Subscribe & Follow
Advertise your job vacancies
Trending
Show more
Instagrammers, don't miss the slurp-worthy shakes and picture-perfect burgers at Gibson's
20 Feb 2019
Seated at one of the best tables an Instagrammer could ask for at the V&A Waterfront, with a view over both the harbour and across the Cape Wheel to the lightly-clouded Table Mountain, Gibson's Gourmet Burgers and Ribs is an Instagrammer's dream location.
We were a step behind, having only just started flipping through the menu that lets you see burgers, shakes and sides like macaroni-and-cheese, all at the same time – it’s by no means a case of mix-and-match, but the burger and shake I eventually opted for did just happen to magically align on the page and in my belly!
I’d heard there were new shakes to choose from, covering all the bases from fat-free fruity crushed ice options to vegan shakes like the kale, avo and mixed berry; or the cherry fudge frozen yoghurt version; bringing the tally up to 217 – yes, you read that right, two-hundred-and-seventeen. With more to come!
Gibson's fat-free apple, lime and mixed berries shake; Rolls Royce 'the ultimate' burger; and Red Velvet Neopolitan Freek shake.
That’s before you go wild by personalising them by adding your favourite syrups, sprinkles and other additions like a shot of espresso swirled through, crunchy popcorn topping, or mini Flake chocolate.
Hungry for handspun shakes
I purposely went for one of the new shakes: the chocolate toffee cashew.
With a chocolate ice-cream base, toffee syrup and whole cashews to scoop up and crunch, this is definitely a winner, especially if you gulp it down before the stripy paper straw starts to melt, and less of a mouthful than the monster Freek shake I sampled last time.
Available in 450ml or 850ml, the Freek shake is actually a meal on its own, especially if you go for the new Red Velvet Neopolitan option…
Burgers burgers burgers, any way you like...
But the real cherry on top was the service. As it was a Saturday early evening, you’d expect it to be too busy for service with a smile, but that’s exactly what we got. Manager Raj was super-attentive and our meals were on our tables almost before I was done with photos of our drinks.
In addition, when ordering the staff mention that you can ask to have the burger standards of lettuce, tomato and cucumber removed if not a fan. It can be a little overwhelming, but I eventually decided on the very American ‘onion blossom’ burger, topped with an entire fried onion instead of the customary fried onion rings, which aren’t an option on the menu – best of both worlds.
My husband changed things up a little with the Philly cheese steak – all meat is supplied by Waterfront-neighbour, Belthazar – topped with bacon and what he called the ‘best-baked potato ever’.
Engage your other senses and help others do so, too
Luckily, Gibson’s location means it’s perfectly positioned for a quick walk around the Waterfront – something we don’t often get to do, as locals. There was so much to see and taste, but there was also lots to hear, with various seabirds cawing, the background bass of street musicians and boats blowing their horns to bring home the fact that you’re eating at a large body of water.
And Gibson’s is on a mission to help others live the full experience, through the gift of sight. Tygerberg Hospital became the only state hospital in Southern Africa to offer lamellar corneal surgery to their patients on a sustainable basis in May 2018, and the donations from Slick Restaurant Group help make this a reality. You can make your own donations to the initiative on the Slick Restaurant Group website, or simply eat at Gibson’s where a voluntary R10 donation for lamellar corneal surgery is added on to the bill for the cause.
That rounds out the experience, and makes it a little more obvious why Gibson’s is a clear favourite with locals and tourists alike.
Get down to Gibson’s and see for yourself…
*Leigh Andrews was a guest of Gibson’s Gourmet Burgers & Ribs. Save some time by browsing Gibson’s website before you get there and be sure to follow them on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates.
About Leigh Andrews
Leigh Andrews AKA the #MilkshakeQueen, is former Editor-in-Chief: Marketing & Media at Bizcommunity.com, with a passion for issues of diversity, inclusion and equality, and of course, gourmet food and drinks! She can be reached on Twitter at @Leigh_Andrews.
