Unpretentious and with a relaxed buzz, Hoofkantoor in Saldanha promises the sort of food which is bang on.
Calling the tapas a starter is optimistic. It’s a hefty feast of bratwurst, riblets, crumbed mushrooms, chips and sourdough bread competing for attention.
The Whiskey Glazed Burger has two juicy beef patties, melted cheese layers, peppery rocket, tomato and caramelised onions. This glorious tower stack is then brought together by a silky whiskey glaze that adds sweetness without turning the whole thing into dessert. It’s magnificently messy. Crisp fries smile alongside.
A 300-gm rump is free of unnecessary theatrics and cooked precisely to order. It delivers a caramelised crust while remaining tender within. Whether you choose mushroom, pepper or cheese sauce is a matter of personality rather than necessity; each complements the meat. The golden chips simply are impossible to stop picking at.
Then the riblets: sticky with a smoky barbecue glaze, their meat surrendering from the bone with barely any persuasion. Alongside sits a buttery mielie that proves corn on the cob deserves far greater respect than it usually receives.
Resisting dessert would be foolish. The gourmet milkshakes—peanut butter, milk tart, toffee coffee and Turkish delight—are absolutely over-the-top; thick enough to test the structural integrity of a paper straw and rich enough to qualify as a meal in their own right.
Hoofkantoor understands that generous portions, solid cooking and hospitality rarely go out of fashion.
Where: 53 Main Rd, 022 8800455
