Service: * * * 1\/2
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Food: * * * *
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Ambience: * * * *1\/2
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Babe Count: * * * *<\/i><\/p>\n
“Excuse me!” I say to the waiter, as he disappears after giving me my bill.<\/p>\n
He comes back.<\/p>\n
“Uh… I’m just wondering,” I say, “whether you’ve made a mistake on this price.” I point to the R17.90 beside the entry that reads ‘Snapple’.<\/p>\n
“No,” he says. “That’s the price.”<\/p>\n
“Hmm. That’s outrageous,” I say, and pull out my ‘Coffee-Shop Schmuck’ business card, snapping it down subtly on the billfold. “Can I speak to the manager?”<\/p>\n
It’s a pity, really, this outrageous price. Cos I’ve just had the legendary Fournos Half Chicken and Salad, which is one of the best value-for-money meals I’ve seen in Joburg. With one reservation… the size of the salad seems to be dwindling as the months go by. My salad today was really just a few lettuce leaves, exactly two quarter-tomatoes, and three blocks of feta cheese. That’s not a salad in my books. That’s garnish. <\/p>\n
But the chicken itself is unsurpassable. In terms of taste and tenderness, I have no doubt that Fournos makes the best roast chicken in Joburg.<\/p>\n
I’m at Fournos cos I’ve just been to Stax next door to buy tapes. My sports car still has the original tape deck in it, so I have to transfer my favourite cds to tape to play when Heidi and I drive from Somerset West to Swaziland around New Year.<\/p>\n
And I’m popping my car on a train on Monday morning before heading for the airport myself.<\/p>\n
The manager arrives. She’s the woman who came round a little earlier and asked me if I drive a white BMW. I said no, and she moved on.<\/p>\n
“You have a bit of a problem with the Snapple price,” she says, smiling slightly.<\/p>\n
“Yeah,” I say. “But first… did you find the BMW owner? Was there an accident?”<\/p>\n
“He was parked next to my BMW, and someone smashed it. They thought it was mine. But it’s all right. We found him. Insurance will deal with it. But the Snapple…”<\/p>\n
And she went on to explain that the takeaway price is much lower than the sit down price, and that she’s now paying almost R10 for a bottle of Snapple, and that she hopes with the improvement of the rand that the price will come down. <\/p>\n
Which is cool. She’s engaging me in a real explanation, and she’s kind and concerned. But most importantly, she’s not bullshitting me. She’s telling it to me straight. And that’s one thing I really appreciate in someone. So I end up smiling and paying the bill feeling satisfied by the Fournos ethic.<\/p>\n
I’m packing up my various books and drawing books, ready to speed off home to tape the STEALING BEAUTY soundtrack when the manager arrives with a huge smile on her face. <\/p>\n
“This is for you,” she says. “Because of the Snapple surprise.”<\/p>\n
She’s given me a bag full of freshly baked chocolate croissants. One of the many other things Fournos is famous for.<\/p>\n
Thank you!<\/p>\n
So yeah. I go away feeling pleased with the service, and delighted to have some tea later. <\/p>\n