| If you’re in the mood for weekend brunch but not prepared to tackle the lineups, grease and chatter at some of the city’s better-known spots, the Bear Café offers a mellow alternative.
Formerly the South African restaurant Jabulani, the Bear Café has dispensed with the zebra-patterned tablecloths, ostrich-egg table ornaments, masks and mud cloths of its predecessor. (Jabulani is in the process of moving to new premises. In the meantime, it’s still preparing South African cuisine for takeout at its 17th Avenue location. For the menu, visit www.jabulani.ca.)
As of November, Jabulani owners Constance van Rensburg and Ilze Riley have opted for a different menu and a soothing natural look of wooden high-top tables and stools, picnic tables and blades of wheat in tall glass vases. But without any of the trappings of mountain life evident in its interior, I'm not so sure how its name factors into its image.
Brunch runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays and features six items ranging from $8 to $13, which includes coffee or tea. We were also presented with a complimentary basket of croissant (warmed would be better), muffin, butter and strawberry jam. Relaxing on the couch in the bright sunlight while listening to ethereal world beats, jazz and some Tears for Fears, we enjoyed the homemade waffles hidden by whipped cream and served with slices of kiwi, Granny Smith apple and strawberries ($8). There’s nothing like a plate of sweetness to start your day.
Equally delicious was the eggs royal ($13), an English muffin with poached eggs and hollandaise sauce served with creamed spinach and smoked salmon on the side. The other brunch items are pancakes with scrambled eggs and ham; French toast; eggs Benedict; and the Bear breakfast — eggs, sausage, bacon, tomato and mushrooms served with toast. This sunny, laid-back brunch in an au naturel setting was a nice change of pace.
Although the Bear Café looks and feels like a café, its menu reads more like a South African-British pub, while flat-screen TVs show rugby and European football. For lunch or dinner, you can order bangers and mash (pork sausages on a bed of herbed mashed potatoes topped with an onion and cider gravy, served with vegetables, $12); fish and chips ($14); homemade pot pie ($10); lamb curry ($15); and sticky toffee pudding for dessert ($8). If it’s a pint and some light fare you’re after, choices include samosas and fries ($9), shrimp and fries ($9.50), nachos ($12) and Caesar salad ($7).
Wednesday night is wing night and there are beer specials for Flames games. The cocktail menu features martinis, Caesars, cosmopolitans and margaritas.
While the Bear Café is a pleasant, cheery space, I wonder if its concept is strong enough to make a go of it. It will be interesting to see how the Bear fares in 2006.
The Bear Café is located at 907 - 17 Ave. S.W.; phone 228-4535. |
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