Boo Radley's brings old school flair back

Cape Town's Hout Street hideaway has become a popular inner-city watering hole for those in the know

“I was never one for restaurants that felt too important for their own good,” says Boo Radley’s owner Jay Haupt. Aptly he and business partner Alex George have hit the nail on the head with Boo Radley’s Bistro and Bar in Hout Street Cape Town.

Taking its cue from New York’s bistro-bar culture Boo Radley’s hails back to the styles, sights and sounds of the 1930s. Every little detail from the original antique light fittings to the porcelain black and white check tiles, old school jazz music blaring from the speakers and the large leather booths gives Boo Radley’s an old school charm that is hard to come by these days.

Laidback feel and upbeat pace
With its laid back feel and upbeat pace Boo Radley’s simply doesn’t feel like just another restaurant or a fifties bar – it is a bistro through and through. Just around the corner from the New Space Theatre, this unique spot has a history of being the home to unique restaurant spaces. During Apartheid the space, then also a restaurant, played host to legendary South African playwright Athol Fugard and his anti-apartheid theatre crew – Athol and his crew frequented the spot for weekly meet ups after rehearsals.

“There’s nothing like it in Cape Town, says Jay. Where everyone has gone very contemporary with their food we’ve gone for simply and classic. Boo Radley’s is the sort of place that people come to 3 times a week because the food is good and you always know what you’re going to get.”

When Jay says the food is good he’s not exaggerating. The menu at Boo Radley’s is filled with old favourites that will have you struggling to decide on what to order. Boo Radley’s caters to old school tastes with melt-in-your-mouth steaks, rich and wintery Mac and cheese, traditional home made beef burgers and indulgent mussels served steamed in white wine, mascarpone cheese, garlic and herbs.

If your craving something sweet after the your meal dig into softer-than-soft chocolate brownies with chocolate sauce and ice cream or try a cheese board for something a little more on the savoury side.

Getting thirsty?
Even the drinks menu is deliciously old-fashioned featuring classic cocktails made from original recipes invented before the 1950s. Expect old favourites like martinis, daiquiris, and mojitos with a twist. If you’re not into pink drinks their selection of unique micro brewery beers, like the ever popular and local brewed Jack Black Draught, won’t disappoint.

“We wanted to create a restaurant where people come for lunch and end up staying for dinner,” explains Jay. Spend a few hours in Boo Radley’s hanging out at the bar or having a slow lunch and you’ll come to notice that its regulars tend to set up camp at the comfortable bistro.

Boo Radley’s is filled with the young and hip looking for a place to camp out before a night out on the town. The Cape Town restaurant is the type of place where regulars set up a second home and new comers become regulars.

If you’ve been looking for that perfectly comfortable watering-hole spot, one where you can indent a permanent butt print in your favourite booth, Boo Radley’s is a definite strong contender. It’s a got uncanny Cheers type-vibe that will have you craving more. Kate – a regular at Boo Radley’s – says it best: “At Boo's you know you’ll always have a great night out. What’s not to love? Amazing cocktails, delicious food, fantastic service. I will be going to Boo's for as long as they’ll have me.”

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