We go down the rabbit hole to investigate the new quirky café, Peter’s House, on Kloof Nek Road in Tamboerskloof.

The people
Owner Ziggy Francisco first fell in love with tea culture in London while travelling. Wanting to conjure up a proper English tea party with guests like the March Hare from Alice in Wonderland and Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit, she decided to open Peter’s House on Klook Nek Road.

Ziggy called on chef Dave Lino to run her kitchen, with whom she worked at Posticino years ago. Dave also did a stint at Mitico down the road before coming to collaborate on the menu.

The mood
Quirky knick-knacks are dotted around, cacti nestled in gold-rimmed tea cups adorn the tables, and a chandelier of silver spoons and forks dangles above the counter, made by RAW (RecycledArtWear). Ziggy also exhibits one-off pieces of art and jewellery by local artists.

“I wanted this to be a place where people could come and be comfortable,” explains Ziggy, who, in addition to the handful of wooden tables for seating, also created cosy niches either side the entrance. On the left is a window seat she calls the ‘games nook’, fitted with comfy cushions and a bunny-shaped bundle of fairy lights to hail passing whimsical folk. On the right is a street-facing ‘library’ counter – custom-made to double as ingenious mini bookshelves – inviting customers to perch on a high stool and watch the comings and goings at hipster HQ The Power and The Glory across the road.

Your meal will arrive on old-school china decorated with botanicals, pastel borders and patterns, just like you’d find in grandma’s sideboard. These pieces are either hand-me-downs or have been collected over the years at vintage stores and markets, although Ziggy’s “very favourite most precious” things are displayed up behind the counter. Rubber-stamp logos (complete with fuzzy-bordered rabbit silhouettes) on the paper napkins and take-away boxes are a nice touch, as is the chalkboard behind the door in the loo, where you can leave an inspirational scribble. Also, well-behaved dogs are welcome.

The food
The petite paper menu features mostly bruschetta, salads and wraps (ostrich mince meatballs with caramelised onions being a highlight of the latter) with a good few veggie options, and tempting ‘loaded potato skins’ with or without bacon. But the chalkboard is the place to investigate. This is where you will find the day’s delicious specials such as pasta carbonara; roasted vegetable enchiladas; spinach, sundried tomato and feta quiche; and a recent favourite, mussels in the silkiest sauce of butter, cream, garlic, parsley and a mystery ingredient, served with home-baked bread toasted and rubbed with garlic.

The dessert menu includes ice cream sandwiches made with home-baked choc chip cookies (gooey on the inside and crunchy on the outside); vanilla baked cheesecake topped with chocolate ganache; impossibly chocolatey brownies; and their signature spicy carrot cake with cream cheese icing, topped with a teeny confectionary carrot.  

Specials such as mac and cheese Mondays, and high tea for hooligans on Thursday and Friday from 4pm to 7pm, which features rooibos tea sangria and a few freshly baked treats, keep things interesting.

The drinks
Order a proper porcelain pot of loose-leaf tea – try the aromatic Turkish apple – or a cup of Bean There’s organic fair trade coffee. You can also wash down your snacks with a glass of wine or something from the small selection of spirits.  

The verdict
Peter’s House is the perfect hideaway for a quiet brunch with a book, a girly lunch or after-work drinks with friends.  

By Linda Scarborough

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