Paul (a slight return for supper)

 16 November 2023

 

PAUL

Victoria Wharf, V & Waterfront, Cape Town

 

Our previous visit was for brunch and this time we came for supper.

 

We each had a glass of prosecco (R204)

, shared a baked camembert starter (R105)

, the wife had the beef and mushroom tagliatelle (R189)

, I had 500g pork ribs (R265)

 , my sweet was a custard flan (R69)

, the wife ate a large pistachio macaron (R75)

and we had 2 flat whites (R70) for a total bill of R977,00 before tip.

 

Those are the  facts, ma’am, just the facts. 

 

Here is the elaboration.

 

The camembert could’ve done with a few more minutes in the oven but was very yummy anyway, with good, crusty toast. The pasta dish was excellent, served with another slice of crusty toast, and the sticky pork ribs, with a good amount of vegetables, were ridiculously scrumptious, easily the best crowd-pleasing, hearty pork dish I’ve had since Saigon’s pork belly. The meat was succulent, the flavour deep and the siicky glaze off the charts.

 

Paul is probably best for brunch. The other meals are simple bistro fare and best, I suppose for an early, quality light supper or perhaps a post-shopping or a movie bite. I can’t see it as a date night joint.

 

We love Paul, though, from the elegant interior, the efficient, friendly service and the top-notch nosh.

 

Aside: Paul has somewhat low budget exterior seating, where we started before we returned to the more comfortable interior, or warm, wind free evenings but there’s a caveat. On this night, a marimba band was performing at the amphitheatre, or close by it, and it was unhappily intrusive and irritating, as the somewhat monotonous music wasn’t exactly inspiring or joyful. 

 

Paul is a happy addition to the Waterfront and the type of coffee-shop we like to frequent. We will visit again.