Choose a location

Or use your current location

Select

Vadivelu

Reviewers' Choice 2024 - Top 50
Indian
Location Pointer 151 Kloof St, Gardens, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa
4.8
(1284 reviews)
RR
Menu
Favourite

Attributes

  • Child Friendly
  • Romantic
  • Outdoor Seating
  • WiFi
  • Fireplace
  • Reviewers' Choice 2024 - Top 50

Book a table

Menu
Favourite

INDIAN WITH ATTITUDE!

No 14 page menus where choosing is a challenge and whatever you choose tastes the same.

We are also not “Asian fusion”, we’re not fusing anything together.

We are just us. Authentically South Africanly Indian, if there is such a thing.

We are doing whatever we want to do, our take on recipes passed on from ancestors who arrived in South Africa as indentured labourers 150 years ago. Recipes adapted from a Tamil heritage with wonderful creativity applied to different available local spices.

Our name, Vadivelu, the name of co-owner Jason’s late father, is a nod to this ancestry.

Our menu is short*, interesting, changing and delicious. It’s Indian for sure, but with attitude.

Truth is we don’t speak much Tamil or Hindi, so our menu speaks English. It’s just easier for everyone, we know what we’re cooking and you know what you’re eating.

*OK, we’re trying to make it short, but it would be a crime to restrict you from Chef Jai’s imagination

Opening Hours

  • Monday 12h00 - 22h00
  • Tuesday 12h00 - 22h00
  • Wednesday 12h00 - 22h00
  • Thursday 12h00 - 22h00
  • Friday 12h00 - 22h00
  • Saturday 12h00 - 22h00
  • Sunday CLOSED

Reviews (1284)

4.8 out of 5.0
Based on the past 12 months
Food 4.9
Value 4.8
Service 4.9
Ambience 4.8
  • Guglielmo n. Dined: 1 day ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0
  • Kirstie H. Dined: 2 days ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0
  • Margo J. Dined: 3 days ago
    4.8
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 4.0

    Reviewed on: Sun 15 Jun 25
    A lovely but not overwhelming menu selection, and we had a great meal. The food and service were both fantastic. We found it a little noisy, but not to the extent that it spoilt our evening. We will not hesitate to recommend Vadivelu, and we will definitely be back.

    Vadivelu responded on Mon 16 Jun 25:
    Thank you for such a thoughtful and frank review Margo, we appreciate it!

  • Candice Dined: 3 days ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Sun 15 Jun 25
    Vadivelu is one of our favourite restaurants…the food is beyond delicious + the service is fantastic!! It’s a complete vibe.

    Vadivelu responded on Mon 16 Jun 25:
    Complete Vibe, love that, thanks Candice!

  • Deborah Dined: 5 days ago
    4.5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 4.0
    Ambience 4.0

    Reviewed on: Fri 13 Jun 25
    Absolutely faultless in every way- a stunning experience. Fabulous service and delicious food. Thank you!

    Vadivelu responded on Mon 16 Jun 25:
    Cheers Deborah, thanks for such a great review!

  • Karen Dined: 6 days ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Fri 13 Jun 25
    Personal warm and friendly service. Professional waiters. Food outstanding. A lovely experience

    Vadivelu responded on Fri 13 Jun 25:
    That’s for a great review Karen!

  • Pooja K. Dined: 1 week ago
    1.8
    Food 1.0
    Value 1.0
    Service 3.0
    Ambience 2.0

    Reviewed on: Sun 08 Jun 25
    Terrible food . Under seasoned , very poor taste and quality .

    Vadivelu responded on Sun 08 Jun 25:
    Pooja, thanks for your feedback and sorry we disappointed you. We take any criticism seriously and have had an internal discussion to address this. We wish you would have raised your concerns on the night to Co-Owner Jason, who came to your table twice to ask if all was OK. If you had complained at the time we would have been able to change things to your taste and hopefully send you home happy!

  • Johnny DoDo Dined: 1 week ago
    4.7
    Food 5.0
    Value 0.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 4.0

    Reviewed on: Fri 06 Jun 25
    Delicious food and excellent service. What more could you ask for

    Vadivelu responded on Sat 07 Jun 25:
    Thank you Johnny, that's exactly what we try to offer, great to be recognised for it!

  • Bux Dined: 1 week ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Thu 05 Jun 25
    It was lovely as always! Thank you so much!

    Vadivelu responded on Thu 05 Jun 25:
    Thank you for keeping on coming back Bux!

Show More
Book Now