Prawn platter with lemon and garlic.
The first time I ate Camil’s food was in 2002 in Residence Klein Oliphants in Franschhoek. I still remember the rack of lamb he cooked that night. It was exquisite.
Camil’s restaurant in Green Point is open about 5 months. It’s part of the Cape Royale Hotel complex.
I arrived in Camil’s for lunch on one of the hottest days at the end of summer. We chose a table in the delightful courtyard area. After greeting us, Camil thoughtfully dragged a large portable fan towards our table and it sent a wave of cooling misty air in our direction. Bliss.
I ordered a main course of prawns off the blackboard menu. It said they would be out of their shell, and served with lemon and garlic. A huge portion arrived, but they were all in their shells. That’s really annoying. They were tasteless. I ordered more garlic to try to infuse some taste into them.
My partner ordered the Home Made Seared Beef Tartar Burger, served on a Potato Wafer with Gherkin Salad. He enjoyed the taste enormously, but complained that it was not seared, but cooked through.
A few days later I spotted an ad for the same dish in a daily newspaper where it had TWO seared beef patties. We only got one on the
Where's the beef, Camil?
day. We were charged the same price as the one in the photograph with the two patties which was advertised for R69.
Four people arrived, and we lost our much needed cooling fan.
For desserts we had a stunning Trio of Sorbets, with mango-granadilla, lemon-basil and wild berry. These were probably the best sorbets I have tasted in Cape Town this year.
The other dessert was the “Mini Trio French pancake taster sensation”. There were three pancakes/crepes. Two were thin and lovely and one was thicker which was soggy and doughy. The sauces were too sweet for me.
Service could have been more attentive. It was not up to the grease lightning speed of 1,800 steak restaurant next door.
The manager, a helpful and attentive lady called Roz, enquired about our meal and we gave her the feedback. She agreed with all the points and took them on board. She also
Trio of sorbets.
delivered a complimentary cocktail to our table. It is great when an establishment is positive about feedback and leaves customers feeling that their opinions are valued. I can’t wait to go back for dinner to try the oysters.
Camil’s, Cape Royale Hotel, Green Point. 021 433 1227.
Starters R10-R90. Mains R45-R205. Desserts R29-R55
Open Mon-Sat 12:00-15:00, and 18:00 – 23:00.
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