JACKIE HORNER PUB AND GRILL
Corner Brand (Helen Joseph) and Frere (Esther Roberts) roads, Glenwood
Tel: 031 202 9192
The last time I popped into Jackie Horner’s was about a decade ago. It was a pretty downmarket, smoke-filled pub with pool tables, some tough-looking okes and little else.
Thanks to a face-lift about four years ago, this popular pub and grill is now one of the biggest attractions in Glenwood, referring to itself as being a gastropub where the quality of food is far better than ordinary bar fare.
On a recent Sunday lunch we were pleased to see the new-look Jackie Horner’s, with the bar still dominating, but plenty of raised chairs and tables on the top deck and more comfortable seating which is cut off from the gaming machines which, thankfully, are in another room and cannot be heard jingling away.
The menu is concise and the wine list well stocked, which is not surprising seeing that Meridian Wine Merchants helped compile it. For example, the list includes the very drinkable Protea shiraz, which sells for only R90 a bottle.
Owner Dean Appleton took us through the menu and after a look at the starters, we decided on peri-peri chicken livers (R32) and crumbed mushrooms with aioli (R39). Both were ample and well cooked with a nice bite to the livers, while there were mushrooms aplenty, too much for my modest appetite.
Looking at the mains there are items such as the Jackie Horner burger for just R50, while beer-battered hake comes in at R49, with mature rump served with veggies and a starch for only R70 (200g), or R85 for 300g.There are the obligatory home-made pies which, I am told, are tops, plus chicken schnitzel, vegetable lasagna and bangers and mash.
Suddenly our eyes caught the specials board and I found what I was looking for: pork belly. I love pork and this was delightfully moist inside with perfect crackling on top.
Served with an apple puree, potato wedges and excellent green beans, cooked al dente, it was a great lunchtime meal. Costing R65, it was a bargain. My dining partner went for the Mozambique queen prawns on rice and at R85 there was enough to make it a good, reasonably priced meal.
Other specials for the day were chicken fricassee, rump steak and kingklip. For dessert we tried the malva pudding and crème brûlée, which while not in the Don Wilkinson class, was pretty good.
Being a pub there are plenty of nibbles to go along with the beverages, with trinchado (steak strips in a spicy sauce), chicken nachos, baskets including chicken wings, spring rolls, calamari, ribs and platters for four at R145.
Compliments to the chefs Eric Msomi and Brian Sithole who are apparently also turning up the heat for the festive season, adding specials such as garlic snails, deep-fried brie, salmon and rosti, pan-fried sole and chicken Kiev to the menu.
Apart from what we had, Jackie Horner has many specials during the week. On Mondays there is a burger and beer (R20) and on Tuesdays a ladies’ night menu (with free wine), while on Thursday there is a buy-one-get-one-free draught. On Sundays you can order a hearty roast for R49. Wednesday night is the popular Quiz Night, while on Fridays Graham Boyle dishes up the music. On Saturdays from 7pm it’s karaoke time with Spider Murch and on Sundays the “human jukebox”, Collin Rule, entertains from 1pm to 4pm.
So go and pay Jackie Horner’s a visit. You’ll be very welcome!