Basalt

I ordered the Sirloin Steak with Chunky Chips and Mushroom sauce and it was very tasty.
Steak cooked the way i wanted complemented with the mushroom sauce made this dish delicious.
Service was excellent highly recommended.

Basalt is head and shoulders above any bar in the Howick area — almost always open and almost always packed, this lively bar and restaurant was a great addition to the area when it opened and has become something of an institution over the years. Sometimes it can be a bit frightening to go there and see loads of people I went to school with (having grown up in the area), but once the shock of seeing that guy from biology wears off, it’s easy to settle in for a long night at Basalt. I’ve found that there’s always a reason to go there — from hungover hair-​of-​the-​dog cider to match life-​giving poached eggs, to a late lunch of corn fritters, to a hearty meal from the Wild Food Challenge menu, Basalt always has something for me.

Basalt is in a great location and looks from the outside, and indeed, from the inside like it’d be a nice hangout. It has all the elements that go to make up a nice local watering hole: plenty of seating indoors and out, a decent menu, lots of sun (weather dependent), but sadly, whenever I’ve visited I’ve found both the food and drink incredibly over-​priced, and the food especially really average. It’s disappointing because I really want to like Basalt, it has a lot about it that appeals to me, but each time I try it I remember why I shouldn’t come back again.

Basalt is a fun and popular pub in Howick which has recently opened up its Rooftop Bar, nicknamed the «Gazebo», and this has really boosted its number of patrons. It is a nice bar to go to for a beer and a catch up with friends. The menu varies in quality, but they do excellent fries to soak up your liquor. they have fun specials each night, with $ 5 dessert Tuesday being my favourite. On Thursdays you can buy $ 6 ‘jam jar’ cocktails, which really aren’t any more alcoholic than your standard drink, nor does it contain anything overly exciting, but the price and presentation of the drinks (they come in cleaned out jam jars — hence the name) make them fun and popular amongst my friends. Another thing I enjoy at Basalt, which suprises me, is the stonegrill menu. Despite paying to cook your own food, something that I still can’t quite understand, it is fun to watch your steak sizzle away in front of you. Best part about Basalt is the loyalty points system, every $ 8 you spend, you get a $ 1 on your points card for your next trip!