From the outside at night, Kitima looks misleading. You see a large Cape Dutch house with dark double bolted doors and a bouncer, is this an elitest club like in Harvard or Oxford?
The moment you walk through those doors everything is transformed. The energy, warmth and delicious scents blast you from the instant you walk in and Kitima creates a synergy of the senses. From the entrance hall you can glimpse different rooms and passages, like an old mysterious house of secrets. This old Cape Dutch mansion was built back in the 1700s and its wooden floors, giant windows and ancient fireplace combined with the Thai theme create a unique and very interesting atmosphere. The ambiance is perfect for almost any occasion from a romantic dinner tucked away at a little hidden table, to cocktails at the bar or a wild 30th birthday party. There is a perfect balance of energy and life but with that feeling of being cozy and comfortable. Dress code is cocktail and is sleutish without being pretentious.
Their cocktail menu is impressive and as I was late to our gathering it took me quite a while to decide between catching up with everyone and trying to get through their extensive selection. In a place like this, you can't go for the usual - you're almost challenged to try some new and colourful concoction. I opted for the "Sexy and Seductive"... sounds promising! Presentation definitely scores points here as it came in a huge round glass, quite like a giant whiskey glass with a red sugared decoration balancing on the top. The other cocktails around the table were just as delicious and the wine flowed freely. Kitima is a place you simply melt into and absorb the experience.
Choices choices choices... Kitima is a Thai Restaurant that offers so many different options from snacks and dim sum to sushi, tapas and a million other dishes and combinations that you simply have to go back a few times to try all your favourites. I chose a selection of dim sum for starters and sushi for mains. We all ended up mixing and matching around the table so I managed to try quite a few different dishes. I can definitely recommend the Har Gau - fresh prawns delicately wrapped in clear rice paper and steamed. Delicious! The spring rolls are also the best I have ever tasted and they literally come on a 2 tier silver platter. One of their best and worst dishes, however is the aromatic crispy duck. Best because the duck is cooked to absolute perfection, however worst because it comes with little pancakes and slivers of spring onion and carrot. You basically create miniature wraps with the crispy duck. Its just not satisfying. The duck and their secret sauce is delicious but you want to eat it with something, it feels like something is missing from the meal, which I find rather frustrating. So aside from my personal little rant about this particular dish the food is unique and delicious. The options are endless and it is a restaurant I could never get bored of!
Kitima must be one of Cape Town's Top Restaurants, not only because of the amazing atmosphere and vibe but the menu also offers something for everyone without straying from its theme of Asian fushion. I think technically you would call it a Thai restaurant but they offer so much that fushion has to be thrown in there somewhere!
021 790 8004
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