Hussar Grill

When it comes to food, everybody has his or her own personal inclinations. You get those people that like the Italian food of the world, your pizzas, your pastas and the like. You get those who prefer to satisfy their pallets with seafood dishes. These people tend to indulge in meals resembling the traditional, classic fish and chips. Then you get people who like meat; I am one of those people.

Established in 1964, Hussar Grill finds itself home to one of the best steak dishes around. With branches all over Cape Town, the impressive steak house is becoming increasingly well known as they continue to satisfy and impress customer after customer. I must be honest, Hussar Grill is a restaurant I have come to know very well as my family, friends and I have been taking advantage of their services for many years. Lost in the busyness that is Rondebosch Main road exists the famous steak house, which, if you haven’t gathered by now, is the restaurant up for review this time around.

For me, there is nothing better than a good steak. In life there are a number of moments that simply cant be forgotten. The birth of your child; the day you marry your spouse; the day you scored the winning goal for your team; the day you finally get that big promotion. All of these moments are happy, joyful ones that people simply don’t forget overnight. What makes these moments so unforgettable? Ill tell you. It’s the feeling that takes over you when you are in your respective moment. Feelings of happiness, pride and pleasure attempt desperately to escape from within us, however their failed effort to do so lives on in the form of Goosebumps. Forgive me for my slight over-exaggeration and potential dramatic rant but biting into your favorite meal, when everything about it is perfect is a moment, which could effortlessly rival ones I have earlier mentioned. Such a moment is waiting for you at the Hussar Grill.

The setting at Hussar Grill oozes class, elegance and beauty. From the well-dressed doorman to the elegant furniture and table arrangements you cant help but be visually impressed. The décor and general vibe of the restaurant is fairly fancy and swanky, yet at the same time there is an element of homeliness that I find is lacking in a lot of top restaurants in Cape Town. Like everything else in life, nothing is perfect and although the setting is for the most part stunning, I cant help but feel that Hussar Grill has packed a couple too many tables in such a small space, and because of this there is an element of claustrophobia. While its nice to eat in a festive, bubbly atmosphere I don’t want to be sitting on top of my neighboring tables’ meals listening to their conversations thank you very much. Although this complaint may well be valid, it is, by nature minor in the grand scheme of things and really isn’t enough to sour your dining experience at the Hussar Grill.

The service was, for the most part satisfactory. The staff seems well versed as to the happenings of the restaurant and the various dishes that are on offer as they confidently conduct themselves around the restaurant. One aspect I didn’t quite enjoy was the constant checking up and almost ‘nagging’ habits of the servers. Personally, I find nothing more irritating than being asked “Is everything ok here?” 50 times in one night.  You might disagree with me and argue that he/she is simply doing their job. Maybe they are but there’s a marginally fine line between being enthusiastic and annoying. I’m a customer at a restaurant, not a 90 year old in an old age home, if something’s wrong ill tell you. If not, smile at me. Show me to my table. Tell me about your specials. Take my order; perhaps make some lighthearted small talk. Do this, and we’ll both walk away happy campers. There’s no need for the constant and overdone check ups. Having said that, I’d much rather deal with the nagging waiter, as opposed to the careless, lazy one. If my biggest complaint about the service of a restaurant is that they are too keen, then you know they are doing something right. This is less of a complaint and more of a compliment.

On the whole my dining experience at Hussar Grill was an incredibly pleasant one. The food was fantastic. The setting was unique and special. The service certainly wasn’t bad. Other than being a bit pricey (we must remember I am in fact a student here) there really is little to complain about when one speaks of the magnificent steak house. If a good quality steak is what you’re craving then you should dine nowhere else but the Hussar Grill. There’s a reason I’ve been going there for years, and there are even more reasons why I’ll keep going there for many years to come.