At the beginning of the year we reviewed Jerry’s in Observatory and I said it was my number one burger joint. Since this City Bowl edition is virtually identical, its status is the same.
A tad smarter in town than in Obs, which is in keeping with the respective areas, the menu has all the same delicious food and just as popular. The large space with indoor and outdoor seating, and a long bar was full, but this didn’t stop the service from being impeccable. We’d asked for a table outside in the smoking area which was comfortable and sheltered despite the windy night.
We were looked after by several staff members including Saville, who is utterly charming. He seems to do everything except serve the food: he greeted us, showed us to our table, brought us blankets in case we got cold (there are gas heaters so we were fine), emptied ashtrays, and when we eventually left he walked us to our Uber, identified the driver, and opened the car door for us. He also has some brilliant stories and was delighted that I pronounced his name correctly, asking me to say it again. The manager Le Riche is just as hands-on as everyone else.
Jerry’s has a huge drinks menu, possibly bigger than the food. There are more than 20 whiskies (including moonshine), craft beers, bottled beers, ie all those that are not craft, beers on tap, shooters, wine, and cocktails. The classics include margaritas, Long Island iced teas, mojitos, Bloody Jerrys, and a whole lot of fun drinks with names like The Dude’s White Russian (abide), Dark & Stormy Night, Jam Of The Week, and the one I had, a Mexican Mule which is tequila, ginger beer and lime (R50). The Divine Lady D – my friend, not another cocktail – had vanilla and pineapple chai ice tea (R20) served in a jar, which she said was good.
Jerry’s is a burger bar, so that’s mainly what you’ll find on the menu. As with Obs, I love the names… Afterburner has chilli for example. There are 14 choices, the Lucy’s Seven Deadly Sins, and four more Burgers Of The World. Prices range from R62 for a Cheapskate (the name of the burger and the person who orders it) up to around R90. Lady D chose the Gluttony from the Deadly Sins selection. These burgers’ patties are rolled in two to create a filled pocket, in this case chorizo and cheddar, which is then topped with mushrooms and feta (R90).
I had a Junkyard Dog which is a huge bun with a bacon-wrapped sausage, sweet red onion relish, pickles, cheddar cheese, and topped with sliced avo and mustard mayo. The dogs are advertised as being 10 inches which led to some lively conversation, and ultimately proved to be more than I could handle. We’d had a starter of delicious corn dogs (R59) from the Easy Pickings section of the menu, a generous portion of four “baby” franks in light, crispy batter which were a lot bigger than we expected. Both main courses are served with skinny fries.
The food was great, the overall experience was excellent, and the bill at the end – with a glass of Boschendal blanc de noir (R30) – came to a very reasonable R329 before a well-deserved tip.
JERRY'S BURGER BAR
Where: 5 Park Road, Gardens
Phone: 021 422 4415
When: Lunch and dinner daily (breakfast soon)