We're pleased to report that The Shortmarket Club in Oxford Parks has pulled out all the stops to offer an outstanding and refreshingly affordable prix fixe lunch menu available Tue – Sat until Thu, Oct 31, 2024. And the 'fixed price' is just R450 per person, which is simply irresistible.
If you haven't yet visited, The Shortmarket Club is an upmarket brasserie-come-bistro in Oxford Parks. The brainchild of Luke Dale Roberts, it's the 'younger' and 'quieter' sister of The Pot Luck Johannesburg, and whilst it's not as revered or accoladed, it's just as good, if not better. The setting is more inviting and dynamic: masculine leather seating, black and white chequered tile floors, and dark parquet are juxtaposed against feminine butterfly-dappled ceilings, living walls, and stained-glass windows. And the service is just as professional and efficient as The Pot Luck Club, but a touch warmer and more engaged.
The food? Honestly, we couldn't fault it. The dishes are European in style but tickled with Asian flavours in the most wonderfully seductive way; hints of chilli, ginger, lime, curry leaves, and all things fragrant and ambrosial.
When we visited (June, 2024), the first of the four courses was exquisite Thai sashimi with a pad Thai dressing, nước chấm (Vietnamese dipping sauce), coconut yoghurt, and togarashi mayo – a mouthful of mind-boggling ingredients but simply delicious. We'd describe it as sashimi-meets-ceviche served curing in a delectably sweet and spicy lime dressing layered with just the right amount of heat. Every bite an absolute pleasure.
Next, a beef tartare with a gochujang (Korean red chilli paste) dressing, truffle mayo, and brioche toast, a dish that delighted by not trying too hard. The gochujang dressing replaces the traditional dijon mustard and caper-lead accompaniment, creating a lingering heat and greater complexity of softer acidic flavours, resulting in a delicate interpretation of everything you'd want from a tartare, just better.
The main (not that you need any more convincing) was line fish of the day: buttery, pan-fried fish with a tomato and saffron extraction, cauliflower puree and a choriza (yes, 'choriza') and mussel salsa. A scrumptious combination of luscious and earthy cauliflower puree with soft acidity and salinity from the salsa, all married with a rich and fragrant saffron sauce. It sounds verbose, and we don't mean to go on, but we must give credit where credit is due.
To finish, a dulce molten lava chocolate fondant with peanut butter ice-cream and peanut brittle. Did it ooze? Yes. Was it everything a sweet tooth could want and more? Yes.
If you're in the mood to indulge and cancel the afternoon's meetings, an optional wine pairing is on offer for R395 p.p. The wines are all superb, but this addition will double the price of your visit. We opted for a sensible, single glass of wine each, and a coffee to help coax us back to the office.
Honestly, this is a deal not to be missed, and the fact that it's available on Saturdays makes it that much more appealing. So pick up the phone and book your table, spoil a loved one, or just spoil yourself!
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