A first visit to Table Thirteen, on the recommendation of Cormac Keane of Portofino, on a Saturday morning, was perfect in terms of service delivery, the generousness of the egg and bacon breakfast served, and the personal interaction from the Manager and chef Eileen.  As the owner Lara O’Sullivan was out of town, Eileen was happy to provide information.   

 

The menu on the deli board changes daily, and can include sweet pea and broccoli soup (R 38); homebaked ham truffle mushroom phyllo pie (R 70); grilled Norwegian salmon with feta and spring onion polenta (R 80); bacon, parmesan and thyme tart and salad (R70); Greek olive and artichoke chicken served with spring onion polenta and salad (R 70); and spinach, broccoli, and olive Quinoa with roast vegetables and salad (R 60). What is wonderful is that breakfast is served all day.   Bread and cakes are baked on the premises.   Sandwiches and salads can also be ordered from a printed menu.

 

The restaurant is located inside a shared space with T&Co, an interior design shop owned by Tanya Sturgeon, who bought the building, and has recently opened a T&Co in Johannesburg too.   Crystal chandeliers decorate the restaurant, and it has an eclectic collection of chairs, very few matching but this creates a fun interior.

 

A second visit a few days later disappointed when Eileen had left already, and had left the running of the restaurant to the waitressing and kitchen staff.  The waitress ignored the client until she was called for service, she served the bread and soup without a serviette and a knife, and served the apple tart with crème fraiche when fresh cream had been requested and confirmed.   Miraculously some “cooking cream” was found in the kitchen, and complemented the apple tart perfectly.   A quiet word spoken by Tanya, who happened to be in the restaurant, to the Table Thirteen staff improved service dramatically, and she instructed them to comp the meal, a generous and unexpected service recovery.

 

Table Thirteen is open on Mondays to Fridays from 8 – 17h00, and on Saturdays from 8h00 – 14h30.   It is located in Unit 78, Victoria Junction, Ebenezer Road, opposite the Green Point traffic department, and around the corner from Beluga, Green Point. Tel 021 418 0739.

 

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com