A reservation for lunch at Roundhouse yesterday went sideways when we arrived to find that the Roundhouse restaurant (per se) no longer serves lunches, these are all taken care of by the downstairs and garden arm of the operation, called Rumbullion. It would have been good of them to inform me when I called, since I was there with good-loving friends, and had promised them a tasting menu.
Which is pretty much the opposite of what Rumbullion (meaning a loud and boisterous party) does. Rumbullion is the antidote to anyone who is dismayed by small portions. (Chef PJ Vadas later explained that it was their retort to the complaints from some upstairs diners that the tasting menu and general portion size at Roundhouse was anaemic). The sandwiches are Obelix-sized, the marrow bones are Rabelasian, the salads Jurassic. The menu, though it is market and seasonal ingredient-based, is also very masculine and meat-heavy. You sit outside, under a free-form tent, with superb views of the bay, and you chow down. Lawn seating is also an option, and families are welcome.
Three of us tried four dishes (and dessert), and this was certainly too much, even though two of the dishes were a soup and a salad. The gazpacho (R40) was good, fresh and crunchy and well-balanced. The Caesar salad (R78) was big and bold, with whole battered anchovies (but alas not crisp batter) and chunks of bacon (not lardon-style). The delicious marrow bones (R80) came with fantastic crusty bread (all bread made here, and it’s a real highlight of the menu) and an even better parley and caper salad. The sirloin sandwich (R95) had been recommended to me, but I found it to be a sandwich where the best ingredients had been collected to make an ordinary sandwich. The whole was poorer than the sum of the parts. Great bread, but very heavy and thick, putting the ratio to the (very good but under-represented) sirloin out. Then there was lots of mayo too, hiding the meat flavour further. A requested side of bearnaise sauce never arrived. A pavlova for dessert was very good, while the coffee was very ordinary.
I’ll certainly be back, but interested in the evolution of this menu – it is clear also from what PJ Vadas said that they are feeling customers out on the menu concept, and the Land that Time Forgot may draw closer to the 21st century.
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One Comment
My birthday picnic lunch was a disaster, after ending up with food poisoning definitely from the oysters. One of suspect which should never happen!! After booking well in advance I was surprised to find that the table we had specifically booked for my birthday had a group of people as at it. Soon after ordering our starters we were informed that the kitchen closed at 3pm. The 2 types of breads we ordered ended up being the same type. The children fish was full of bones…very dangerous. The adult one was overcooked, dried out and very over priced at R95 not worth it!! We had a t least 5 different waiters serving us with little co-ordination between them. The bill reflected items we never had. All in all it was a bad experience and we would not rush back and not recommend it to friends. A pity because it has a lot of potential.