Roxilla

Cool but not ayoba?

The copy team decided to do our occasional lunch mission today, and after a hugely awesome experience at Hudson’s Burger Joint on Kloof last year sometime, we decided to go the gourmet burger route. As it turns out, we should have maybe gone to Cactus, which was not only much closer but also could have saved us from the rather not ayoba service we got to enjoy.

Having booked our table for six an hour or so before 1pm, we arrived a minute or two after to find our table outside not ready. This was quickly fixed and soon we could order cold drinks. Despite running low on ice (hey, we’re having a heatwave after all) things were all good. Then we placed our orders. One girl doesn’t do carbs at lunch, so she requested her burger without buns. Another girl has a chili allergy, so she requested hers without chili. Also, while previously Hudson’s used to include a choice or side salad or chips, they have now changed this so that the side order is separate and charged as such. I only knew this from scrutinizing the menu – four of the six of us assumed it was included, and only believed me that it wasn’t when the bill came.

When the food arrived, not only was the anti-carb girl’s bun on the burger, but the girl with the chili allergy discovered that her burger had chili on it. Her burger was taken away and replaced. Her allergy luckily wasn’t severe, and she noticed the chili after taking the onion rings off the top, but if she had not noticed and had a severe allergy, this may not have been such a happy ending.

At bill time we had the usual phaffing and frantic working out of prices – individual prices aren’t listed, which makes it a bit more of a mission, and being a team of copywriters maths isn’t out strong point, obviaas. Nevertheless, we managed to get it all sorted, or so we thought. Shortly after returning to the office, the guy who’d made the booking got a call from the manager, telling us the included tip was R20 short. I have not idea how this happened, it may well have been from us being useless at working stuff out but we had covered the bill. Having not exactly had even average service, we also had to point out to the manager that things had been a bit swak right from the moment we arrived. He was very cool about it, even apologised and told us not to worry.

The thing is, Hudson’s is cool, there is no doubt about that. They play awesome old skool rock, the decor is great, the vibe is cool and it’s on Kloof Street. The manager is really great too, friendly and always on the ball and the burgers are pretty good too. But when service is below standard, that makes all the cool things suddenly not cool enough. With FIFA just a few months away, restaurants are going to have to up their game considerably because tourists are not going to put up with shit like this.

Overall, while Hudson’s is not a bad place through and through, I just don’t know if I’m all that keen to go back again after this lunch fail. Having done a bit of research online later this afternoon, service issues are not a new thing there either.

My verdict? Royale has been around for longer and it’s a sure bet. Neighbourhood also do a good veggie burger, and while the burgers are pretty good at Hudson’s, that alone just isn’t enough to keep people coming back if you can’t back it up with good service.