Oudtshoorn's restaurant scene punches above its size, partly because it gets steady tourist traffic from the cave-and-ostrich circuit and partly because the local produce is excellent. Ostrich is on almost every menu — it tastes like lean beef, works well as a steak, and is worth trying at least once.
Jemima's on Baron van Rheede Street is the standby for Karoo cooking done properly: ostrich fillet, kudu pie, and waterblommetjie bredie (a stew of water lily flowers native to the Western Cape). The atmosphere is relaxed and local, and the portions are large. The Nostalgie Restaurant at the Pinehurst guesthouse is more formal and good for a special occasion. Godfather's near the town centre is popular for pizzas and offers a more relaxed mid-range option. For coffee and light meals, the bakeries on Voortrekker Road open early and are where the locals eat breakfast.