Light meals a bit lukewarm
PRICES DON’T MATCH CANTEEN THEME
WINTER has arrived in Johannesburg – with a blast of cold air.
So, on such a cold, frigid day, when I was too lazy to attempt the freezing kitchen in my house (as was the rest of the family), we ventured down to Maboneng Precinct.
The up-and-coming area in Joburg ’ s CBD, Fox Street to be exact, has high recommendations for its trendy, new look. A walk up and down the street led us to Canteen at Arts on Main.
I ’ m sure in the summer the beautiful, picturesque outside is a fantastic place to sit and dine among the trees, but not this day.
Canteen has two indoor dining areas separated by an open-plan kitchen with a rooftop bar.
The open-air bar is only available on Sundays.
The cold, early afternoon air was tempered with a heater, which, thankfully, was on.
The unfinished, unpolished deconstructive look definitely works with the canteen image.
The prices for drinks and food definitely don ’ t match the canteen theme though, so be warned. A burger and chips, for example, goes for R85.
Framed, modern artworks adorn the walls with a projector displaying the day ’ s sport as well as background music.
Despite being early-ish in the day, the patrons were rowdy. Together with the other background noise, this might not be the place for you if you ’ re looking for somewhere quiet.
The area tends to cater towards the 25 to 35-year-old crowd although there are groups of university students hanging around.
The service is good and friendly, and the waiters know their menu, but it is on the slow side.
Our table ordered the homemade ice tea and from the wide variety of craft beers available.
On the food side, we ordered a chicken shawarma and chips; a Canteen burger with chips and coleslaw salad; beer-battered hake and chips with tartar sauce and peri-peri flamed grilled chicken with chips and a coleslaw salad.
Our table as a whole was not too impressed with the food.
The shawarma was not out of this world and is pretty much stan- dard fare. The fish leaned towards the small side and the peri-peri chicken was by no means scorching hot.
When my “home-made ” burger patties – bought from a local retailer – get a higher standing, it is a bit worrying.
The meals were warm when they arrived, but not hot as if just cooked.
I hope this had something to do with their electrical box which kept tripping and had everyone scurrying to get it working again.
The coleslaw had a bit too much mayonnaise for my liking, but others may enjoy this.
Overall, it wasn ’ t the lazy food fare I was imagining and I was certainly not awestruck as others who have been to Arts on Main have been. Maybe a summer trip is a better idea?
On the bright side, there is much retail and art available for you to peruse and buy, and possibly the best coffee ever.
A taste from the most interesting barista will definitely have me going back to Origin Coffee on the corner of Fox and Berea streets. We were taught the ins and outs of coffee storage and making despite the store already being closed.
Kudos to Origin for great service and enthusiastic information.