It was a surprise to receive an invitation for a restaurant opening late last year. Classic Car Bar is a clever car-themed The Engine Room restaurant and cocktail bar for which Executive Chef Reuben Riffel has designed the menu.

The Classic Car Bar is a pop-up restaurant which will operate in the Waterfront until May. It is a joint venture with N*ice Cream Lab, which makes magic ice cream in a moment with liquid nitrogen. 

Owners of the Classic Car Bar are Coenraad Harley and Stefan van Rooyen. They have previously been involved in operating a Bar in Paarl. Sue-Ann Allen is the Sous Chef.

Chairs are a distinctive blue, matching the blue plumbago which grows outside a glass wind-protection shield, allowing a beautiful view onto Table Mountain in the distance, and the Waterfront.  Tables have white plastic tops without tablecloths or napkins. I loved the nostalgia Coca Cola salt and pepper cellars. Cutlery is by Fortis Hotelware, and is contained in a black and white metal pail, together with paper serviettes. 

The decor is retro, with a petrol pump, a mini, a motorcycle, pictures of cars and motorbikes, and bar tables made from Valvoline oil drums.

I spoke to Mikhail Jacobs from N*ice Cream Lab, who made my friend Elize Skriker and I a chocolate hazelnut ice cream to share. He mixed sugar, concentrated chocolate, and added liquid nitrogen, which reduced the temperature to freezing point immediately. 

We experienced a silent disco for the first time, which was a trial run for the music options which Silent Events was offering on New Years Eve, one dancing to music which one listens to via earphones, with four types of music offered. TechnoBeat, Trance, and ElectroSwing were three of the music genres available.

We tried lamb, aubergine and pesto (R120), as well as pita with chicken (R110). The menu also offers snacks such as green olives, and pickles, costing R45. Snack boards with both cheeses and cold meats cost R105 – R120. Other tortillas and tacos are similarly priced at around R120, and are available in pork, cheesy beef patty, salmon patty, sashimi of tuna, and yellowtail sashimi. An El loco hot dog costs R98, and steak and chimichuri is the most expensive dish on the menu at R155. 

Desserts cost R80, including liquid nitrogen ice cream and freeze dried raspberries; Pavlova; cheesecake with strawberries; and rocky road ice cream. 

I was touched that the owners had heard about my birthday earlier in the week, and presented me with a magnum bottle of Boschendal.

The Classic Car Bar is an unusual themed cocktail bar and restaurant, which will be a big hit for car and motorcycle enthusiasts visiting the Waterfront, and wanting to try something new.

Classic Car Bar, Shop 154, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town. Cell 083 674 0945 www.theclassiccarbar.com Twitter:@CarBarVandA Instagram: @carbarsa  11h00 – 23h00.

Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog. Cell +27 82 5511 323 www.chrisvonulmenstein.com/blog Twitter:@Ulmenstein Facebook: Chris von Ulmenstein Instagram: @Chris_Ulmenstein