Yikes! Season is upon us, and that usually means spending cash we don’t have on things we don’t need… If you’re planning to eat out – which, let’s face it, is one of the greatest rewards after a long year – you might want to check out our roundup of restaurant specials in the Mother City. With deals like these, you could eat out every day of the week – no-mess, no-fuss. Sounds like a plan…

1. La Mouette

The deal The courtyard setting of this elegant yet welcoming eatery is perfect for an al fresco summer feast. The latest offering – a delicious five-course tasting menu for R445 – is perfect for a special occasion, allowing guests to enjoy immaculately prepared, seasonally driven dishes and superb service. For the wine aficionados, the wine-paired option (R820) is worth experiencing, as the restaurant boasts an enviable collection…
Cost R445 (5 courses); R820 (with wine)
When Tuesday – Sunday, 6pm – 10pm; Sunday, 12pm – 3pm for lunch
Special valid until 6 November – 31 March
Contact 021 433 0856, reservations@lamouette.co.za
Location La Mouette Restaurant, 78 Regent Road, Sea Point, Cape Town

2. Primal Eatery

The deal This wood-fired concept eatery in town is heating things up this summer by offering two 250g fillets with a choice of two sides, a bottle of Brampton Roxton or Brampton Sauvignon Blanc, and a dessert to share. Soak up the warm summer nights, and enjoy a delicious meal on the terrace.
Cost R600 (two steaks, two sides, one desserts and a bottle of wine)
When Tuesday – Thursday, 6pm – 7pm
Special valid until February 28 2018
Contact 021 422 3232, info@primaleatery.co.za
Location Primal Eatery, 50 New Church Street, Cape Town

3. Café du Cap

The deal Located in the gorgeous Cartel House, this vintage French-inspired café on Loop Street with a decidedly Hemingway feel has been rated by some of the city’s serious foodies as the best new(ish) restaurant in town. This summer, the owners are inviting patrons to build their own salads or create their own plates from the hot and cold lunch table all day, every day, until June 2018.
Cost  R55 – R110
When Monday – Friday, 7.30am – 4pm
Special valid until June 2018
Contact 021 276 1955
Location Cafe du Cap, 113 Loop Street, Cape Town

4. HQ

The deal This upmarket steakhouse in Cape Town’s historic Heritage Square offers a relaxed dining experience with some delicious steak and tapas deals.
Cost
Steak Special: R218 (two steak meals)
Date Night Special: R280 (two starter salads, steak and chips, and two glasses of Boschendal red)
Half-Price Tapas
When Steak Special: Monday, 6pm and 8.30pm
Date Night Special: Tuesday, 6pm and 8.30pm
Half-Price Tapas, Thursday, 6pm and 8.30pm
Please note There are two seating times: 6pm and 8.30pm; 6pm diners must be punctual and plan to finish by 8pm.
Special valid until Ongoing
Contact 021 424 6373, info@hqrestaurant.co.za
Location 100 Shortmarket St, Cape Town

5.  SurfaRosa

The deal This edgy punk-meets-surfer dive bar on Harrington Street is serving up some lekker summertime pizza specials and a whole lot of drinks.
Cost Pizza Party: R50 (pizza and standard beer/soft drink)
Industry Night: Half-price drinks to industry members
Happy Hour: Half-price pouring spirits and mixes, beer, tequila, and Jagermeister
Aloha Fridays: R40 (Hawaiian Pizza); R80 (Hawaiian Pizza and cocktail)
Aloha Friday Cocktails: R60
When Pizza Party: Tuesday, 5pm – 10pm
Happy Hour: Wednesday – Saturday, 5pm – 6pm
Industry Night: Tuesday, 8pm – close
Aloha Fridays: Friday, 5pm – 7pm
Aloha Friday Cocktails: Friday, all night
Special valid until 30 March 2018
Contact 021 461 2276, info@thefirmct.co.za
Location 61a Harrington Street, Cape Town

6.  Con Brio Bistro

The deal This cosy bistro has a few fabulous deals on the cards: a two-for-one burger or pizza deal; a buy-three-and-get-one-free special on all menu items; and even a traditional Sunday roast. Tuck in!
Cost R92 (two burgers)
R150 (two pizzas)
R120 (Sunday Roast lunch)
Buy three get one free (applies to all menu items)
When Burger Special: Tuesday, 12pm – 9.30pm
Pizza Special: Wednesday, 12pm – 9.30pm
Sunday Roast Special: Sunday, 12pm – 4pm
Buy Three Get One Free: Thursday, 12pm – 9.30pm
Special valid until Ongoing
Contact 021 461 9957, hello@conbriobistro.co.za
Location Con Brio Bistro, 2 Deer Park Drive, Vredehoek, Cape Town

7.  The Village Idiot

Laura McCullagh

The deal This relaxed and boisterous neighbourhood pub-style eatery is divided into various sections: a bar area presided by an oversized ostrich named Oskar; a loungey space; a dining room; a and pool(table) section. The chilled vibe is just the thing to take the edge off a hard year, with the bonus of some crisp G&T specials!
Cost Two’s Day 2×2 Special: R130 (two pulled-pork burgers, homemade coleslaw and a jug of Standard Lager or Pilsner)
Two’s Day 4×4 Special: R320 (whole free-range roast chicken and sides, and a bottle of house red)
Idiot Happy Hour: half-price drinks
G&T Special: R40 (Double Whitley Neill Gin & Schweppes tonic)
When Two’s Day Special: Tuesday, 3pm – 10pm
Idiot Happy Hour: Saturday, 4pm – 6pm
G&T Special: Wednesday, 5pm – 7pm
Special valid until 30 March 2018
Contact 021 418 1548, info@thevillageidiot.co.za
Location 32 Loop Street, Cape Town

8. Harringtons Cocktail lounge

The deal When this lush cocktail lounge opened in early 2017, we knew it would become the hot new after-work drinks spot. And it has. This season, Harringtons has partnered with Dewar’s Whisky to make Wednesday the new Thursday – with some awesome half-price happy hour drinks and tapas, accompanied by a funky, jazzy and electro-cool line-up.
Extra special Every Wednesday, the first 60 guests will receive a delicious teaser cocktail paired with a homemade scotch egg!
Cost Half-Price Drinks
Half-Price Tapas
When Half-Price Drinks: Wednesday, 5pm – 7pm
Half-Price Tapas: Wednesday, 5pm – 10pm
Special valid until 24 January 2018
Contact 021 461 2276, info@thefirmct.co.za
Location Harringtons Cocktail Lounge, 1b Harrington Street, Cape Town

9. Tiger’s Milk

The deal The popular eatery and bar is offering some fabulous specials throughout summer. Cool down with a two-for-one special on selected drinks and, enjoy the two-for-one burger deal while you’re at it. Also on special is the delicious pan-fried breakfast with a complimentary cuppa joe!
Cost Two-for-one on selected beer, wine and cocktails
Two-for-one cheese or mushroom burger special
R29 (single pan-fried breakfast and free coffee)
When Two-for-one Drinks: Monday – Sunday, 5pm – 7pm (Claremont, Stellenbosch, Century City and Muizenberg)
Two-for-one Burger: Monday, all day (Claremont; Stellenbosch and Century City)
Pan-fried Breakfast: Daily, 8am – 11am (Century City and Stellenbosch); 9am – 11am (Muizenberg)
Special valid until Two-for-one Drinks: Ongoing
Two-for-one Burger: Ongoing
Pan-fried Breakfast: Ongoing
Contact Claremont: 021 671 1296
Stellenbosch: 021 883 3740
Century City: 021 286 2191
Muizenberg: 021 788 1869
Kloof Street: 021 286 2209
Location Tiger’s Milk Claremont, 21 Dreyer Street, Claremont
Tiger’s Milk Stellenbosch, 98 Dorp Street, Stellenbosch Central, Stellenbosch
Tiger’s Milk Century City, 8 Kinetic Way, Century City
Tiger’s Milk Muizenberg, Sidmouth Road, Muizenberg
Tiger’s Milk Kloof, 55 Kloof Street, Gardens

10. The Mess

The deal Housed in the space formerly inhabited by Café Dijon on Napier Street in De Waterkant, The Mess offers an utterly delicious array of cuisines and flavours in its Street Food Friday Bao Special. Order a few – each portion contains three baos – and share away. Some of our favourites include: 12-hour-smoked beef brisket with pickled zucchini; pulled-pork with apple and charred corn slaw or kimchi; pan-fried halloumi, smoked aubergine, avocado and cucumber; chicken with toasted sesame vinaigrette, sweet pickled red onion and crushed nuts; and crumbed fish with garlic mayo, sweet and pickled red onion.
The outside courtyard, with fairy lights strung up from the surrounding trees, is a wonderfully relaxing alfresco spot for summer.
Cost R75 (three bao sliders)
When Street Food Friday Bao Special: Friday, 12pm – 3pm
Special valid until Ongoing
Contact 021 418 3910, carlene@themess.co.za
Location The Mess, The Rockwell All Suite Hotel (Ground floor, shop 110), Napier Street, Green Point, Cape Town

11. Beerhouse on Long

The deal On a hot Cape Town day, few things are as refreshing as cold frothy beer. All the better if you have a tasty burger or a rack of ribs to accompany it. Good thing they’re on special! Yep, you read right Beerhouse is offering Two-for-One tacos, Beerchos Thursdays, Fish and Chips Friyays and Eisbein Sundays.
Cost Two-for-one Beerhouse Burgers: R85 (excluding the Gees Burger)
Two-for-one Tacos: R75 – R85
Bottomless Ribs: R99 (no takeaways or sharing, reservations are essential; only valid while stocks last)
Free Beerchos (for the first 10 orders using the online password which will posted to Beerhouse Instagram and Twitter pages every Thursday morning)
Fish and Chips Friyays: R65
Eisbein Sundays: R90 (500g, includes sides)
When Two-for-one Beerhouse Burgers: Mondays
Two-for-one Tacos: Tuesdays
Bottomless Ribs: Wednesdays
Beerchos: Thursdays
Fish and Chips Friyays: Fridays
Eisbein Sundays: Sunday
Special valid from February
Special valid until Ongoing
Contact 021 424 3370, onlong@beerhouse.co.za
Where to find it Beerhouse on Long, 223 Long Street, CBD

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Research by Alicia Chamaillé and Simone Michaelis