Inside Look: Arcade

Personally I have always wandered what really makes a place a hotspot. Is it the food, the location, the people or just an undeniable "It Factor" that you can't really explain? This has lead me to start taking an "Inside Look" at the places we go to, don't start picturing hardcore undercover investigative pieces though. It's more about getting to know the people behind the places so that the next time you go you have a fresh perspective, and who knows maybe a sneaky name drop could get you a free drink?

First on my Inside Look mission is Arcade in Bree Street, Cape Town. Growing up I spent so many hours having a great time at the arcade with my friends. You can do the exact same thing at Arcade. It is the newest place where you can hang out, lose track of time and simply enjoy yourself. Arcade has blown-up since its opening in December, it somehow manages to attract an eclectic crowd yet still maintains a laidback vibe. To be honest I had no idea what to expect from the people behind this eatery, were they going to be overly pretentious folk who drone on about their genius ability to bring together the right blend of people and food or laidback typical Capetonians who themselves have a natural It factor?

When I met Niki Reschke (one half of the duo behind Arcade, Marco Picone being the other half) the first thing I thought was, "it makes sense." He is the embodiment of the Arcade customer; Cape Town Cool with a slight edge. If you ever drop by in the day you can expect to see Niki chatting to customers or friends who have dropped by just for a drink. He knows the regulars by name but by no means does he spend every day relaxing at the sidewalk tables. The staff keep him busy and if he isn't managing people he is behind his laptop or meeting with suppliers. Running a trendy restaurant isn't all fun and games it seems.

The food philosophy behind Arcade is to keep it 'fresh & seasonal' and don't go to Arcade expecting overly fancy food with words you can't pronounce and the price tag to match. The food is café style but expect a contemporary twist. When I asked Niki what his favourite meal on the menu was he went with the Margherita pizza. This speaks to his background working as a chef with the Col'Cacchio brand for almost 10 years. Let's be honest though Arcade is sometimes described as a 'resto-bar' so while the food is good what are the drinks like? All equally delightful, well that is what I have to infer because Niki couldn't choose one standout drink.

The biggest question I had was what makes the place so popular, Niki credits the authenticity of the place and the fact that with Arcade what you see is what you get. It's the place you go to if you want to have drinks after work, meet up with friends or start a night of delicious debauchery. Your Arcade experience will always be characterized by a good time, whatever that may mean for you.

What does the future look like for Arcade? In short the possibilities are endless for Niki and Marco. What is certain is that Arcade has made a mark and it doesn't seem like its momentum is going to slow down anytime soon.

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