We live busy lives. To keep relationships flourishing, some sacrifices have to be made. This is the perfect excuse to pop out for a weekday lunch and check out some of the restaurants and cafes you often bypass. Lou Lou’s is perfectly situated in Green Point for just this reason, best of all is there is plenty parking – and that is something you can’t often say in the city centre.
The atmosphere is a typical of it’s surroundings. It is at the Cape Quarter Square so you can expect banter, busy bodies and lunch catch-ups. Yet somehow this adds to the experience. Choose a table outside if you want to grab a side of fresh air with your meal. The interior is decorated with dark flooring, furniture and leather seating with dim lighting.
The tapas menu is ideal for a light lunch. The availability of trying a few dishes instead of just one always appeals to me. More is more when it comes to tapas. My lunch partner loves a bit of diversity on his plate so we opt for three tapas plates and a main course of prawns gamberi.
You can’t go wrong with the arancini, so order two if you must. The deep-fried mushroom and truffle risotto balls are served on a creamy parmesan sauce. The perfect arancini is all about equal quantities of crispy, sticky – but not too sticky – and creamy ratio when all the ingredients come together. When it comes together it properly, each bite is a symphony of flavours. Can you tell I have spent too much time thinking about arancini? Lou Lou’s clearly is too and they have it bang on.
I am also a huge fan of the tuna, so it was a no-brainer to try it out. Their seared spiced tuna is rolled in 7 spices, thinly sliced and served with lime mayonnaise. It was doused in too much fish sauce which made it too salty – it was a little disappointing. The pork belly with egg fried rice, hoisin and ginger dressing is another impeccable tapas dish. The rice was delicious all on its own, and you can slurp it all up minus the pork. But you would be missing out on succulent pork belly that adds more depth to the dish.
Other tapas favourites include edamame beans, spicy chicken livers, and a trio of dips and focaccia.
If you are not a fan of sharing plates definitely order the linguine ai gamberi. Deshelled wild Argentinian prawns are doused in a creamy napolitana sauce with a hint of chili, garlic and parsley. It is a rich, flavourful dish and the prawns were plump and juicy.
There are other pasta dishes, burgers and prego rolls if that’s what you prefer.
Before you know it, you’ve unintentionally exceeded your lunch hour because the conversation, atmosphere and good food kept flowing. Don’t be too hard on yourself, the next time you pop through to Lou Lou’s you will already know what to order so you can spend less time deciding and more time devouring.
The best news is that they have a lunch special for R65 per tapas dish from 11am – 2.30pm so plan accordingly.
Contact: +27 21 418 0015 or email [email protected]
Address: Cape Quarter, 10 Jarvis Street, Green Point, Cape Town
Website: www.loulous.co.za