[category]
[title]
"This is just like Greece, only we don't have the dolphins swimming past," I overhear a Greek gentleman saying, clad in his suit jacket, fresh out of a conference, beer in hand, as I take my ocean-facing seat at Tobago's Restaurant, Bar, and Terrace at the V&A Waterfront's Radisson Collection Hotel.
And he's right. Well, I've never been to Greece (trusting you here, buddy), but I have been to other Mediterranean countries, and the setting at Tobago's has that same charm, same vibe and same insistence on taking a step back from the craziness of life.
And that's what makes this ocean-front spot so worth a visit. It's in the Waterfront precinct, but it's withdrawn from the chaos, creating an oasis of sorts in an area which is generally buzzing. The seagulls pop by to say "hi", the dolphins cruise past, and, if you are lucky, you may spot an otter or two on the gentle waves, which is quite the experience.
But while the view and setting are everything you'd want as a backdrop to a meal, the reason I was here was to give the food a try - and one particular option on their menu caught my eye instantly.
I'm a big fan of calamari done right. Usually, 'done right' means a healthy portion of tartar sauce, with the tangy condiment complementing the, hopefully, lightly battered and perfectly fried calamari.
As a Capetonian, I am so used to eating my calamari this way that when I saw Tobago's had veered from the traditional (local, that is) and opted for a Romesco sauce to liven up each bite of calamari, I knew I had to open up the old taste buds to a new experience.
For those unfamiliar, Romesco sauce's origins are deeply entrenched in the fishing culture of Spain's Catalonia; originally created using roasted red peppers, tomatoes, almonds, and garlic and paired with the catch of the day by locals.
When my order arrived, a little bit of anxiety took over, with my brain not quite believing that my eyes were feeding it images of a tartar-less portion of calamari. "What's that red stuff?" my brain asked...
All it took was one bite for that anxiety to drift away on the soft waves no more than 20m away from me. No otters were harmed, I promise.
This combination works. It really does.
The soft, fluffy calamari, perfectly battered and fried, was enhanced by the Romesco sauce. Often, tartar sauce can overwhelm the seafood, but the Romesco did a perfect job of amplifying the calamari itself, rather than relegating it to being a mere vessel.
The true beauty of the meal came when I combined all the elements - calamari, Romesco, balsamic drizzle, and pickled vegetables - in one bite. Sour, flavourful, bold - delicious.
The calamari is also served with shoestring fries, adding an extra crunchy, salty layer to proceedings, creating an overall dish which I will definitely be back for and one which I feel is unique to the usual calamari offering in Cape Town.
Kudos to the chef!
Now I know many of you reading this will be shocked that I am only trying Romesco sauce with my calamari in my 40th year on this earth, but as I said before, I've grown up on tartar sauce, so a little leeway, please.
Oh, wait, I haven't mentioned the portion size yet. It's big, guys. I love my food, but that was a portion that could easily be shared between two people - and I would recommend doing that given the variety of other dishes available on the menu to try.
One of those other dishes is the hot honey wings, served with a crisp flatbread. The wings are super tasty, with the sticky sauce making for a great dip for the flatbread. Dollops of cumin yoghurt help to cut through the heat of the wings, but if I am honest, the spice levels could have been ramped up a bit to really warrant the cooling properties of the yoghurt.
Where is Tobago's Restaurant, Bar, and Terrace?
Located within the Radisson Collection Hotel at the V&A Waterfront, Tobago's is open to both visitors and hotel guests. They've also recently added a High Tea to their offering. With that view, I think I know where I'm taking my mom for Mother's Day...
Better yet, why not book a stay at the Radisson Collection Hotel here... and don't forget to try the calamari.
RECOMMENDED:
📍 The best things to do in Cape Town
😋 The best restaurants in Cape Town
🏄♀️ The best beaches in Cape Town
🛍 The best markets in Cape Town
🖼 The best museums and galleries in Cape Town
Planning your next trip? Check out our latest travel guides, written by local experts.
Time Out makes a small commission from the affiliate links included in this article. These links have no influence on our editorial content, but they do allow us to bring you more recommendations every week. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.