Tag Archives: Castle

Pub review: Watching the World Cup at Harvey’s Bar, Winchester Mansions

We decided that the South Africa versus Uruguay game had to be watched in style and comfort, to give our Bafana Bafana team the best possible support in this important game.

I had popped into the newly renovated Harvey’s Bar earlier that afternoon, for a cappuccino and their scones, which I had read about on Twitter.   What a portion it was – 2 large light scones, and a clever trio dish containing real cream, grated cheese and strawberry jam (which the Congolese waitress pronounced as “ham”, causing some confusion initially).  The price was an unbelievably low R 18 – one scone would have been good value at this price alone.

The space that was previously the bar as well as the meeting room has been consolidated into one large bar area, but divided into three sections, one being an open smoking one (I did not know that this was allowed) with a TV area, which leads into the large bar area with another TV, and a smaller, more private, lounge without TV.   Seating is a mix of chairs and couches, in shades of grey and silver.   In the central bar area, bar chairs look smart and comfortable.   Unfortunately the tables are too low, making it very uncomfortable to eat from, one having to bend so low.   The edges of the chairs are very sharp, quite dangerously so.   The glass-encased chandelier lights over the bar, and in the lounge areas, are the most beautiful lights I have seen in a long time.  Sitting in the small lounge initially, I noticed that the top half of the window, which is hidden from the outside by a canopy, had not been cleaned in months, and the bottom part had not been cleaned recently either.  With the sun setting in the west, one can see the dirty windows easily, and even more so when one is in the hospitality industry oneself.

For the match, we sat in the bar area, on the bar chairs, in front of a serving counter, so that we could see the TV screen.   The counters in the bar area were behind us, so it was a little uncomfortable to get one’s drink and food from behind – a couch on the other side prevents the bar chairs from being put there, something the hotel may consider changing during the World Cup.  The bar was not very full, and therefore it lacked atmosphere.   The staff seemed disinterested in this important match, and it was annoying that the barman mixed drinks extra loud and extra long on his machines, it seemed.   Service is quite shy as well, although our waitress Chrystelle had a beautiful smile.   I was surprised once again that soccer fans in bars do not order food, feeling quite comfortable to only have a glass or 3 of beer.   300 ml of Paulaner and Peroni cost R 22, 500 ml cost R 30; Jack Black costs R17 for 330 ml and R27 for 500 ml; Castle costs R15; Amstel R16; and Heineken R20.

The Harvey’s Bar menu has a small selection of food, and we chose four platters for five of us, too much food in retrospect.   We had a samoosa and spring roll plate (R 48), of which the waitress did not know the content, saying the spring rolls contained beef, but there was no meat inside them;  nachos con queso, with minced beef, almost too spicy nachos and lots of cheese, at R 58; potato wedges with two dipping sauces, at R 21, our most popular order; and spicy chicken wings with a tomato based sauce, making them messy to eat by hand, at R48.  Other options are Flammkuchen, an Austrian pizza-type covered with bacon, onion and sour cream (R28); prawn calamari (R77); Club Sandwich (R68); Tuna pie (48), Ginger chicken wrap (57); a sirloin steak sandwich (R75); and a Winchester Burger at R 75.

The wine prices are reasonable, and 250 ml carafes of white and red wine are available.  The house wine, both white and red, costs R 26.   Fantail Vineyards from Morgenhof, both White and Rose, Leopard’s Leap Sauvignon Blanc, and Tortoise Hill each cost R 30; Bosman’s Family Vineyards Chenin Blanc and Rose cost R 40; and Paradyskloof Chardonnay costs R 45.    Fantail Vineyards Pinotage and Leopard’s Leap Cabernet Sauvignon cost R 29, Tortoise Hill and Fantail Merlot cost R 35, Edgebaston costs R45 and Cape Boar from Doolhoof costs R 54.   The sparkling wine is served per glass, Pierre Jourdan Cuvee Brut costing R 30, its Belle Rose costing R 45, and Colmant costs R 48.

The service is reactive rather than proactive.  The decor makes Harvey’s Bar an attractive venue, but it lacks spirit and energy, especially in watching a World Cup match.  There is no World Cup visibility at all except for a match schedule in the smoking section, and therefore it receives a low score as a World Cup soccer pub. Bafana Bafana’s sad loss did not help either!

Harvey’s Bar, Winchester Mansions Hotel, 221 Beach Road, Sea Point, Cape Town. Tel (021) 434-2351.  www.winchestermansions.co.za (no information about, menu for, or photographs of Harvey’s Bar).

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com

Pub review: Watching the World Cup at Caprice in Camps Bay

Cafe Caprice (commonly referred to as Caprice by the locals) is one of the most popular pubs in Camps Bay, heaving on Sunday evenings.  I chose it to view the Germany versus Serbia match on a gorgeous sunny Cape Town afternoon.

I immediately noticed a sea of red shirts worn by the England supporters, who were in town for their match against Algeria, and immediately felt in the minority, with the England fans supporting Serbia, enjoying Germany’s poor performance, and I was one of very few females.

Caprice is a man’s place, signalled by its weird mixture of functional furniture, couches here and there with white tables that looked like paper cutouts, and tables and chairs inside that looked like all-weather garden furniture.   There are flatscreen TV’s on almost every wall, allowing everyone to see the matches, except those visitors wanting to sit outside and enjoy the beautiful view onto the Camps Bay beach.  Colour photographs of soccer players in action have been put up on the walls.   The staff all wear red Havaianas T-shirts, to promote the footwear company that sponsored their clothing.   The staff do not know much about the brand.

The waitress handed me the menu and I asked if it had been printed especially for the World Cup.  She said it is the standard menu, which is commendable, given that many pubs have increased their prices.  On Twitter I had read that the Caprice Burger is one of the best in town, and decided to order that – it costs R 50, comes with a large portion of chips, served on a seed roll with lettuce and a slice of tomato, and is a very thick patty, so thick that you cannot get a bite into your mouth with the patty and one half of the roll – great for the guys, but not for the ladies – but excellent tasting, especially compared to my forced daily diet of McDonalds as a World Cup volunteer!  There are nine other burger options, starting at R 45 for a vegetarian burger with lentils and chickpeas, to R 65 for a mozarella, creamy mushroom and pepper sauce burger, or a Gourmet burger with cranberry jelly and blue cheese.   One can also order sandwiches, starting at what feels like an expensive R 50  for chunky chicken, sundried tomato or cajun chicken wrap, paying up to R 80 for a Mediterranean steak roll.  Eight salad options are offered, the Beach salad, a mixed salad, costing what feels to be an expensive R 55, up to R 80 for a Sweet chilli prawn sald, and an Ostrich salad.   Pasta arrabiata costs R 50, and seafood pasta costs R 100.  A 300 gram sirloin steak, and a 300 gram sirloin skewer at R80, sound like good value.   A plate of fries costs R 18.

As if the menu does not contain enough options, Caprice also serves eleven tapas options, ranging from hummus and pita, and tzatziki and pita (R32 each) to R 75 for chicken nachos.   Cajun calamari, spicy chicken skewers, crumbed mushrooms, cheese nachos, buffalo wings, chicken and peppadew springrolls, chicken livers and marinated sirloin are further tapas options.

Caprice serves Breakfast until 12h30, which is commendably late compared to many other venues, and they offer 12 options, the most basic being eggs on toast at a reasonable R 30, and the most special being the Health Royale at R 65, consisting of gypsy ham, 2 poached eggs, and hollandaise sauce. Other options are anchovy toast, flapjacks, eggs benedict, omelettes, etc.

The volume of beer supplied is not indicated on the menu, costing R13 for a Castle to R16 for a Heineken, R25 for Corona and R40 for andUnion, the latter being for 500 ml, and the other brands sold as 330ml.

As a World Cup venue, I found it terribly loud, as few of the patrons were really watching the match, and they were talking.  Service was slow in getting a menu, as there does not seem to be a dedicated waitress per section of the restaurant, meaning that I had to ask the manager to get me one.   It has a fantatsic view, the best so far, a bonus in the daytime.   Children dancing and drumming in little Xhosa skirts were an irritation, and it felt wrong to see them exploited for financial gain.   Caprice offers wireless internet for free, and they take reservations, which are pluses.   It is an excellent venue for men who want a beer or three, and want to soak it up with a good, reasonably priced, plate of food.   It is the home of king blogger Seth Rotherham/Will Mellor of 2Oceansvibe, a fantastic endorsement for the restaurant, given the stature of his blog and the following it enjoys.

Cafe Caprice, 37 Beach Road, Camps Bay.  tel (021) 438-8315  www.caprice.co.za (functional site, not very user-friendly, music plays when opened, slow to download, not very informative).  Open Mondays – Sundays.

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com

Mickey Mouse comes to SA

South Africa has been incorporated as a new destination of ‘Adventures by Disney’ as of 2009. The twelve-day South African tour itinerary includes Cape Town, the Garden Route, and the Kapama Game Reserve alongside the Kruger National Park, according to TravelHub.

Attracting American visitors, the Disney package includes trips to Cape Town icons such as Table Mountain, the Castle and Greenmarket Square. The package also includes cooking in Stellenbosch, winetasting at Spier, whale watching in Hermanus, visits to Monkeyland and the Featherbed Nature Reserve, as well as game drives.