Don Armando was one of those restaurants many of us were keen to revisit. We were there 18 months ago, and while solid, they didn’t quite shoot the lights out. But, the steaks were great and they seemed to have potential. It was time to see what they could do the second time around.
As usual we started with drinks at the bar, before moving to our tables upstairs. Don Armando is a small restaurant, only seating 65, which meant our group of 16 had to be split across two tables. Being a smaller restaurant also means it doesn’t have the buzzing atmosphere of a large steak house. That’s fine though- if you have a big group you bring your own atmosphere, and for smaller tables it’s a more intimate affair. Food We started with Lamb skewers, Chorizo Grande with chimichurri, and Prawn skewers with roasted fennel. The prawns were delicious and the lamb sublime. The chorizo was perhaps a little bland for our expectations. Don Armando offer a wide range of steaks, some of which are gigantic. For once we were stumped for choice, but our waitress, Rafaela, recommended the Prime Rib, The Don, The Massive 1.2kg T-Bone and the Fillet-on-the -bone. The recommendations were bang on the money, with every single steak served receiving rave reviews. The winner for the night was the 300-gram fillet, which was unanimously rated 10/10. The Don and the prime rib also received plenty of praise. Don Armando also offers an interesting section of sides which make a nice alternative to butternut and creamed spinach. We went with the white bean salad and deep-fried baby marrow, which were both excellent. And the alternative options don’t end with the sides either. For dessert, the dulce de leche ice cream and pancakes were recommended – they were a treat. Service For a small restaurant to deliver 16 steaks at the same time is a feat. Rafaela was phenomenal - efficient, always there when needed, and she knew her stuff. All her recommendations were fantastic. Verdict Don Armando is without doubt one of the top steak houses in Cape Town, and is a viable contender for THE best steak in Cape Town. However, the saying, “you get what you pay for”, applies - you’re also looking at one of the most expensive steak house experiences in town. Steak 8.8 Sides 9.0 Value 7.0 Service 9.8 Ambiance 8.5 Total 8.6 20 Cobern Street De Waterkant Cape Town 021 418 1462
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