baked potato was also no ordinary one; the skin was wonderfully crispy, but the inside was so fluffy, and it was topped with sour cream and made for the perfect addition. I scooped up the creamed spinach, which I’m a huge fan of and I stole some of Fran’s pan fried onions, which I liked so much I ordered another plate! The food here was incredible and I would highly recommend Nelson’s Eye for all steak fans. Although the tables were a bit jam packed, I enjoyed the vibe – not too casual or too fancy. On reflection, the service here is exactly what I look for at a restaurant: friendly, attentive, but very subtle and not overbearing.

Written 7 April 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.

Richard C

Rotherham13 contributions

Loved it !

Feb 2020 • none

Booked in advance by recommendation of a friend from UK who ate here in January. Glad we booked and ate early (6:30pm) as they were queueing outside before it was 8pm. From the outside, it’s nothing to look at but there’s an old world charm once you’re inside. The staff are super attentive, the prices are great and the cocktails really good. However, what makes this place special is the food. My fillet steak was 'to die for' ! Perfectly cooked, full of flavour, huge and smothered in a wonderful mushroom and garlic sauce. Had a desert, but honestly wish I hadn’t bothered. Not because the hot cherries on ice cream weren’t superb, but because the steak had totally filled me up ! We both ate steaks, had deserts and cocktails all for roughly £55. Awesome ! Cab from the waterfront was r100 out in the early traffic but only r66 back later in the evening.

Written 13 February 2020

Eleanor C

6 contributions

Without a doubt the best steak

Jan 2020 • none

Without a doubt the best steak we have ever had! I got the 230g Fillet Steak and my husband got the 370g Fillet Steak on the bone. Cannot recommend this place enough for both service and food. Shout out to Stevo for first class service. Anyone visiting Capetown - this is a definite must to visit!!

Written 13 January 2020

Dr Liszt

Cape Town Central91 contributions

Excellent food, but...

Mar 2020 • none

After six years away, we visited Nelson's Eye again to enjoy one of the best steaks available in the city. Last time I was disappointed by the pricing, and that is still a problem for local diners. I noticed quite a few tourists had gravitated there who were probably more likely to be able to afford it. The food was excellent and cannot be faulted, however a meal consists of more than just the plate in front of one. The waitress seemed harassed with very little time for us, the food arrived in stages, with my steak being first, the sauce 3 minutes later and the veggies 3 minutes after that by which time the steak was no longer hot. The bill took ages. Despite this, the restaurant was busy with a mix of tourists and regulars. A main course with dessert cost us R800. As I reviewed six years ago - it is waaaay too pricey, especially if the service isn't on point. There are other places one can go where the food is as good, the prices lower and the service better.

Written 2 March 2020

Freedom273707

1 contribution

Chewy fillet

Oct 2020 • none

This was our first and definitely LAST visit to this "locked in the past", musty smelling, ou doos restaurant. We were at a function close by and thought that this would be the perfect opportunity to try out this well-known steakhouse and their R100 "Special". We arrived for dinner around 6:00 and were shown to a table right at the end of the restaurant. A server came over and took our order like a robot, no emotions, no conversation, monotone.We ordered the Special 1x sirloin and 1 x Fillet, both with fries, a small coke and 1 lime and soda. The food arrived after the drinks. The Veg of the day was bland, totally tasteless spinach drenched in a grayish slop served on a saucer, not a bowl a flat saucer. The fries, all 12 of them were AMAZING, seriously good. My fillet was the chewiest meat I have ever come across. Yes granted, the knives were totally blunt, but FILLET??? Fortunately there were side plates and napkins. ! No way was that fillet! The sirloin was small but not bad. The fries, ...awesome. When the server came by to ask us how everything was, I told her that the fillet was really chewy and not very nice. Her response "Sorry" and carried on walking. NOT cool. The bill came R290! R 100 each for steaks and 90 for 1 small coke and 1 glass of lime and soda. Terrible service, run-down old restaurant and really really not up to snuff! I will definitely NOT ever go there again and neither are any of my friends. Really Really disappointing!

Written 13 October 2020

Roving569679

Cape Town1 contribution

Rude owner!

Nov 2020 • none

I've always had pleasant experiences at Nelson's Eye, but my last experience was enough to not ever going back to that place again. The owner, Stevie, is the most horrendous person, bombastic, rude and deserve no customers! After sending my steak back, as it was well done and I've asked for medium, the perfect steak arrives and I had a lovely meal. While I was still chewing my last bite, Stevie arrives and grab my plate telling me my first steak was medium and the second rare. My word, that was so uncalled for. Then all of a sudden the place filled up and we realise there is no social distancing in this place at all. We got up and leave to the front to pay and get out. I told Stevie his remark was uncalled for and he started shouting at me. My son told him not to talk to me like that and he told my son in front of everyone that he will smack him if he says another word. I told him there is no social distancing and he went crazy. His staff took him to the back and his wife came to apologise. I will never ever go back. Oh yes, they also told us they have specials now during Covid because they do not really cater for locals like us, only for international guests.

Written 11 November 2020

Cosh2

Cardiff156 contributions

Brilliant !

Feb 2020 • none

Everything about this restaurant was brilliant on the night we visited. Blink and you could miss this place in passing, however, we relied on the opinion of locals who suggested we make a reservation, and glad we did as we were shown straight to our table near the window and watched as many others had to queue and wait for tables to become available. Our waiter was great in making suggestions for food and wines etc. My wife and I both ordered flambe’d steaks which were the best we have ever tasted, and we are well travelled and compliment everyone for making our evening one to remember. We will be back for sure next time we are in CT and thoroughly recommend any meat lovers to visit this restaurant for themselves. Thank you everyone at Nelson’s Eye for a brilliant evening.

Written 21 February 2020

Peter E

Everleigh229 contributions

There is no question in my

Jan 2020 • none

There is no question in my mind that the steak deserved 5/5, tender, tasty, moist, good chips, great spinach in a creamy sauce. However the service let them down. Our waitress did not interact at all, we felt that she would have preferred that we weren’t there at all. They have this great idea, a form for recording your meal choice, which steak, which sauce, how cooked etc. They give you a number, so they can get everything right and completely ignored it, so disappointing will not go back again

Written 13 January 2020

roeboy

Glasgow554 contributions

No frills place which lets their food do the talking

Jan 2020 • couples

Pardon the expression but from the outside looking in its seems to be rather a spit & sawdust type joint. However don't be fooled or put off as in actual fact this is well respected locally and for good reason as the steaks served will live long in the memory as the best of our entire trip. Portions are generous, food superb yet it is boiling hot inside the restaurant. Booking in high season essential. Arrive with an open mind, healthy appetite and come lightly dressed to enjoy a somewhat hidden gem

Written 2 January 2020

sinderella3

Willesden291 contributions

overhyped and disappointing

Feb 2020 • none

We met friends who were staying in Mount Nelson who recommended Nelson's Eye. This is a dark and dingy restaurant, so many nicer looking ones in Capetown with a more interesting dining experience. They are supposed to sell the best steak in town but I was seriously disappointed. Hawksmoor steaks in London are so much better! My dessert was gross and I sent it back.

Written 23 March 2020

Daniel T

1 contribution

Manager Treated Staff Disgracefully and Ruined My Evening

Dec 2019 • none

Referring to a review I read on July 21, 2019 I had the same experience. I had been to this steakhouse many times before and thought quite favourably of it. However, this night I saw something I found appalling. The owner (Steven) pulled a staff aside within the restaurant and shouted at her publicly for mistakes completed by the restaurant, not her. This type of abusive behaviour is unacceptable and I could not wait to get out of the restaurant as quickly as possible. I will not be visiting this restaurant again and will instead support restaurants which treat their staff with decency.

Written 30 December 2019

Zara N Morgan

Manchester33 contributions

The most-perfect dinner, even while seated at the bar!

Dec 2019 • couples

We discovered Nelson’s Eye by accident, and were NOT disappointed. We jumped out of the taxi and walked through a strange little door, to see a bustling restaurant. Because we didn’t have a reservation, we were offered a seat at the bar, which we weren’t particularly happy about but soon realised it was PERFECTLY FINE because the service and food were INCREDIBLE. My husband ordered a steak which was perfectly-cooked, and I opted for the springbok and ostrich kebabs. The wine and cocktails were fabulous. I would definitely recommend dinner here!

Written 22 November 2020

P Cilliers

11 contributions

One of the best Steaks in Cape Town

Apr 2021 • couples

So we decided to visit Nelson's Eye for a while now and eventually took the drive into town. On arrival the restaurant was well visible close to the Mount Nelson Hotel. We were met by the owner himself and shown to our table. The prices on the menu are on par with other restaurants and the open kitchen was that extra touch. We obviously had steak dishes and were served veg of the day with another choice of side. The food took about 20 minutes and it was some of the best steak I had. The garlic sauce was also very very good. Everything was tastt and the staff was friendly. We enjoyed ourself and even stayed for old school Peppermint Crisp dessert which was also yummy. The ambiance of the restaurant made us stay.We paid our bill and enjoyed the evening. We were very impressed and the restaurant has a wide variety of options. Two main meals, sides, veg, dessert and wine cost under R600. Strongly recommended the visit.

Written 24 April 2021

Jan B

Port Elizabeth130 contributions

Fantastic Venue

Oct 2020 • none

We arrived with fiends on Saturday night and all went for the specials on the meat menu. The waiter was very good and help full and the steaks were fantastic. Unfortunately the corkage was very heavy at R150 per bottle. We will be back for the quality steaks.

Written 4 November 2020

saar

2 contributions

Best steaks in Cape Town

Mar 2022 • friends

On the 23.3, three friends and I went out for dinner at Nelson's eye restaurant. Upon our arrival we were greeted with a family atmosphere by Steve the owner of the place who helped us choose the finest cuts. From the side we saw that he also went into the kitchen all evening and helped the tow chef's work, caring for each dish and esch guest. We were lucky and our waitress was Chloe,who entertained us with a smile and professionalism throughout the evening and was undoubtedly a central part of the experience. In short, do not miss go to Nelson's eye!!!

Written 25 March 2022

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