Tucked on the corner of Kloof Nek and Burnside Road in Tamboerskloof, The Power and the Glory is not easy to spot. An eclectic mix of a coffee shop and bistro, it also turns into a bar from 17:00 onwards selling a wide range of drinks with names such as Black Mist, Bone Crusher and Dante’s Inferno.
Their menu changes daily, but they have a few set items on offer such as their famous hot dog on a bretzel (or as people more often, but incorrectly, call it: a pretzel). With their attempt at being authentic and rustic, I was somewhat disappointed that they got this wrong.
Their delicious fare is spread throughout the front of the store, making your mouth water. As you wait to place your order you will find yourself surrounded by massive chocolate and marshmallow brownies, croissants and a fine selection of charcuterie. I tried their massive peanut butter cookies too. Now you can’t go wrong with a peanut butter anything, but once your best friend makes you the best and most addictive cookies in the world the good, old-fashioned, American way, you become a harsh cookie critic; and although the ones I tried were good, they didn’t stun me. What won me over was the apple mull: an apple drink served piping hot with a cinnamon stick and absolutely perfect for a cold winter’s day.
The service is quite frigid, but this is Cape Town; so although it’s not an excuse, it’s certainly not a surprise. Their menu is even emblazoned with the legend: no manners, no service; but they don’t pull off the “don’t care” attitude as well as Dizzy’s in Camp’s Bay – perhaps because despite demanding manners before serving you at Dizzy’s, when you are friendly, they return the courtesy.
Nevertheless, it is self-service; thus you can place your order and forget about the staff. You can either sit at one of their wooden tables on a metal fold-out chair or on a bar stool at the window – leisurely gazing at the traffic whizzing by.
The walls are bedecked with old paintings, posters and a large, creased Union Jack which gives it plenty of character, along with the glass-panelled wooden cabinets behind the bar stocked full of liquor and spirits – waiting for the night to start.
It’s a great location: a perfect spot to sit and write, read a book or have a long chat with a friend. There is nothing about it that really stands out or sets it apart; however, its old-world charm, perfect positioning and changing menu will compel me to go back.
Originally published on Dinner and a Movie