Cape Town Food

I’m a huge fan of Greek in Mowbray, as many people know. But that isn’t the only sister restaurant of the Fat Cactus. Tucked away on outside corner of possibly the most schizophrenic mall in the world, Pineland’s Howard Center (the place has been remodelled and renovated entirely several times in the last 5 years --- no small feat for an operational shopping center) is the absolutely wonderful Joe Fish.

Joe Fish is a local eatery that I must say serves the best bistro seafood I’ve had anywhere. The staff are friendly and attentive, the environment is clean and cosy without feeling cluttered or crowded.

Unlike major chains like CTFM or Ocean Basket, Joe Fish doesn’t try to pile on ridiculous specials of frozen prawns from Mozambique, or attempt making sushi not worthy of the name --- instead this seafood cafe focuses on the freshest of fresh seafood, with absolutely fantastic preparation.

I can’t say enough about the quality of the food; every single time I have eaten there I am so impressed by the quality, especially at the price. Last night was no different, with the Cajun calamari an absolute delight.

The restaurant gets pretty full even on week nights, so a booking is a good idea --- but is worth a late phone call or a drop in, the staff always try and find some space.

The restaurant has both an interior and an exterior space. Even with chilly winter nights like last night, the tables outside were kept warm under heaters.

Joe Fish doesn’t try to be something its not. It is as delightful as it is unpretentious. With a take away area, where you can sit at the bar and have a coffee while waiting for your order; to daily specials that really catch the eye, and delight the taste buds --- this bistro is a great spot when you really want some seafood done perfectly.

As I live in Pinelands, and go to Joe Fish at least once a month or so (although every time I go I contend to go more often --- and have once caught [excuse the pun] myself going for both a breakfast and a lunch) I might feel a little concerned about punting the restaurant too highly, as I might struggle to get a table in future. But really this restaurant is worthy of high praise for those who simply want a relaxed and friendly mid-week evening of great food and company.

I have no doubt that there are many other far pricier spots around Cape Town that would struggle to provide the fantastic ‘come again soon’ environment and ‘kos’ that Joe Fish does so well.

9/10 [Reviewed on 27 July 2010]

021-531-2974

Shop 39, Howard Centre
Logan Way
Pinelands
Cape Town

Breakfast 9am to 11am
Monday to Saturday
Lunch 9am to 9pm
Monday to Saturday 
Dinner 9am to 9pm
Monday to Saturday

Labels: Cape Town, fish, Restaurant, Review, Seafood

// posted by Andrew la Grange @ 5:07 AM 0 Comments

UPDATE: Tragically Greek is now closed. A real loss to Little Mowbray restaurants.

Whilst not Greek, another great restaurant in the group that brought us all Greek, is Joe Fish in Pinelands.

Otherwise Zorba's of the 70s at Lagoon Beach, or Spiro's in Hout Bay are still keeping the blue and white flag of Greek cuisine going (outside the abysmal mall chains like Ocean Basket)

Opposite Fat Cactus in Mowbray is a little dilapidated (moderately) gem of Greek. I love the food there – it never fails to hit exactly the right Mediterranean nerve for me.

I went their last week with the GF, and two great friends who are firmly on a diet drive for the new year – hoping that the menu would not be too much for them, and that they’d find something acceptable.

Since they needed the contact details and location (78 Durban Road, Mowbray, Cape Town. Telephone: +27 (0)21 686-4314), I went online to get them for them… and as I meandered around the food review sites I saw a lot of people dissing Greek, saying it was student chow, and not great, shabby etc.

This really made me feel sad – because for me Greek is a great example of a laid back Greek restaurant, where the menu isn’t intimidating (having good descriptions of each of the menu items), the food is always fresh, and the eating area and kitchen (which you can see into) is always clean and rustic.

Greek is Fat Cactus’ sister restaurant (along with the excellent Joe Fish in Pinelands I believe, but more about that some other time) – and is great value for money.

Our friends had the calamari salad, which I have had before there for lunch – and it is excellent – they seem fairly pleased. The GF and I had the usual as it were, the 5 mezze with pitas – for R129 – an absolute feast for 2 – we had dolmades (stuffed fig leaves), hummus, roasted feta with sweet chilli source, grilled houloumi and melitzanes (fried aubergine in batter). What can I say? DELICIOUS!

We stayed much longer, having cappuccinos (their coffee is excellent – I love it when restaurants invest in a good espresso machine, and Greek has done so – nothing smarts more than having a good meal ruined by crap coffee – Greek’s is excellent!) – and sharing some baklava, which has changed from when I last had it there – no longer the traditional square baklava, the chef has changed it into a slightly denser cigar shaped baklava, laid on yoghurt and drizzled with honey – this is the same one they serve at Joe Fish – slightly less rich and decadent than other baklavas around the city (such as Magnifico in Canal Walk – the only reason to risk the mall) – but also leaves you feeling less of a complete glutton for having dessert.

The service has always been friendly and attentive in my opinion, I doubt I’ve ever been served by the same waiter twice though, since its in a student area their is obviously a bit of staff turn over but everyone is always friendly, quick to serve and well timed as when to check – there doesn’t seem to be any overarching Maitre D’ or similar ensuring this happens – so its a testament to the staff that they get it right so often.

Clearly, if you read this far you know I LOVE Greek. Why? The food is excellent, fresh, different, good value for money and authentic. The staff and service is top draw. The kitchen and restaurant is CLEAN, and authentically flaky in the positive sense (in the Greek fishing village way – worn but well cared for).

To have a feast, with several rounds of coffee and desert, with tip for 4 people for R440 it is a recession proof dining experience. I love it, I love it!

9/10 [Reviewed on 7th Jan 2010]

78 Durban Road,
Mowbray,
Cape Town.

Telephone: +27 (0)21 686-4314

p.s. I promise to take pictures next time.

Labels: Greek, Mediterranean, Mowbray, Restaurant, Review

// posted by Andrew la Grange @ 10:35 PM 2 Comments

In case you haven’t tried it, the Coca-Cola company has developed – through their sub-brand Glaceau – something called VitaminWater.

Whilst I remain in love with Coke Zero and Sprite Zero, and thought Coke may have figure out a way to keep me off the sugary drinks, the evil geniuses have come up with an absolutely fantastic drink.

I thought it was a gimick to be honest – vitamin enriched water, give me a break – but the stuff is excellent, and thankfully due to the reach of the company we can all enjoy the delicious 120 calorie beverage in all its glory!

I love it, I recommend it – a fantastic pick me up, just fight the urge to drink one every day!

Labels: Drinks, VitaminWater

// posted by Andrew la Grange @ 10:13 PM 0 Comments

I've been very bad, and not said much on this blog for a while. I'm going to do my very best to rectify the situation, and get blogging in a much bigger way about food.

I've still got lots of great photos and stories to upload about the box of goodies from Eat-In, as well as some of the adventures I've been having around the WC checking out great places for food and foodies.

But I just wanted to quickly recommend a really cheap, quick and enjoyable restaurant that I've noticed is struggling, when it really shouldn't be, and I thought I'd just encourage anyone reading the blog, or ultimately searching on the net for a great Chinese buffet in Cape Town.

I generally don't like buffets. I find them strangely intimidating, whilst at the same time disappointing because often the food is not at its best, not really hot and fresh, and often a general let down.

Not so at Chopsticks in Durban Road in Little Mowbray in Cape Town. This road is blessed with a cornucopia of great restaurants, and you can see why the spoilt-for-choice residents of this little corner of the city would struggle to decide what to each.

In the general area are such greats (and not-so-greats) as Sakura, Greek, Fat Cactus, Chai Yo, Curry Quest, Bruegels, etc. A very competitive little street to do business in.

Chopsticks has an excellent Chinese buffet, offering spring rolls, two choices of soup, prawn chips for starters. You just help yourself. The starters are freshly prepared, and constantly replenished through the night; not much gets to stand around and the kitchen staff keep a careful eye on what's there to be eaten so that things are always ready for table.

The mains offer a lot of options for meat lovers and vegetarians alike. All the classics of sweet and sour chicken and pork, as well as various chop suey, vegetable and tofu options about. The sticky ribs are awesome as well. Several types of rice and noodles are available as well.

Bowties are on offer for dessert, which last night we enjoyed over a large pot of green tea (only R10 for four cups, a classic way to end a meal).

The waiters are friendly, a lot seem to be students, and the drinks are very reasonably priced, and they have a fairly decent budget wine list. I'd say that you can also bring a bottle of your own along, they do charge R20 corkage though.

Which is fair considering the entire buffet costs R58, a real steal for a three course meal. You can also order off the menu, and apparently they have a buffet over the weekends which costs more which includes sushi on offer (sushi is of course available through the week as well).

The R58 buffet is available Monday to Friday. The restaurant can feel a bit empty, which is one of the reasons I want to promote this restaurant because based on the friendliness of the staff and owners, the wonderful food and the good service, I'd expect this place to be packed, especially in such trying financial times as many people are experiencing.

As Sian pointed out to me, Chinese food goes through fashions, and at the moment its in a dip. Probably true considering the myriad of Chinese restaurants offering sushi. This is unfortunate, since traditional Chinese food, well prepared such as at Chopsticks is a wonderful taste sensation. The food is fresh, not fatty and really filling.

They have a bar and smoking area if you so require.

Full details available at dining-out.co.za

Chopsticks

97 Durban Road
Mowbray
7700

Tel: 021 685 0876

Labels: Buffet, Cape Town, Chinese, Mowbray, specials, sushi

// posted by Andrew la Grange @ 5:14 AM 2 Comments

I'm so glad that Henré Rossouw said what I've been thinking for a long time: that South African wine critics have simply no class.

I'm a long time reader of Wine Magazine, and over the years the arrogance has gotten to me on varying levels. Reading Rob Morris' article, where he unjustifiably slams a farm that is making good efforts to improve itself and its brand, is classless and baseless. Perhaps he should remember his years a varsity drop out before mommy from publisher's Ramsey, Son and Parker got him the job at Wine Magazine.

Morris, and Christian Eedes (with whom he's been known to waste a Friday lunch hour drinking free wine at Greek in Mowbray), exemplify a real weak point in South African wine journalism: namely the idea that great wine journalism is snobbish and slams all who try.

I am certainly no fan of the 'everyone deserves a certificate' attitude of many in our post-modern world: but I think people who spend their lives writing copy for a magazine like Wine Magazine in a suburb as plat as Pinelands should watch what they say (I know, I lived there once, as I did in Stellenbosch: At least people who live in the winelands have some class!)

// posted by Andrew la Grange @ 5:59 AM 0 Comments

    On Monday this week I got a mail from Eat-In magazine, asking if I'd like to help in the nomination process for small producers of food! Would I ever! A goodie box to use and enjoy, coming up with a decision on what would be worthy to be nominated came through to the office today, and I intend to get cracking tonight on trying out the various products; some established boutique brands (like Nomu) as well as some other relative unknowns makes it look like its going to be an interesting week of experimenting and tasting what's on offer.

To find out more about the Eat In RMB Private Bank South African Produce Awards check out the Eat In website: www.eat-in.co.za

To whet everyone's appetite, here is the whole unboxing process from this morning in the Cape Town Food office (I loved the green bow! too precious):

Labels: Award, Eat-In, Nominations

// posted by Andrew la Grange @ 2:50 AM 2 Comments