{"id":9814,"date":"2010-06-30T10:50:31","date_gmt":"2010-06-30T08:50:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.whalecottage.com\/blog\/?p=9814"},"modified":"2010-06-30T11:02:47","modified_gmt":"2010-06-30T09:02:47","slug":"pub-review-watching-the-world-cup-at-forester-arms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/cape-town\/pub-review-watching-the-world-cup-at-forester-arms\/","title":{"rendered":"Pub Review: Watching the World Cup at Foresters Arms"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Foresters Arms, or Forries as it is commonly known, is a Newlands landmark, having been built as an inn in 1880, as a halfway station between Cape Town and Simonstown.\u00a0 With its English Tudor style building, I chose it as the pub to watch the England versus Slovenia match.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

I had not been to Forries since an Ikeys\/Maties\u00a0Intervarsity rugby match about 35\u00a0years ago, and it felt as if the interior of the pub had not changed one bit since then!\u00a0 \u00a0It comes across as a goldmine, into which no money has been re-invested for years, at least not as far as its decor goes.\u00a0\u00a0 Its wagon-wheel lamps, black and white photographs of the original inn, its wooden benches and tables, set up school-wise so that one sees the backs of the persons in front of one, and old-fashioned menu design all date the pub.\u00a0 I was disappointed with the lack of “gees’ of the predominantly England supporters, even though the pub had lots of flags up outside the building, the staff wore soccer shirts (the only pub visited that showed its World Cup spirit in this way), and England was winning.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In addition to the very extensive menu, a reduced World Cup laminated menu is presented.\u00a0 The reduced menu offers 200 gram baskets of crumbed mushrooms for R 47, and barbeque ribs for R 43, and a 250 gram basket of peri-peri chicken wings\u00a0for R 40.\u00a0 A 250 gram “super rump” steak sounds good value at R 78, while three wrap choices\u00a0cost around R 60.\u00a0 A Moroccan chicken salad costs R 58.\u00a0 I saw some patrons order chips, probably the most popular item on the menu, which cost R 17\/R34.<\/p>\n

The main menu, whilst offering varied choices, almost seems overdone, especially as\u00a0I\u00a0hardly saw anyone eating during or before the match.\u00a0\u00a0 It offers every possible food type, starting with breakfast options ranging from R 28 – R 49; eight starters range from R 35 – R 58, and include chicken livers, mussels, springbok carpaccio; all steaks are 250 gram, and the most expensive is the fillet steak at R 135, not inexpensive at that price.\u00a0\u00a0 Salads range in price from R58 – R 65, and it is surprising there is such a choice available, given that most\u00a0patrons I saw were male.\u00a0\u00a0 Fourteen pizza options are offered, the most expensive being a Figaro Pizza (bacon, blue cheese, and figs).\u00a0 I had the pizza with a mushroom, asparagus and avocado topping, and\u00a0was extremely disappointed – I could not taste the asparagus, yet tasted something in a\u00a0sauce, covered in cheese.\u00a0 It tasted most unappetising, and was not attractive either, yet cost R 68.\u00a0\u00a0 Fish and chips cost R 60.\u00a0 Schnitzel, chilli steak and steak rolls are also available.\u00a0 As if this is not enough choice, they have a section called “A la carte” – was the rest of the menu not that already? – with a mix-match of Gourmet Karoo Lamb Burger (R65), calamari strips, tiger prawns (8 for R 135), steak and kidney pie, chicken pie, mussels, gammon steak, green chicken curry and pork ribs.\u00a0 A carvery at R 95 is another option, but is only served on Sundays and public holidays.\u00a0 The manager told me that the steak and kidney pie, the Forries pizza and their burgers are by far the most popular menu items.<\/p>\n

The winelist is introduced as follows: “The wines we have selected have also been accredited by the Platter Wine Guide”.\u00a0 One cannot imagine anyone drinking other than beer at Forries, but they do sell some very inexpensive wines by the glass (R18 for Robertson Chapel white and rose), Savanha Chardonnay costs R 22,\u00a0 and Spier Cabernet Sauvignon and Barista cost R 35 each.\u00a0 John B wines cost R23.\u00a0\u00a0 But Forries also stocks Moet et Chandon at R 700; Simonsig and Graham Beck sparkling wine at around R 200; Spier Private Cellar shiraz costs R 230.\u00a0 Corkage is charged at R 30.<\/p>\n

“Forries offers the largest selection of draught beer in the Cape”, according to the winelist, and its 500ml Amstel and Windhoek cost R20,50; Castle costs R18,50; Hansa R18; Mitchels R20; Peroni R22,50; Pilsner Urquell R24,50; and Guinness R25,50 – these prices are very good value compared to bottled beers served at other pubs.\u00a0\u00a0 The quantity of beer is not specified nor requested when ordering, and I was only told afterwards that a 330ml size was available for all the draught beers.<\/p>\n

It is hard to imagine what attracts clients to Forries, other than\u00a0the tradition of going there from varsity days, good parking availability, and its good value and range of draught beer.\u00a0 It cannot be the food (the worst of all the pubs to date)\u00a0nor the decor.\u00a0\u00a0 I rated it luke-warm on World Cup “gees”,\u00a0and nothing would drag me back to Forries again.<\/p>\n

Foresters Arms<\/strong>, 57 Newlands Avenue, Newlands.\u00a0 Tel 021 689-5949.\u00a0 No website, but www.forries.co.za<\/a> will go live in “about a month”!<\/p>\n

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

Foresters Arms, or Forries as it is commonly known, is a Newlands landmark, having been built as an inn in 1880, as a halfway station between Cape Town and Simonstown.\u00a0 With its English Tudor style building, I chose it as the pub to watch the England versus Slovenia match.\u00a0\u00a0 I had not been to Forries […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false},"categories":[3,124,20,21,11],"tags":[5149,5284,32366,81,4731,3804,5452,3518,5444,5445,5456,226,5455,5454,5446,5448,5451,5453,4735,1166,2848,3866,5300,1740,5247,5449,5450,230,3511,52,5447,5425,2127,531],"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