Scusi Coffee-Shop, Parkview, Johannesburg

Thursday, August 31, 2006

Service: * * * *
Food: * * * *
Ambience: * * * *
Babe Count: * * * * *

Phone: +27 11 646 8639

I've been strolling up and down Tyrone Avenue for the last hour or so, seeing what there is to see. Unfortunately, I've got my leather satchel slung over my shoulder. And it's damned heavy. Cos inside it is my Toshiba Tecra M4 tablet pc and various other writing stuff.

The Toshiba is NOT a light machine. But heck, it really does what I need it to do.

I go into Scusi.

A waiter greets me warmly, and offers to find a table for me. They look full. Lunchtime full, and it's only noon.

I say, 'If it's possible, I need to sit near a plug point, for my computer.' I heft my bag, and he nods.

'Do you mind sitting in the back?'

'I don't mind sitting in the kitchen, if there's a plug point.'

He shows me to a table. A biggggg one. Which is great. Cos I like to spread out.

The manageress, a darkly pretty brunette with curves, comes to my table as I'm cable-locking my machine to the table. She says, 'I have to apologise... our WIFI isn't up and running right now. We've exceeded our bandwidth cap, and they're busy recharging.'

'How much do you charge for your WIFI?' I ask.

She says, 'It's free. It's just a service we provide for our customers.'

I order a decaff cappuccino.

It's been a long time since I've done one of my characteristic 'Coffee-Shop Schmuck' coffee-shop reviews. I just can't resist this one, cos the cappuccinos are exceptionally good.

The flavour on this one is reallllly worth writing home about. I'm pretty sure most caffeine abusers wouldn't be able to tell that this is a decaff one. And I'm not jolting about, so I know they haven't slipped me a mickey.

I order lunch. It arrives. It's butternut ravioli in creamy napolitana sauce. And it's superb. Delicious. Real value for money at only R40 for a generous portion.

Last night I rented the second disc of season 2 of DEADWOOD. And watched two episodes. Yeeks. I think it's safe to say that DEADWOOD has completely blown my mind.

One of the babes sitting at the big table just to my left has been giving me the eye. And she looks a heck of a lot like the cute little blonde prostitute in DEADWOOD. The new one. The one who's been brought in to 'deal with' the needs of the mysterious mining-scout.

So now, it's off to therapy. To tell my shrink, Zahava, all about how I'm coping with not being in a relationship with 'S'. And to find out from her what I need to do to attract wholesome gals.

Tags: royblumenthal, roy blumenthal, blumenthal, coffeeshopschmuck, coffee shop schmuck, restaurant, review, coffee, coffee-shop