I’ve always been a big fan of the Company’s Garden, but I was never a fan of the dingy little restaurant that used to be located there…
I always felt sad that these beautiful, lush gardens didn’t have an eatery that really matched up. It was a bit of an embarrassment really. BUT NOW, the Madame Zingara team have changed all of that. Their new restaurant, simply named The Company’s Garden Restaurant, is the perfect little garden oasis right in the middle of our bustling city.
This restaurant which opened it’s doors towards the end of November last year has a touch of that signature Zingara quirkiness, while still being a modern and elegant space. Outside you’ll find fun features like an oversized chessboard, bird’s nest style swings, climbing frames and large wooden benches. It’s really a great setting to let the little ones run free. Seating wise there’s lots of tables outside, or if you’re wanting a slightly cooler option during these hot summer months, you can also dine inside.
Now before we get to the food, let me give you a quick tour:
So on the menu there’s a little something for everyone really. Breakfasts are served until 12pm daily (R29 for Eggs & Soldiers up to R72 for “The Van der Stel” full house brekkie). Then they’ve got some classic toasted cheese sandwiches (R35 – R48), some gourmet sandwiches (R55 – R75), a kids menu with lots of options ranging from R30 to R40, salads (R60 for “The Greek” up to R79 for the Cobb Salad), starters (R40 – R62), light meals (R60 – R95), mains (R80 – R185), and last but not least a selection of desserts (R30 – R45). You can also opt for their “Gardener’s Lunch Table” (R85) which includes a selection of daily dishes accompanied by freshly baked breads and a variety of greens which have been hand-picked from the garden. On the drinks side they do everything from juice, coffee & tea to wine, bubbly, beer & cocktails, so like I said, something for everyone.
(Do check out their full menu over here)
My friend D and I both opted for a glass of their L’Avenir Rosè de Pinotage (R35 per glass / R135 for the bottle) along with items from the light meals section. I went for the fish & chips (R60) and D went for the Dhaltjie burger (R65):

That rosè is a winner, especially on a hot day. My fish was soft, fluffy and absolutely heavenly and those chips really rocked my world. Not sure what they do to them, I suspect they’re triple cooked, but they’re amazing. D was very happy with his burger too, even though it’s actually a veggie option and he’s normally a big meat eater. [Please note – the restaurant’s name was Haarlem & Hope at the time I ate there, but it has since been renamed to The Company’s Garden restaurant]
For the beautiful setting, friendly service and delicious food, I’m going to give The Company’s Garden Restaurant an overall rating of on the Miss K Kiss-o-Meter scale. It’s truly a lovely spot which you simply have to check out. Just be warned that they do get rather busy…
Wanna pop in for a bite? Then take note of the following:
- They are open: Monday – Sunday from 07:00 to 18:00 (kitchen closes at 17:00)
- You’ll find them here: The Company’s Garden, enter from Wale St and head up a little or from the Queen Victoria side
- You can contact them on: 021 423 2919 or companysgarden@madamezingara.com (Although I hear that they only do reservations for groups of 12 or more – which I’m sure will be a bit frustrating for most, so do try to beat the rush by doing an early/late lunch instead.)
Well done to everyone who collaborated on this project, I can now proudly say that I’m a big fan of both the garden AND the restaurant.
xxx