The Cape of Good Hope is a favourite
My friend and I found a table easily, as the majority of visitors to the pub were enjoying the sunshine in the garden. The indoor section was shady and cool, despite the scorching heat outside, and we found a table by the window and looked through the range of food on offer. I was initially tempted by the Asian noodle salad, but in the end went for the katsu burger. My friend followed a similar theme, selecting the fried chicken. We ordered our meals at the bar, and went back to our table with a couple of drinks - a crisp, dry white wine for me, and a 'Laverstoke' for my friend. The Laverstoke, part of The Cape's gin and tonic menu, blended Bombay Sapphire with vermouth, ginger ale, lime and mint, and made for a bright and refreshing summer drink.
Our food took a little while to arrive, but was worth the wait. The portion sizes were incredibly generous - my burger was so big, with so much sauce, that I didn't dare risk picking it up, and instead used my knife and fork for the entire thing. The katsu curry sauce was creamy and aromatic, and the chicken burger (which was actually two fried chicken breasts - I did say that the portions were generous) was tender and savoury. The fries that accompanied the meal were cooked to perfection, although unfortunately, the onion rings were overfried to the point where the onion itself seemed to have vapourised.
My friend thoroughly enjoyed his fried chicken, which was crisp and well-seasoned without being greasy. The only downside of his meal was the cherry barbecue sauce that accompanied the chicken; after tasting a little bit on a chip, I agreed with his verdict that it was too much cherry, too little barbecue, and slightly reminiscent of the jam in a Fruit Corner. However, as it was served in a little pot alongside the meal, it was easy to set aside.
These two minor niggles aside, our meals were thoroughly enjoyable, with a lot of great quality food and drink for your buck - £34.85 for two large plates, a good-quality glass of wine, and a perfectly mixed cocktail. The atmosphere in the pub was calm and relaxed, and the staff were attentive without being overbearing. If you're wilting in the heatwave, head along to The Cape of Good Hope for a refreshing drink and a satisfying meal.