The Klutz in the Kitchen's Straight Talkin' No Punches Pulled Restaurant, Bisto, Cafe, Pub, Food Truck, Street Food & Take Away Grub n' Cooking Maguffta Reviews ======+++++====== Lyra's Restaurant Rondebosch Monday Night Jam Sessions They’re back the Monday night Jam Sessions that is at Lyra’s Restaurant Rondebosch is just not another week night, that's right it’s Jam Session Night, so one can expect a night of cool jazz by mix of the numerous musicians, instruments in hand waiting to be invited on stage, just a figure of speech, on the floor to perform. Damn, the Klutz has cracked the whip, so got to get on with the task at hand, evaluating the service, food and ambience. On arrival I was taken to my booked table with a menu laid down and asked what I wanted to drink, so naturally I said beer, draught beer. On asking of the draught beer menu I was hoping for a long cool Heineken, but told they only had one beer on tap, expecting the worst, Castle, I was told they only had Windhoek much to my relief, as that was to be my second choice. After a long wait the amber cooling liquid arrived, icy. Being thirsty I took a long hard quaff of the magical golden liquid of the god’s immediately knowing that it would not last long. After that sipping away merrily as the band was setting up, perusing the rather shabby, sorry looking menu, scuffed and plastic cover torn whilst waiting for the All Jazz Radio Webitor, Carol Martin to arrive. I was told that they have a Jam Session special which one could choose, in any combination, a pasta dish and a pizza for under a 100 Bucks which to a poor and highly underpaid Online Jazz Radio Presenter’s wage was very good value, indeed. Being a chef the klutz knows the margins on such dishes. When Carol arrived she too ordered a pint and started perusing the menu, decided on the linguine Alfredo. I knew immediately what I was going to have because when Pasta is involved it’s got to be Lasagna, the yardstick I judge and evaluate Italian style eateries on. Between chatting and quaffing the Draught, the damn glass emptied just far too soon, also being a warmish evening helped do the job too, so I naturally ordered another. This time sipping of the nectar slowly, having placed our order, Carol chose the Linguine Alfredo, and I the Lasagna with strict instructions that if the dish was not hot in the centre the venues chef was going to pay for our entire meal. Only kidding on that threat, cause The Klutz knows what chefs get paid these days, and the waiter was not to know it was really an empty threat, so after a rather longish wait the dishes arrived. Nice portions, The Alfredo looked very good as did the Lasagna, now for the big but! Why oh why do restaurants send out a cold salad on a hot plate laying next to the hot dish containing layered baked pasta dish, big pet peeve of the Klutzes, no one likes a wilted salad. Along with the garlic pizza we’d ordered, came a small portion of Chilli, not sauce, more of a past, grated pecorino and in a bowl on the pizza, sour crème. Sjoe, hot cannot describe the chilli. Doing the knife stab test in the Lasagna and holding it in the centre of the bowl of what looked really yumolicious Italian baked perfection. The knife came out at the perfect temperature, so partially satisfied I tucked quickly in to the tasty, cheesy, tomato meaty goodness that oozed out of the pasta layers and with a sprinkling of pecorino all over the top it was yummolicious. It was Lasagna that even the baked pasta-devouring machine that is Garfield would truly have enjoyed and respected, compliments to the chef. Carol said she enjoyed her Linguine Alfredo which Lyra’s on their menu says it’s a Classic with ham, mushrooms and sliced peppers in a cream based sauce. Sadly not a classic Italian Alfredo because the true Classic Alfredo dish is made of fettuccine tossed with Parmesan cheese and real butter and that's it, no cream or anything else then it may be called an Alfredo. Alfredo Di Lelio, who was a restaurateur who opened and operated restaurants in Rome, Italy, throughout the early to mid 20th century, named the dish, sjoe! the Klutz is just showing off now. All in all it was an enjoyable evening whiling away the hours with good food, good beer, good friends and jazz, not a shabby way to spend a Monday night. I shall return. Visit their website for details at http://www.lyras.co.za Here is the Original Fettuccine Alfredo that any Klutz in the Kitchen can make very quickly and easily/ Ingredients 500g dried fettuccine
 250g unsalted butter 250g finely grated Parmesan, pecorino can be use at a push it's a little cheaper. Method Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add fettuccine and cook, stirring occasionally, until pasta is al dente, about 8 minutes. Meanwhile, cut butter into thin pats and transfer to a large, warmed platter. Drain pasta, reserving 3⁄4 of a cup of the pasta water, and place the pasta over the butter on the platter. Then sprinkle grated Parmesan over the pasta and drizzle with 1⁄4 cup of the reserved pasta water. Using a large spoon and fork, gently toss the pasta with the butter and cheese, lifting and swirling the noodles and adding more pasta water as necessary. The pasta water will help create a much smoother sauce. Work in any melted butter and cheese that pools around the edges of the platter. Continue to mix the pasta until the cheese and butter have fully melted and the noodles are coated, about 3 minutes. (For a quicker preparation, bring the reserved 3⁄4 cup pasta water and the butter to a boil in a 30cm skillet; then add the pasta, sprinkle with the cheese, and toss with tongs over medium-low heat until the pasta is creamy and coated, about 2 minutes.) Serve the fettuccine immediately on warmed plates. At this point I must add that The Klutz in the Kitchen using his own recipe has made a potful of lekkerlicious minced beef curry with potato’s, peas, carrots, celery and bacon with a touch of sriracha for a wee bit more kick and is cooking down slowly on the stove top, be ready for dinner tonight, though tasting better every time I check the pot. ☺ The Klutz in the Kitchen pays for all food and drink consumed when reviewing venues, and all visits are unannounced and never booked at all. The Klutz will visit the venue again in a few months after the review is published on the website and social media pages. The second visit is to see if any improvements have been implemented and will again review the venue. The Klutz takes careful notes during his visits then after the meal chats casually to the staff and chef about the menu and food to gain a better insight into the venue. His reviews are posted some time after his visit so as to regain a sense of anonymity. See The Klutz in the Kitchens Grub Review here. Email The Klutz In The Kitchen at klutzinthekitchen@alljazzradio.co.za ======+++++======

Lyra's setting is quite nice - particularly outside under the gazebo - and the food is not bad, and very reasonable. However, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, after two ridiculous incidents. On the first occasion, the owner was drunk, and insisted on behaving obnoxiously to patrons. On the second, the manager told us, at 8.30pm on a Friday evening, to hurry up and finish our dinner, because she wanted to go home. She then ordered the staff to pack away all the tables and chairs around us. Both events were utterly disgraceful, and demonstrate the sheer rudeness one can apparently expect from management, should they ever make the mistake of troubling Lyra's with their business. Never again!

We popped in just after 8 this evening to try it out. Menu interesting and varied. I had the rib eye steak medium, nicely cooked and tender, well matured - the basting not overpowering with generous sides. My dining partner had the main calamari - also interesting flavour balance and generous sides. The downside I can describe as some almost gangster-rap music with some swearing in it and not that we were cheapskates ordering small meals and taking up time but at about 9pm outside chairs where we were seated suddenly being taken inside and one got the restless sense that they were tired and just wanted to close up and go. Even if I got a white lie ie "we have another engagement or whatever" it would have been fine, just don't make me feel unwelcome...