The Mother City’s restaurant scene is growing even bigger as celebrated chef and restaurateur Bertus Basson opens his new restaurant, Ongetem, at the Canopy by Hilton Cape Town Longkloof. Located on Park Road, off popular Kloof Street, the new restaurant promises an innovative dining experience and a new way to view hotel restaurants.  

“We’re not trying to be a hotel restaurant,” says Bertus, who won the Eat Out Woolworths Trailblazer Award at this year’s Eat Out Woolworths Restaurant Awards. “We’re trying to change the perception of what a hotel restaurant can be. This space is built for the neighbourhood. It’s approachable, it’s real, and it’s got heart.” 

The new spot will serve up an unpretentious menu that honours the best of South African flavours with a modern twist. “At Ongetem, we’ll take the food seriously,” Bertus says, “but not the mood. No pea shoots. No foam. No drama. Just great produce, well-cooked, in a space that feels like home.” 

 

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Guided by the philosophy of Butcher, Baker, Cocktail Maker, Ongetem will offer grass-fed local beef, free-range poultry and open-flame cooking; Cape-inspired loaves, nostalgic pastries and baked comfort foods; and a bar with local botanicals, handcrafted spirits, hip-hop vibes and down-to-earth indulgence.  

“This is a space you can visit for a morning espresso, a cocktail after work, or a soulful dinner with friends,” says Bertus. “We’re inspired by Cape Town’s multicultural food scene, and we’re not afraid to mix it up – from chakalaka to peri-peri, classic soufflés to curry-leaf cocktails.” 

“Good wine, good people, good music – that’s what it’s about,” he continues. “If you leave feeling inspired, like you’ve had a proper escape, then we’ve done our job.” 

With a number of restaurants under his belt, including Eat Out star restaurants CHORUS, Eike, Spek & Bone and Clara’s Barn, Bertus is no stranger to what it takes to run a successful restaurant. Known for his love of South African cuisine, he has brought this passion to Ongetem and hopes to create a space for locals to feel at home. “We build our restaurants for South Africans first,” he says. “If international guests find us and love us, that’s amazing – but our real goal is to create something locals can own.” 

But the plan is to offer more than a foodie experience – in the future, the restaurant will be home to a number of community-driven events, including wine festivals, chef’s tables, sunset sessions and culinary collaborations. “We’re excited to create moments that go beyond food,” says Bertus. “At the end of the day, we just want people to hang out, connect and feel at home.” 

For more information, visit ongetem.com or book a table online.