Last week my friend Gary Peterson and I headed off to Kenilworth to attend a restaurant event, and popped in at Fat Harry’s next-door, to check if my friend Stuart Bailey, co-owner of the restaurant, was there. Sadly he was not, but as we had a few minutes to spare before the next-door event started, we sat down at a table, and were bowled over by the restaurant service almost immediately!

Bubbly Chef Gareth Wever came to our table as he saw us sitting down, welcomed us, apologised for Stuart having had to leave, and offered us a taste of their brand new Vetkoek Tapas. As I had never experienced such a Tapas before, Gary and I agreed, and Chef Gareth recommenced a glass of their Laborie Shiraz to accompany the Tapas. We told waitress Pumi that we only had ten minutes before we were meant to be at the next door event, and she and Chef Gareth made things happen super fast.

I had last been to Fat Harry’s when it was still in its Friends-and-Family trial stage, before it opened in October. At that time I had tried a spread of bites of dishes on their opening menu with my friend Eugene van Eck. Living in the opposite end of the world, and rarely traveling to the Southern Suburbs, I had not been back since. Stuart and his business partner invested in the restaurant when they took it over, creating a brand new kitchen and bathroom, adding a pizza oven, and transforming Fat Harry’s into a restaurant, having previously been predominantly known as a bar.

Fat Harry’s in Kenilworth transformed from Bar to Restaurant with a Bar, with new owners, new decor, new kitchen and chef, new menu!

The Vetkoek Tapas arrived almost immediately, two balls smaller than the usual size, but perfect as an unusual Tapas dish, served with a brown onion gravy.  It tasted so good, and I not having had lunch, that we asked Chef Gareth about other Tapas on their menu. We stopped him at the mention of Amazeballs, a ball of melted cream cheese, Gouda, and cheddar, served with a chipotle aioli, and Tempura Prawns, served with garlic aioli. Both were absolutely delicious. Had we not had to attend the event next door, we would easily have stayed and tried even more dishes. As the bill arrived, but not charged for the Vetkoek Tapas, two milktart shooters accompanied it, again what an unusual drink, demonstrating the creativity of the Fat Harry’s kitchen.

From my first visit to Fat Harry’s I remembered a delectable-sounding Jack Daniel’s Chicolate Mousse and ice cream, so Gary and I returned to the restaurant after the event next door, and ended off our evening on a very sweet note. A musician was playing very vibey music, but it was good that our table was nearest the door and furthest away from him, it being so loud. It was more difficult to get the bill a second time round, but a chef saw me waving and brought it to me promptly, and took my payment. Another Milktart shooter arrived to accompany the bill.

An unplanned visit to Fat Harry’s was a lovely intermission to the road trip with three stops last Thursday, and turned out to be the highlight of the drive, such excellent service and creative tasty Tapas not experienced elsewhere in Cape Town.

Disclosure: Fat Harry’s Co-owner Stuart Bailey is a friend of mine.

 

Fat Harry’s, 166 2nd Avenue, Kenilworth, Cape Town. Tel 021 879-2351 www.fatharrys.co.za Instagram: @fatharrys.reloaded

Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.whaletalesblog.com  www.chrisvonulmenstein.com/blog Tel +27 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@Ulmenstein Facebook: Chris von Ulmenstein Instagram: @Chrissy_Ulmenstein @MyCapeTownGuide