We finally tried the new food court at Somerset Mall, with Steers, Rib Republic, family-friendly touches and a few thoughts on value for money.
After watching Somerset Mall’s new food and entertainment wing take shape, we finally went to try the new food and entertainment wing for ourselves on Saturday.
We weren’t looking for anything particularly fancy. My husband wanted his usual burger, I was curious to try Rib Republic, and our son was mostly interested in whatever food arrived first.
It turned into a rather interesting first visit, especially when we started comparing portions, prices and that increasingly blurry line between fast food and sitting down for a proper restaurant meal.
Steers is still Steers… apparently
My husband didn’t need much time to decide what he wanted.
He went straight for his usual Original King Steer Burger & Chips, priced at R114.90, plus a Coke for R26.90, bringing his meal to R141.80. Two portions came to R283.60.
I have to admit, I love burgers too. What I don’t particularly love is the mess that tends to come with eating them. My husband, on the other hand, has absolutely no such concerns.
Our son also enjoyed his Steers meal, and my husband was quick to deliver his verdict after the first bite.
“Mmm, tastes just like I remember them.”
Which was reassuring, of course. For a moment I wondered whether moving Steers from the mall’s entrance 1 to the new food court had somehow involved relocating the recipe as well. Thankfully, apparently the burger survived the move unchanged.
His only real complaint, a rather longstanding one, was about the size.
He feels that the portions have become smaller while the prices have gone up. The burger itself was on the smaller side, so much so that our son managed to finish his portion without any trouble. My husband also felt that the chips could have been more generous.
The bigger thing I noticed, though, is how small the gap between fast food and a sit-down meal has become. At R141.80 for a burger, chips and a Coke, with the portion of chips feeling rather tiny, I couldn’t help thinking that you’re getting close to what you’d pay for a proper meal at places like Bootlegger, Pajamas and Jam, or even the Woolworths Café.
For that kind of money, I’d expect to sit down somewhere and have a more substantial meal, rather than walk away with a burger and a small handful of chips. With the current cost of living, the line between “quick fast food” and “let’s just go have a proper meal” seems to be getting thinner.
Our first taste of Rib Republic
I was more interested in trying Rib Republic. Interestingly, I wasn’t actually in the mood for ribs. Instead, I ordered half a chicken with chips for R150.
This was our first proper taste of Rib Republic, and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. The brand already has a following at some of the Cape Town markets, so I wondered whether the popularity would actually translate into food we’d enjoy, or whether it was simply a case of popularity preceding the product.
It turns out the reputation is fairly well deserved.
The chicken was juicy, tender and beautifully coated, and the chips were solid too. There was something strangely familiar about the food, even though we’d never eaten there before. It didn’t feel like we were taking a chance on an unfamiliar place. Instead, everything felt immediately comfortable, as though we’d somehow eaten it before.
That’s probably the best way I can describe it. I took a bite and immediately felt comfortable with the flavours. No adjustment period, no wondering whether I’d made the wrong choice, no “maybe I should have ordered something else.”
Just good, satisfying food.
We actually returned to the food court again on Tuesday, and the Rib Republic team had samples available at the counter. We tried one, and it was just as good as the first time. The team was also genuinely friendly, which always makes a difference.
One thing worth knowing, though, is that Rib Republic doesn’t accept cash, so keep that in mind if you’re planning to order from them.
A little something for the kids
One of the additions I particularly liked had nothing to do with the food.
Towards the back of the food court is a dedicated children’s area with an interactive wall projection featuring what appeared to be a video game.
Children gathered around the wall, tapping and interacting with the projected game. I don’t think it was a live game. It looked more like a pre-recorded interactive experience, but honestly, that didn’t seem to matter to the kids. They were entertained.
And when you’re sitting down trying to finish a meal while your five-year-old has approximately 47 other things he’d rather be doing, anything that keeps them occupied for a little while deserves some appreciation.
It is a small addition, but one I thought worked particularly well for a family-oriented food hall.
A Little More Than Just Food
What I liked most about the new food and entertainment wing is that it doesn’t feel like you’re simply walking into another mall food court. There’s a lot of greenery around the space, with plenty of plants adding colour and making the area feel surprisingly warm and relaxed. It gives the whole place a nicer mood, especially compared with the usual rows of tables and fast-food counters you expect in a shopping centre.
For us, it was one of those simple family stops that turned into something worth noticing. We went in hungry, tried something new, let our son enjoy the entertainment, and left with a better idea of what the new food court is actually like. It’s still early days, and I’m sure the space will feel even more settled once all the new tenants have opened, but there’s already a nice energy to it.
