The new kid on the Kloof Street block is Aruba.
Offering diners an experience that merges Mediterranean food with a Caribbean twist, Aruba's tapas-style menu and laid-back setting is the perfect addition to the thriving dining scene.
Founded by two friends, Daniel Kruger and Murray Hunter-Smith - who share a passion for food and restaurants, Aruba came to life from a dream that was once thought to be impossible.
"I had been thinking about it for a really long time, but I never thought it was going to happen because property in Cape Town is really hard to find. Unless it was the right property, I wouldn't have wanted to do it. I was driving down the road one day and I saw that this property was up for rent. I was out with Murray the one night and said, ‘Murray, I have an idea, come meet me for coffee tomorrow morning’," shares Daniel.
Daniel adds that although they faced challenges at the start, their perseverance to create a space that embodies what they love the most about dining came to life.
"It was a long process of deciding what we wanted to do because we didn't get an interior designer or anyone to help us with the design. We sat together every day and decided what we would do. As a result, everything in the restaurant has been thought out by the two of us and we got it made specifically to match what we wanted."
Murray adds: "We sort of built the place that we both like to sit, eat and drink at."
The restaurant concept
Aptly named Aruba, Daniel emphasises that their main objective was to create a vacation-like experience for diners.
"We always joke that it is an all-inclusive resort and we want our diners to feel like they are on holiday. Our setting is very colourful with our striking blue bar area and curated spaces to ensure our diners feel like they are at Aruba," Daniel explains.
The restaurant aims to offer diners a 'communal' setting, with Aruba’s neighbours planning to open in the next two months and share the outdoor balcony dining space.
Mediterranean flair with a Caribbean twist
Led by chef Darren Allsopp, the menu, while small, has been tailored to exude fresh and simple ingredients of the Mediterranean coastline and the bold, spicy notes of Caribbean fare.
After hearing about the popular spot and its offering, Time Out Cape Town headed to Aruba to sample some of its dishes.
As a crowd favourite, the gnocchi, served with a coconut sauce that exudes warm spice and earthy flavours, did not disappoint. The contrast between the soft gnocchi paired with the crunchy sweet potato crisp topping and pumpkin seeds made me silently nod as I savoured each bite.
Opting to try the coconut and black bean rice dish - a coconut risotto rice with fried black beans, peppers and onions, I very quickly learnt after the first bite that this is not your average bean and rice dish. The creamy texture and hearty flavours make for a notable dish to try as we head into the colder months.
Another popular menu offering is the calamari tentacles served as crispy heads with aioli and lime. The calamari skewers feature a smoky BBQ glaze and mango sauce topped with cashew herb crumb and crispy buttermilk tentacles.
For dessert, while the cheesecake is a top pick, I decided to venture out and try the spicy pineapple; a vegan option of grilled pineapple with maple and chilli glaze served with vegan ice-cream.
Upon first bite, I can strongly confirm that they put the 'spicy' in spicy pineapple, but I savoured it with the ice-cream - a surprisingly good pairing! While this may not be for everyone's palate, the experimentation of contrasting flavours between spicy and hot and sweet and cold showcases the restaurants approach to experimentation and complex flavouring.
More about Aruba
The cocktail offering features the classics such as mojitos, Mai Tais and Aperol spritz. Other stand outs and unique drinks include the hard iced tea and hard lemonade.
As someone who doesn't drink often, I opted for the mocktail hard ice tea which was both refreshing and sweet.
Though the restaurant may seem modest at first glance, its bold, flavour-rich dishes reveal a culinary experience that is both thoughtful and delicious.
Notably, if you are in the mood for a lazy Sunday dining experience, Aruba has launched Sangria Sundays, offering R25 oysters all day and Sangria jugs with a steel or marimba band performing live.
Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 12pm to midnight, Aruba is located on 108 Kloof Street and offers on-street parking.
Another Cape Town Taste Test: Prego chicken and jalapeño smash gatsbys
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