Moira de Swardt
12/10/2011 09:00:47
Moira de Swardt: A perfect place to unwind while one waits for traffic to clear from the State Theatre parking.
The State Theatre has had several restaurants over the years, but none of them actually seem to make a go of it. They seem to become tatty so quickly, and Capellos was as awful after a while as its predecessor, so it was not with very high hopes that I stepped into the Afro Lounge. Wow! Was I in for a surprise!
The décor is attractive and understated. Upstairs are lots of little conversational spaces, the “lounge” in Afro Lounge. Downstairs are formal tables for eating. Lovely Afro-centric art fills the walls and the map of Africa on the landing on the stairs between the lounge and the more formal dining area is lovely. There is a garden with a water feature for the smokers.
The door between the garden and the lounge where I sat was open and I sat close to the garden, so I expected to be able to smell smoke, but not a whiff intruded to spoil my meal.
After my order was taken and before my food was served, I was presented with a basin in which to wash my hands. Warm water was poured over them and they were then dried. This is often done in “African” themed restaurants. Incidentally, it is an authentic, although very rural African custom, a symbol of hospitality and a practical gesture in a society where running water is literally not “on tap”. It is labour intensive where both water and fuel needs to be gathered and the first time I experienced this custom was in Nongoma, the home of the Zulu king (although I was not visiting royal houses, but very simple kraals).
The food is contemporary Afro-fusion food and I had the lime chicken breast and salad (R62) with a side order of rice (R25). This is a light meal and with a cold drink (R16) it was adequate to sustain me for the evening. Sadly the chicken was somewhat tough and although it was prettily presented. It also had no particular flavour of lime or anything else. The salad was a bed of lettuce with green, red and yellow peppers with onions, green olives and feta cheese and it was delicious. The rice tasted overwhelmingly of tomato paste but it was very nicely cooked to al dente. I was given a side plate with my cutlery and paper napkin (upmarket restaurants have no business using paper napkins) and when I lifted the napkin the plate had an enormous chip out of it.
The ambience was welcoming and leisurely, the music soft, the service was courteous, prompt, efficient and the toilets were well maintained. Let me mention the friendly and dignified service again. I felt as if I were visiting a royal kraal, or as if I was royalty visiting the Afro Lounge. It more than compensated for a less than perfect meal.
The Afro Lounge is situated between the Drama and Opera at the State Theatre, cnr Prinsloo and Church Streets Pretoria. They are open seven days a week from 9:00 till late and they have a breakfast menu as well as their other meals. Phone 012 549 0180 www.afrolounge.co.za
Source: www.Artlink.mobi