Hudsons.

Often I sit at my desk, blankly staring at my work whilst my stomach longs for substance, my liver craves an ice cold beer l and my soul desires some form of social interaction. When this time of the day occurs I often think of restaurant’s I could go to that would satisfy my selfish but often necessary wants. Usually it would be the famous Forresters Arms or Forries as we (the youth) like to call it. Since my legality Forries has been the weapon of choice in terms of venues to wine and (supposedly) dine at. If you’re after a decent meal, a cold beer and a great vibe Forries is the place to go. However today I was after something different. Today my stomach didn’t want the same old lunch it had was starting to get used to. My liver wasn’t craving beer. My soul, however,  was burning for any form of social interaction. So I pulled out my beloved blackberry from my bag scrolled through my BBM contacts,’ scrapped the barrel’ a tiny bit and marshalled together a mini group of friends to join me at the new Hudsons restaurant in Claremont.

Unlike Forries, Hudsons is modern, innovative and trendy. Perhaps it is unfair to compare the two, so I won’t. Without even sitting down and ordering a meal my conscience had already made its mind up as to what type of restaurant Hudsons was. It is one of those places where you are almost guaranteed to see someone you know, whether it be a friend from school, a girl you met at Tiger Tiger or a work colleague. You are bound to bump into someone you know. Some people enjoy this. Personally I prefer to avoid these awkward exchanges that consist of a series of forced, unimportant, uninteresting but polite questions. “Hello, how are you?” “What are you doing here?” These are the stock standard questions that get asked when one visits a place as commercial and popular as Hudsons. Amongst these awkward exchanges and polite conversations exists a vibe and an atmosphere that is almost tangible. The friendly staff deserves some form of credit for contributing to such a wonderful vibe. There’s an old saying that goes, ‘a smile goes a long way’. At Hudsons this over used cliché is brought to life as servers are more than willing to assist you. They are helpful, knowledgeable and most importantly efficient. The service I received at Hudsons was commendable and refreshing. 10 out of 10 in the service department.

I would be a fool to judge the restaurant only on its service and quality of the staff. Like any other restaurant the food is the most integral component of the dining experience. The modern exterior, style and vibe are contradicted by a menu that almost allows you to go back in time. It allows you to go back to a time of simplicity, where a burger is a burger and a pizza was a pizza. Too many restaurants today are obsessed with making award winning dishes that will make the cover of food magazines that they forget that there is in fact beauty in simplicity. If I order a burger I want just that. Don’t try ‘woo’ me by cutting cucumber in the shape of a dolphin, or by strategically placing all kinds of lettuce on top of my delicious protein filled patty. Keep it simple. That is what Hudsons did. I ordered the Hudsons cheese burger and that’s exactly what I got. A perfectly cooked piece of beef covered in melted cheese with a side order of beautifully golden French fries. Delicious.  

For me personally the main attraction of the newly established Hudsons restaurant came in the form of dessert. A bar-one milkshake. My goodness I get goose bumps as I jog my memory back to that moment when I tasted the delicious invention. Hudsons is known primarily for their delicious tasting burgers, however their milkshakes are un-rivalled with anything I have ever tasted before. I don’t know what is better, the delightful taste of the milkshake or the fact that these tasty delights are served in a giant glass that resembles a bowl more so than a drinking glass. Many people say that it’s about quality and not quantity. The bar-one milkshake I enjoyed that afternoon was pure quality enjoyed in the quantity it was served in. 10 out of 10 in the food and drink department.

It is difficult for me to write something negative about this establishment. The service was superb, the food was sublime and the atmosphere was more than pleasant. Sure it’s a little pricey, but in today’s economic situation what isn’t? Hudson is a great place to go. It’s more than restaurant. It’s a festive atmosphere that allows you to enjoy the company of your friends, the food of the menu and the quality of some fantastic service. Whatever you seek, whether it be a dinner with the family or a casual burger with a couple of mates. Hudson is the place to go. Try it. You’ll love it.  I did.