Bruce Robertson, owner of The Showroom which closed down in Cape Town just over a month ago, has hopped back onto the restaurant scene with the opening of The Quarter, a tiny take-out bunny-chow restaurant located underneath the New Space Theatre at 44 Long Street, just two doors away from his The Showroom Cafe.
Robertson has his roots in Durban, and made a trip to his homeground to learn more about bunny chow from the locals, it having originated from there. Bunny chow is usually a street food which is cheap and easy to eat, being half a loaf of bread, hollowed out and filled with a curry food. Robertson calls it the “quintessential South African dish”.
Robertson’s restaurant’s name refers to the quarter size of bread he serves his bunny chow in. The restaurant has the ordering lingo and eating style written onto the wall, so that one can order and eat bunny chow correctly!
After suffering the closure of his award-winning restaurant The Showroom due to the bleak winter lying ahead, Robertson decided to open a “gourmet bunny chow shop”, with a “more hands-on restaurant feeding a bigger client base”. His bunny chow fillings include Crayfish potjie, waterblommetjie bredie, mussel and garlic pot, ‘welsh rabbit’, oxtail, gemsbok, and the standard mutton, chicken, beef mince, venison and goat. None of these cost more than R 65, and some dishes cost as little as R 20. Extra toppings, sauces and side dishes can also be ordered.
Robertson will also rent the premises to private functions of up to 16 persons, at R 860 per head, including wine, for which he will cook. The bunny-chow menu is set aside for such functions, and Robertson will cook a gourmet meal, washed down with wines from his collection .
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Went to try the bunny chow on Friday night and although the food was great, I can’t say the same about the experience. Firstly no white wine available, not by the glass, not by the bottle. No delivery they say (I think: “Harley’s is just up the road”)Then, at the end of the meal we are informed that they don’t take card payments. My partner has to go in search of an ATM. Then, no bill (I’m thinking: “tax rip-off”). We then go for coffee elsewhere and on the way back there is Bruce Robertson and staff all drinking white wine! Clearly the staff are more important than the guests! Sorry, won’t go again.
I have to disagree with the previous reviewer. Either they went there when the place had just opened, or I just happened to strike it lucky. Regardless, I had a lovely time. The lad that ran the place was friendly, knowledgeable and helpful and the food was simply divine, as was the choice of music and interior. I will most certainly go again.