The Hot Skillet

1 November 2019

THE HOT SKILLET

70 – 74 Bree Street, Cape Town

I was here a couple of years ago, when the restaurant had recently opened and may not even have been called The Hot Skillet yet and it was, as I recall, a bit unformed.  Today, the restaurant is quite well appointed and elegant, with the massive windows to Bree Street still bathing the interior in beautiful natural light. If one is properly positioned, you have an excellent view of the works of art in the double volume gallery space across the way.

It’s spacious, it’s tranquil, it’s inspiring and, best of all, the breakfast is excellent and very well priced.

In contrast to the artistic creativity on the walls next door, the menu is simple, unchallenging and, dare one say, basic. There are small and large fry ups, avo on toast, eggs bennedict(sic), Florentine and Royale, numerous add-ons and there are daily specials.  I might have missed them, but I didn’t see any health or vegan options. Best of all, the most expensive dish (eggs Royale) is a snip at R68.

My choice was the Skillet breakfast (R65) of eggs, pork banger, mushrooms, tomato and (supposedly) toast. I was thrown when the server asked whether I wanted my scrambled eggs soft, medium or hard. It’s not a question I’ve ever pondered. Medium, I guess?

As it turned out the scrambled eggs were perfectly cooked and if the halved pork banger seemed to be excessively caramelised on the flat sides, the reversed was paler and it was actually well-cooked. The bread was good though not toasted and the slices were spread with a mild mustard, which is a new one to me.  I ate the egg with the bread and then the mustard made sense.

It was a very satisfactory plate of food and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I added a ramekin of grated smoked Applewood Cheddar (R18), which was a mild cheese with a subtle smoky flavour.

The coffee was excellent too.

The total bill came to R128 before tip. The Hot Skillet must represent the best value for money breakfast in Bree Street, if not the entire CBD.