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Eat at an institution
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February 5, 2010
By Rafiek Mammon
Don Pedro's is still at 113 Roodebloem Road in Woodstock - and this address I am sure is indelibly etched into many people's psyche. This venue is, should that be was, an institution in the city. But what exactly makes Don Pedro's an institution?
There was a time when it was the place to be and certainly to be seen. It was the restaurant you could stop by for that much-needed nightcap or late night snack on your way home from a party or the cinema - usually the Labia at the time - or a theatre show. And 10-to-one you would meet a few like-minded friends or acquaintances there, and often (around 3 or 4am) you'd help close the place with the then owner Shaun as knackered kitchen staff looked on, weary of their long day's slog.
Or, they would oftentimes join in on the fun. And fun at Don Pedro's was always spelled with a capital "f" then. And yes, it is no longer that place, but it still - 19 years later - maintained its original feel and look. And this is not because the owner is miserly, but because according to her she wanted to preserve that "earthy feel and for people to still have that Bohemian experience".
These days Don Pedro's competes with many such places - places that transformed ordinary houses into restaurants, and which offer that "home away from home" feel. But many of them are pretentiously masquerading as Bohemia but everything's too carefully considered. I remember when shebeens became "popular" some people tried to "create" shebeens in the centre of town with clubs often being decorated to look like a shebeen. Don Pedro's is as original as it gets.
Yes, chances are you'd be sitting on a church pew or a plastic garden chair. And, yes, there'll be all sorts of pop art posters on the walls - some local shows being advertised and local artists often exhibiting their goods while serving as décor for the restaurant. But you will know that your salad is fresh and tasty, and not just a few morsels of ingredients heaped on a bed of lettuce.
You will get very good pizzas, one of which you could choose from will be a curry mafia - a pizza with chunks of mutton curry as the topping. Believe me; don't knock this one until you've tried it. And you will get the best of homegrown bredies (stews). They even have pumpkin stew - something I thought hitherto was never available at any restaurant. For R79 you could try three different very South African dishes (like original bobotie, tomato bredie and gheema curry or pumpkin bredie) - all too delectable for words - as one dish as they serve you a little bowl of each with veggies and basmati rice. The dessert menu is tiny but for the very genuine bread-and-butter pudding with custard (R29) alone one would want to return again and again.
And yes, when one drives past there late at night it is either already closed or has four patrons and a poodle.
Donna (the owner) wants the place to stay as is and perhaps add the artistic quality so that it could get back that sense of what it meant to many Capetonians over the years. She invites artists with original songs and poems, and with ideas for one-person shows to come and use the newly erected little stage and show off their goods.
Don Pedro's turns 19 in June. Donna is planning a huge party, with live entertainment. She hopes all the old patrons who have fond memories of the restaurant will come in droves to share the night with them. Watch the press for details.
To book, call 021 447 6152.
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