Hussar Grill

Hussar Grill Steenberg

10/29/2013

For those observant eyes last night who may have read the famous quotes on the walls, I enjoyed this gem: “I have taken more out of alcohol than alcohol has taken out of me.” Sir Winston Churchill

After many lagers, red wine, warm chocolate vodkas, dom pedros and whiskey (a working man’s Jamieson; not that cheekily overpriced Lagavulin stuff) – I fear alcohol was the winner last night, Sir Churchill.

Hussar Steenberg was under pressure to perform and match its illustrious siblings, and it has stuck to its winning décor and ambience. It’s the Morne Steyn of steakhouses – you know you’ll have a solid outing but don’t expect fireworks every time.

The waitron presented us with a well stacked meat-board of the various cuts on offer, with recommendations for each cut. Once again I put myself out there, overlooking the safe and conservative fillet and choosing the 300g fillet-on-the-bone.

It proved to be a difficult score to give. My actual 194g of meat was very good, but just too much bone in the end. The sides of chips, onions and veg were pretty good.

Our waitron started out well enough, but drinks orders were a bit slow and service got slower as the night progressed. Sure we may stay longer and be more demanding than the average diner, but our bill is usually a good foot or so in length. One of our more expensive nights out – but that happens when the host yells "Bring us the best bottle of red you have..."

Great night as always, good work Chris!

Overall:    7.1 (average of scores)
Steak:       7.9
Sides:       6.2
Service:    6.8
Value:       6.6

3 Comments

Fellla

10/29/2013 03:29:37

Another good Steak & Wine Club Function, this time at the Hussar in Steenberg. Pickers did a superb job as host, ensuring that the manager was aware of the esteemed gathering of steak connoisseurs that was heading his way. Bowls of sweet potato chips, lovely olives and excellent biltong were provided, perhaps to influence the scoring on Cape Town's premier steak night website (which still requires a light touch of the dark arts of SEO, BD).
The waitron presented us with the various cuts on offer, with recommendations for each cut. Nice touch. The Fillet on the Bone, the cut du jour of the Tough Crowd™, was far and away the most popular choice, with only Pierre (prime rib) and Roland (risking the meat sweats with a 500g T-Bone) going against the grain.
Steak: 8/10 - very tasty fillet OTB, tender and cooked to perfection. Good mustard sauce.
Sides: 3/5 - nothing spectacular with respect to the chups, onion rings, butternut and creamed spinach (yawn)
Value: 2/5 - R425! How expensive where those delicious chocolate shooters?? Was it the Zandvliet shiraz? Or was someone ordering single malts?!
Service: 3/5 - She started well enough, especially with the presentation of the cuts. Drinks orders were a bit slow and her general attitude went south the longer the night progressed. Yes, we may stay longer and be more demanding than the average punter, but we ring up good bills and tip well, so she needs to suck it up, pick that lip up off the floor, and get me another Jack on the rocks, godammit.
Ambiance:3/5 - solid fairly old skool steakhouse vibe. Wood panelling and the like.
Overall: 21/35 = 60%, which seems quite low for a good night, so I'll whack in 3 bonus points for the welcome snacks and the short drive home, giving it an overall 24/35 = 68,5%.
Good work Pickers and thanks all.

10/29/2013 03:31:26

Steak - 4/5 - my fillet on the bone was very good. Not quite Theo's or even Nelson's Eye but up there...
Sides - 2/5 - the butternut and creamed spinach was bland and tasted like it was cooked in a central kitchen 3 days previously. Plus a poncy silver cup full of chips that are clearly from a "chip supplier". Didn't like the onion rings either. Too much batter and the rings themselves weren't cooked properly
Service - 3/5 - nice presentation of the meat but that's what I expect at a steak-house. From there I wasn't too sure who our waiter was. Service was OK but kept hanging a for a few things.
Value - 4/5 - their prices are pretty standard. Extra point for no corkage although we didn't take too much advantage of this.
Ambience - 4/5 - solid steakhouse vibe. comfortable table.chairs etc.
Shenanigans - 3/5 - not quite Jewel or Asoka or Ricks...

6.5/10

Basically not as good as Hussar Grill Rondebosch and about as good at the Camps Bay branch. Their sides let them down... Otherwise Hussar Grill has the formula for franchise steakhgouse in CT right now!

Good work Pickers!

10/29/2013 04:04:07

Steak 8/10 - Going to the Hussar, you're always going to be expecting top-drawer stuff, but sadly this chunk of fillet-on-the-bone was not as tender as desired, albeit very tasty. Completely opposite to the vibe with last month's excursion to Nelson's Eye.

Sides 2.5/5 - Meh… and that goes for the onion rings as well as the fries.

Service 3/5 - Whatever happened to service with a smile? Plus points for the comprehensive talk through the meat board, but a far cry from Mr - no, Sir - yes, Sir Cyril - Who's still holding the floating trophy for Cape Town's finest food and beverage consultant. He really has balls'ed it up for the rest of the waitron's around town.

Ambience 3/5 - Couldn't help but get the feeling it was like the Hussar Rondebosch, but not quite up to the same level. Throw in a couple of old fogies floating about some very questionable background tunes, and you're in trouble. An extra point for the display fridge LOADED with fine cuts ‘o meat.

Value 3/5 - "Bring us your best bottle of red in the house..." was always going to hurt, and after applying Aiden's Rule to the diminished number of guests hanging around when the bill came might have had an impact here

Kak-praat 5/5 - Legendary as always - highlights were Mr P being labelled as a biker-pussy. I'm not so sure the rest of the restaurant appreciated that as much as us. We've previously been known to be able to have a party in a bus shelter, and now that can be said for a basement parking lot to. Good effort.

This leaves a respectable-but-not-the-best-in-town tally of 7/10

Hussar Grill Steenberg

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