When you think of pub grub, the first thing that comes to mind is normally something British, Scottish or Irish. Then something American. But in the heart of Los Angeles, South African pub grub reigns supreme at the Springbok Bar & Grill.
I was thrilled to be taken to my friend’s local rugby bar. Owned and operated by South Africans, this rugby bar is the perfect example of pubs done differently, but done right. I wish a rugby game had been going on the night I visited. As it was, only the NBA finals were playing. So, we did have a small wait for a table, but we sipped on Strongbow cider and waited.
Wow…the wait was totally worth it.
My friend Indy and her husband are regulars here, so I already knew the place would be amazing. It was comfortable and clean. The surroundings were quintessential to any pub. Dark wood. Television with sports playing. People cheering while enjoying another round, and perhaps a little food. The entire place held this eclectic vibe, and it was packed with energy from patrons enjoying the games and their food and drink.
South African food isn’t exactly made for vegetarians, but I can find something on any menu. And this held true for Springbok as well. While my friend Cathy ordered her standard pub fare (fish & chips), I ended up with a sampling of a few things. The Soup of the Day was Black Bean, so that seemed like a good choice to start with. To have with it, I got the small Walnut Salad and a side of the fries.
Food arrived at the table after a short while and I could tell it was going to be good. The presentation, while nothing special, was amazing. Everything had such a vibrant color to it. There was nothing wilting or browning. The fries, while steak-cut, looked to be crispy, which was a plus for me. And the soup was this amazing shade of purple.
I was eager to give this soup a try, so that was my first taste of Springbok’s food. Creamy, spicy, and smooth. This is, to this day, the best black bean soup I have ever had. Most are too thick, or too chunky. This was done to perfection, with the right amount of spice to give it the kick it needed so it wouldn’t be bland. I could taste the different components, the beans, the peppers, everything. Delicious down to the last spoonful.
The Walnut Salad was also a burst of flavor. It was a simple tossing of mixed greens with tomato, red onion, cucumbers, feta cheese and walnuts. The dressing was a homemade balsamic Greek dressing. Meshed together, every flavor in there tasted like it belonged. The walnuts gave the salad a much-needed crunch, since I can’t have croutons. And the sweet feta cheese blended not only with the bitter bite of the balsamic dressing, but played to the mild flavors of the vegetables and greens in the salad. There is a salad, and then there is a salad done well. This was full of flavor and crisp. This was the ideal pub salad.
As for the fries…steak fries are the bane of my fried-potato loving heart. Normally they are not crisp enough and just tend to fall apart when dipped in ketchup. I dislike mushy fries and the biggest culprits are these thick-cut versions. But at Springbok Bar & Grill, they surprised me. These fries had a bit of a crisp outside, with the soft inside that steak fries offer. Crisp. They didn’t fall apart in your hand or on your fork. They weren’t laden down with oil and wilting. These were steak fries done right. I was shocked. I didn’t finish off the side of fries, as the soup and salad were quite filling, but I don’t regret ordering them. They were the salty side I needed to balance everything out. And they were done right and tasted great. I didn’t even need to dip them in ketchup to enjoy them. That’s an amazing first for me as I’m a ketchup fiend. I never thought I would rave about steak fries, but Springbok earned it.
Good food. Good atmosphere. Good drinks. This is what a pub should be. But what makes the Springbok stand on its own against all the British, Scottish and Irish pubs out there, is that it offers up pub fare from the region its owners hail from. This is South African pub grub. And it tasted better than what the Isles offered. Next time…I go to California during rugby season! Because this is a definite stop when it comes to food. I was beyond impressed.
The Celiathlete 