Civil servants spoilt for choice and value

The Cape Town Civic Centre not only offers the public and public servants alike a vast spectacle of supremacist architecture but also possibly the best value for money lunches around.

The imposing structure belies its true accessibility, which is as clear and easy when traveling by bus, train or car. You’ll save 50 cents an hour if you park at Sylvia’s but even if you are forced into the R5-an-hour supervised parking, a quick escalator ride to the 2nd Floor concourse will reveal what keeps civil servants away from their desks – a delicious food court .

Adam's Coffee Garden
Decorative touches provided by coffee sacks and laminated photographs of District Six provide the backdrop for undoubtedly the best coffee and cake deal in town. Certainly one of the most popular, it impressed my vanity greatly when, on my second visit, four days after my first, the barista remembered my order. I’ll concede that a double espresso with some cold milk isn’t standard but I was truly bowled over by his elephantine memory. The coffee was superb – a caramel-coloured crema proved the perfect amount of coffee, at the perfect temperature and pressure. I can’t begin to tell you how few places get this balance right.

I selected a two-layer chocolate cake to accompany by coffee. Both came to R12.50. Together.

If anyone knows of another place where a double espresso and cake is available for R12.50 please let me know!

Aside from coffees (they also have various flavouring syrups for those who prefer coffee to taste, or vanilla or rum) they have a wide variety of sandwiches which, although I didn’t taste, looked excellent and had people queuing for them. A spiced beef, cheese and salad sandwich for R8.50 or sausage, egg, spice beef toast etc breakfast for R22.

Miro
Chicken Pie with salads, rice and gravy. R15. The chicken pie looked delicious and my eyes almost popped out when a serving the size of a serviette was put onto my plate. It was served with shell-pasta salad, rice salad and butterbean salad. An atom would have to jostle for space on that plate. At first, I thought they were being sympathetic to my girth by offering me an extra-large portion but the next customer got the same. By the time I sat down, at plastic tables and chairs available to anyone eating at the food court, I was salivating. The first few mouthfuls of chicken pie were dreamy, moist, shredded chicken suspended in fine sago or some such coagulant. Unfortunately, I quickly developed a strong resistance to the Aromat-style flavouring that prevented me from finishing the dish – still, for R15, not bad at all.

Other options at the same price were chicken lasagna, chicken stew, roast chicken, pork chops and bobotie.

Ck’s Bistro
Already full, I opted for a half-portion of Ck’s Bistro Malayan Bobotie at R9. It was served with a traditional onion and tomato salad with chutney. Very delicious and delicately scented, I wished that I’d had it before the aforementioned chicken pie. Other offerings on the Monday menu are Tomato bredie and bacon macaroni and cheese. Full portions at R15/16.

Stanley’s Indian Cuisine
People in the know tell me that a curry mince bunny chow along with a cream soda drink is the ultimate comfort-food experience. Imagine my disappointment at Stanley’s not offering bunny chow that day! I opted for the next best thing, a curry mince roti. Not being a salad fan I asked if I could have extra mince instead of the salad. Mrs Stanley (just a guess) said the salad was free but I could have extra mince for R1 more. Gluttony triumphed. For R15 I relished every mouthful – although I would have enjoyed it even more in privacy, where I would have eaten it by hand.

Just Delights
Selling mainly indifferent pies and pastries, I was slightly impressed by the crumbed chicken crescents, but the lackluster mini mince pies and over-sweet koeksuster could have been avoided.

The New Gravy Train
I was more impressed by the witty political commentary than the lunch offering but I resolved on a return visit to go for the curry mince vetkoek for R6.

For people watchers, the Civic Centre offers endless opportunities to watch the old and new elite interact. Some imposing sculptural forms and the first mayor’s carriage provide historical interest. Craft-market wares were on offer during these visits but on an earlier one various business initiatives were showcased.