I first visited The Happy Uncles in Salt River, Cape Town, over a year ago, and was lucky enough to visit them again more recently. What I said then still holds true – this spot is everything you wouldn’t expect from a fine dining restaurant – and, conversely, that’s exactly what makes it everything you would expect, too.
Widely recognised as the Mother City’s first truly Halaal fine dining establishment, The Happy Uncles is tucked away at the back of the Spice Yard, a rather lonely property at the edge of Salt River that I would, under normal circumstances, not necessarily visit.
Luckily, this time I was less apprehensive as my GPS led me down an empty Voortrekker Road on a Friday evening, and I already had a taste of what was about to come.
The Happy Uncles Restaurant Setting & History
Not much has changed with the restaurant aesthetically, and I was again greeted by the familiar industrial space with exposed red bricks, concrete flooring, and a few scattered tables.
I’d said before that the rustic feel of the restaurant’s history as a production kitchen catering for events is still very dominant, but the space glows ever more brightly with a promise of the magic to come.
The Happy Uncles blends industrial and homey feels for a comfortable ambience.
Chef Anwar Abdullatief is no stranger to the fine dining world, with prior culinary stints at Cavalli, Jordan, Siba’s Restaurant, and Rupert & Rothschild, before moving on to The Happy Uncles in 2021.
But what makes The Happy Uncles unique is that it’s both fully Halaal … and everything you could dream of for a fine dining establishment.
The Happy Uncles Menu & Pricing
Before I deep-dive into my own (second) experience of the restaurant, I always find it quite helpful to provide a brief overview of what you can expect when visiting.
Like most of the best fine dining restaurants in Cape Town, The Happy Uncles offers an ever-changing set menu with a few options:
- 5-course set menu at R850 per person
- 7-course set menu at R1,050 per person
Of course, prices listed here are true at the time of publishing, but keep in mind that they are subject to change.
Previously, the restaurant offered 4-course, 6-course, and 8-course set menus.
Elegant and tranquil – that’s the feel you’ll get at The Happy Uncles restaurant.
A selection of savoury petit fours is served to start.
All set menus include a complimentary welcome drink (we were greeted by a beautiful non-alcoholic sparkling wine), free-flowing sparkling and still water, and a selection of petit four amuse-bouche.
There’s also an optional curated tea pairing at R75 per person.
We didn’t do a tea pairing on the night, opting for sparkling water and deep red premium grape juice instead, but I have done tea pairings in the past and they can be a great addition to uplift any meal.
That’s not to say you’ll need it – the food at The Happy Uncles speaks for itself.
The Happy Uncles Review
The I Love Foodies Experience
This year, the I Love Foodies team was invited to try the 7-course tasting menu, which, as before, included showstopper dishes from start to finish, with all the glitz and glam you’d expect from a fine dining restaurant, including dry ice magic and gorgeous plating.
The “samoosa that went to private school” is one of the stand-out dishes.
The savoury eclair with mushroom parfait was a personal favourite.
The menu does change seasonally, but we enjoyed items like:
- Beignet with smoked aubergine and tamarind chutney
- Seasonal tart (affectionally known as the samoosa that went to private school) with cheddar mousse and caramelised onions
- Savoury éclair with exotic mushroom parfait and parsnip
- Carrot cake posset with herbed crunch crumble, spiced nuts, confit carrot, and grilled halloumi
- Cape salmon with pear and labneh
- Palate cleanser with yuzu and passionfruit
- Aged rib-eye on the coals with pomme puree, saffron risotto, and spiced jus
- Malay milk tart with milk & honey ice cream
I couldn’t possibly choose a favourite dish of the evening, but the savoury éclair was definitely memorable, the cape salmon was perfect, and the saffron risotto that accompanied the steak was out-of-this world.
On my previous visit, some stand-out dishes included a snackle tart with roasted beets, served in a stunning cupped hands dish, a hummus creme caramel, sea bass ceviche, one of the best braised lambs I’ve had in my life, and a divine peachy peach dessert, a beautiful blend of olive oil & thyme sponge, peach vanilla dome, white chocolate crémeux, and a pistachio & cardamom ice cream.
The dishes this time round were quite different, but equally mesmerising.
At no point in the evening did a dish disappoint or appear substandard. At no point was the service not phenomenal. And at no point did I wish the evening to pass more quickly, as can – believe it or not – sometimes be the case with drawn-out fine dining menus.
The carrot cake posset was one of the most artistically plated dishes of the evening.
Another personal favourite dish was the aged rib-eye.
The pacing was perfect, the atmosphere phenomenal, and every dish a book of interesting flavours that had you savour each bite.
In my previous review, I’d drawn attention to the fact that enjoying this menu sans wine pairing is really what gives it such a unique angle. Most people not following a Halaal diet will equate fine dining tasting menus with a good wine pairing, but I’ve learned that while wine can be a lovely addition, it’s definitely not a requirement.
In fact, enjoying a tasting menu without wine can actually significantly enhance the experience as you’ll get to delight in the flavous a tad more. Of course wine can often bring out flavours – and vice versa – but a good dish can (and definitely should) stand on its own.
A fine dining take on the milk tart – and a true winner.
And if it’s one thing The Happy Uncles does exceptionally well, it’s prove that point time and time again.
Halaal or not, Chef Anwar’s dishes are worth experiencing.
Visit The Happy Uncles In Cape Town
Sometimes going back to a restaurant you’ve had a great experience at can be disappointing. But it’s always an absolute delight if a restaurant manages to stay consistently excellent. And that’s definitely what I’ve come to experience with The Happy Uncles.
This is still a must-visit spot, a dinner destination that should definitely be on your radar, and a go-to choice for your next great night out or special celebration.
It’s worth noting that both the menus and the restaurant layout are catered to guests, so booking is required. You’ll find all the details below.
The Happy Uncles Contact Details
Address: The Spice Yard, 100 Voortrekker Road, Salt River, Cape Town
Website: www.thehappyuncles.com
Call: +27 79 929 5322
Email: info@thehappyuncles.com
Written by Benike Palfi
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Article Date: May 2026
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