{"id":28130,"date":"2011-12-13T09:57:42","date_gmt":"2011-12-13T07:57:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.whalecottage.com\/blog\/?p=28130"},"modified":"2013-09-25T21:28:07","modified_gmt":"2013-09-25T19:28:07","slug":"rhapsodys-set-to-become-a-restaurant-of-note-in-green-point","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/cape-town\/rhapsodys-set-to-become-a-restaurant-of-note-in-green-point\/","title":{"rendered":"Rhapsody’s set to become a restaurant of note in Green Point!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Rhapsody’s opened in Green Point last week, where Doppio Zero used to be, perfectly positioned for business when the Cape Town Stadium hosts events, and for locals in general. \u00a0It is the first full-scale restaurant of this Pretoria-based franchise group in Cape Town, and the 12th for the group, which has ambitious restaurant opening plans for next year. \u00a0It was chatting to the Executive Chef Claire Brown, previously of Pierneef \u00e0 La Motte, and some of the passionate managers that gave me confidence that this restaurant won’t be another franchise restaurant, but one that wants to make a difference for Capetonians.<\/p>\n

I was intrigued when I first saw the logo on the boards outside the restaurant when I visited neighbouring Caf\u00e9 Extrablatt about a month ago, and they told me the name of the restaurant. \u00a0The franchisor of the group and owner of the Cape Town branch is Michalis Xekalos, who opened his first Rhapsody’s branch in Menlyn, Pretoria ten years ago. \u00a0There are Rhapsody’s restaurants in Ghana, Bloemfontein, Polokwane, and Bedfordview, and an ambitious expansion plan for next year includes another branch in Ghana, two in Nigeria, and restaurants in Zimbabwe and Botswana. \u00a0Outlets may also open in Namibia, Mauritius, Tanzania, Barcelona, and more in Cape Town. \u00a0The restaurant pay-off line is ‘Flavours of Life’<\/em>, and this governs what the restaurant group stands for.<\/p>\n

I was astounded at the transformation of the interior from the previous Doppio Zero, the shop section on the left having become a lounge with a high tech bathroom, with a communal water fountain. \u00a0A huge bar counter has yellow lighting, and tables and chairs can seat about 100 inside. \u00a0A lot of money has been invested in the interior design, with a more-is-more design approach! A gas fire in the centre of the room creates ambiance, columns \"\"<\/a>are black and white striped, and walls are a mix of terracotta-colour and face brick. \u00a0A massive wine rack at the entrance is unlike anything I have ever seen, very modern. \"\"<\/a>A communal wooden table was specially made with the Rhapsody’s logo in silver. \u00a0Highback chairs in white and grey with a red thread are unusual, and the chairs around the ‘logo table’ were made from ‘synthetic’<\/em> white leather. The interior takes one’s breath away, as it is so large and has so many design features to comprehend. \u00a0The architect\u00a0is Chris Pattichides, who designs all the Rhapsody’s restaurants, and also does its interior design. \u00a0The decor is designed to make one feel the experience of being at Rhapsody’s. \u00a0The exterior of the building is strongly lit at night in the corporate blue, and one cannot miss its branding when turning into Main Road from the Stadium traffic circle.<\/p>\n

The managers have largely come from other Rhapsody’s branches (with the exception of Chef Claire), and all seemed to radiate pride in their new operation, and seemed to be very un-Pretoria, being focused on making this restaurant meet the needs of Cape Town customers. \u00a0Diederick Bissett is one of the managers I spoke to, and he told me that the time had come for Rhapsody’s to open in Cape Town, the group already having a lounge at Cape Town International airport, at which they serve drinks and light meals only. \u00a0He told me that the Cape Town decor has made it the flagship restaurant, and is very different to the more conservative decor of the older restaurants, being more ‘vibey’<\/em>. \u00a0 The restaurant will tend more to fine-dining compared to most of the other outlets, to reflect this greater need in the city. \u00a0Its winelist will also be expanded, to reflect the more sophisticated wine taste of locals. \u00a0The appointment of Chef Claire, sommelier Willie Kriek (previously with Cape Point Vineyards) and sushi chef JC Duarte (who has worked at Nobu and Zuma in London) demonstrates how ambitious Rhapsody’s is. \u00a0Cape Town Stadium event packages, including parking across the road, the ticket, and a meal will be offered.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Chef Claire told me that ‘fusion food’<\/em> is served at Rhapsody’s, being a mix of styles, with sushi, steak, fish, and salads. \u00a0 The menu I saw was a standard Rhapsody’s one, used in all their restaurants. \u00a0In January Chef Claire will present her own menu alongside the standard one, and will work with the sommelier to have a featured dish paired with a wine. \u00a0The whole group will meet in April, to review the menu, and at this time the executive chefs will have a say in the standard menu. The Cape Town branch is likely to set the benchmark for the group menu in future. \u00a0Suppliers include Fresh Produce, Hartman’s, and Gastro Foods, Southern Cross, and Illy roasts a special Rhapsody’s coffee bean. \u00a0Special Supper Club functions, with a set menu and live music, are on the cards, as could be celebrity chef cook-offs. \u00a0Chef Claire said her favourite Rhapsody’s dishes currently are the salmon tian (R69), chilli chicken penne (R74), and avocado brie fillet (R135). \u00a0Inside tables have table cloths, and a material serviette comes with two knives and a fork, by Fortis, and Kikkoman soy sauce was brought to the table for the sushi.<\/p>\n

The extensive menu uses beautiful photographs of the menu items to create appetite appeal, and it is introduced with a quote by Coco Chanel: ‘In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different’.<\/em> I ordered a prawn and avocado hand roll, which wasn’t on the menu, but it is planned to be added \"\"<\/a>by the sushi chef. It costs R35, and is one of the best that I have eaten. \u00a0I was impressed with the care taken in its presentation, something I have not seen for sushi before. Sushi platters range from R79 for seven pieces to R220 for 30 pieces. I also\"\"<\/a> tried the salmon tian, a stack of toasted crostini with lemon-pepper cream cheese, avocado and tomato, the basil pesto on the plate being an unnecessary extra. \u00a0Other starters are curried chicken liver (R47), snails (R48), calamari, and carpaccio (R59). \u00a0Salads range from R55 – R69 for Thai Beef salad. \u00a0All steaks come with extravagant toppings (e.g. one comes with cheese, avocado and biltong, costing R135, another with bacon and mushroom, at R129). Chicken dishes cost about R85, kingklip R125, burgers cost R59 – R69, and desserts range from R35 for Mississippi Mud Pie to R 42 for Death by Chocolate.<\/p>\n

The Cocktail list has an orange cover, in contrast to the black covers of the menu and winelist. \u00a0It is an extensive collection of cocktails, and contains branded pages with cocktails made with SKYY vodka, Glaceau vitamin water, Carvo, and Powerplay. Cigars are also \u00a0presented in the list. \u00a0The winelist is filled with beautiful photographs of a vineyard, champagne cork, and also contains branded pages for Saronsberg, Val de Vie and Van Loveren, reminding me of the Balducci menu and winelist. \u00a0Dom Perignon is offered at R2200, whilst Veuve Cliquot NV, Mo\u00ebt et Chandon NV, and Barons de Rothschild Brut Ros\u00e9 cost around R800. Cap Classiques (Pongr\u00e1cz and Pierre Jourdan, both just under R200 for the Brut) are separated from Sparkling wines (JC le Roux Le Domaine and La Chanson, both at R99) on the list. \u00a0Shiraz range from R26\/R98 for Arabella, to R289 for Cederberg, with Cloof, Delaire, Saronsberg Provenance, Joostenburg Syrah and Kloovenburg offered too. No vintages are specified at all, a major weakness of the winelist, but each wine is described. \u00a0Interesting is that a Red and a White wine Speciality section is listed before the variety sections on the winelist, and contained a mix of brands such as Leopard’s Leap Lookout Chenin Blanc (R99), L’Ormarins Chardonnay (R215), Tokara Walker Bay Chardonnay (R215), Guardian Peak Frontier (R195), and Haute Cabriere Pinot Noir (R375), all wines distributed by Meridian, I was told on asking. \u00a0Another Cape Town winelist will be available soon, with 35 wines (with vintages) to be added, to meet the Cape Town palate. \u00a0 The cappuccino was weak, and Diederick was honest in acknowledging that they haven’t got the coffee grinding quite right yet.<\/p>\n

Staff seemed plentiful relative to the customer numbers, but the restaurant filled up whilst I was there, on the terrace in the main. \u00a0I liked the blue branded shirts the staff wear, a break from the standard white and black. The staff was friendly, and Diederick told me that a lot of time is spent on staff training. \u00a0Rhapsody’s staff feel to be part of the ‘family’<\/em> and receive above-average pay, and this makes them stay longer and give better service. \u00a0The owners are charismatic and sociable, and involve their staff. \u00a0Customers too are looked after via The Rhapsodian CashBack Rewards programme, giving one 5% off, and building loyalty, one receiving the card immediately. \u00a0One should not expect much live music, despite the name and logo of the restaurant, but the background music volume and compilation was good.<\/p>\n

I found Rhapsody’s to be a little overwhelming, with an incredible selection of decor styles under one roof, a massive menu which comes across as franchise-orientated, and very friendly staff and management. I am sure that the Cape Town menu of Chef Claire and Willie’s Cape Town winelist will lift the level of the restaurant, and will take away its franchise feel. \u00a0Diederick refused my payment for the meal.<\/p>\n

POSTSCRIPT 12\/5<\/strong>: Rhapsody’s closed down in April.<\/p>\n

Rhapsody’s<\/strong>, 83 Main Road, Green Point, Cape Town. \u00a0Tel (021) 434-3004. \u00a0www.rhapsodys.co.za<\/a> Twitter: @RhapsRestaurant. \u00a0Monday – Sunday, Breakfast (7h00 – 12h00), Lunch and Dinner<\/p>\n

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com<\/a> Twitter:@WhaleCottage<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Rhapsody’s opened in Green Point last week, where Doppio Zero used to be, perfectly positioned for business when the Cape Town Stadium hosts events, and for locals in general. \u00a0It is the first full-scale restaurant of this Pretoria-based franchise group in Cape Town, and the 12th for the group, which has ambitious restaurant opening plans […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false},"categories":[3,124,20,21],"tags":[5961,1349,11644,398,32366,1167,32397,14342,14333,32378,14331,4278,14354,6096,14334,5217,722,10945,10125,3824,14337,3405,14355,666,2887,14338,581,3208,10150,14336,2827,14356,14353,2335,653,4911,7804,14332,4735,509,6611,228,229,14343,252,14357,13742,6601,14340,14339,59,2800,597,3211,32373,14335,1227],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t