Fego Cafe in Broadway is one of the many branches of Fego found around the country. In Durban it is often associated with Exclusive Books but it is decent enough to stand on its own. Like most franchises the decor is standard, as is the menu. The plus about this chain is that their menu is quite diverse and offers a wide array of meals and drinks to choose from.
The Durban North branch is the same as any. The service makes a difference though. I asked our waitress what was in the tropical banana smoothie (the menu said it was a blend with dairy). She told me orange juice and mango and banana. I doubted that since one wouldn't normally add acidic orange juice to dairy, right? Correct me if I'm wrong please. She went to ask some of her fellow waitrons and after some discussion cam back and told me the exact same list of ingredients and also some white hot chocolate powder. Needless to say I changed my mind and had a berry crush instead. This was a blend of a mixture of berries, with no dairy, and whilst refreshing enough was too sweet.
The salad I ordered was quite a good portion and the chicken in it was soft and tender. No mark downs here. The rest of the ingredients were fresh and even included real avocado. I hate the places that say avocado on the menu then give you some guacamole from a toothpaste-like tube. That's just wrong. The chicken, mayo and mushroom tramezzini is also good. Give it a try if you visit.
The red velvet cake in the display counter looked fresh and inviting but the other cake slices that surrounded it had seen better days. No dessert for me, thanks.
Verdict
Franchise type food, good portions, nothing to write home about.
Aside
Better service would make the whole experience more positive. Try their honey and horlicks or nutella milkshake.
Sunday, 20 January 2013
Wednesday, 16 January 2013
Cacao
Commonly known as "The Chocolate Bar", Cacao is pure chocolate indulgence. You can guess this from the decor - its just a chocolate coloured environment and alludes to what's on the menu. Situated on one end of Gateway, its convenient enough to stop by when you're doing some shopping but quiet enough to be away from the masses of people in the centre of the mall.
Service fluctuates, depending on how busy it is. This is my new measure to judge how good service is - shouldn't service delivery not be compromised no matter how many patrons are in a place? Anyway, it seems to me there are always new trainees here.
About the menu - anything chocolate related. I've vouched for their chocolate milkshake before and will mention it again. Thick and chocolatey, topped with whipped cream and a marshmallow, what more could you ask for? It's worth the R35.
I would also recommend their chocolate brownies. Cacao gets it just right, warm and gooey and full of flavour. Try it, just remember to hit the gym or carry your insulin with you.
Verdict
A must for chocolate lovers, a little pricy but you can't compromise on quality.
Aside
You can get most items on the menu "to go". They used to do killer chocolate biscuits that were sold in packs of 6 - haven't seen them the last two times I went there.
Service fluctuates, depending on how busy it is. This is my new measure to judge how good service is - shouldn't service delivery not be compromised no matter how many patrons are in a place? Anyway, it seems to me there are always new trainees here.
About the menu - anything chocolate related. I've vouched for their chocolate milkshake before and will mention it again. Thick and chocolatey, topped with whipped cream and a marshmallow, what more could you ask for? It's worth the R35.
I would also recommend their chocolate brownies. Cacao gets it just right, warm and gooey and full of flavour. Try it, just remember to hit the gym or carry your insulin with you.
Verdict
A must for chocolate lovers, a little pricy but you can't compromise on quality.
Aside
You can get most items on the menu "to go". They used to do killer chocolate biscuits that were sold in packs of 6 - haven't seen them the last two times I went there.
Saturday, 12 January 2013
Hemingway's Bistro
The Davenport Road area has become a small village of cafes and restaurants. Hemingway's is one of them. It is surrounded by other eateries and has a nice comfortable vibe when dining inside as well as a cool, laid back atmosphere if you decide to be a crowd watcher in the outside seating area.
When my friends and I went here for dinner, the waitress was funny, charming and very knowledgeable when it came to the menu. The menu can be described as Mediterranean, it has tapas on it so that qualifies, right? I had the kingklip special. It was cooked to perfection and came served with a creamy leek sauce. If no one was watching, I would've licked the plate. My friends had pasta and raved about it.
We sat and spoke for ages and never felt like we were being forced to get the bill and leave. The waitress maintained a good distance, was attentive and close enough to be at our table swiftly when we needed her. This is a rare quality nowadays. It's what we want. Not the waitron that takes your drinks order and disappears to whoever knows where for 30 minutes before telling you that they're out of juice and iced tea and coffee. Just as bad is the waitron the one that hovers like a shadow and constantly asks "Is everything ok?".
Back to my review (sorry about the rant) - we shared a few desserts. All were luscious. The creme brulee is highly recommended, and so is the brownies. Whilst having dessert the chef that prepared our meals came to our table to check if we enjoyed it - what a nice touch!
Verdict
Excellent food with fantastic service. Mains range from about R65-R120. That seems like the going rate. A nice place to have a good dinner.
Aside
Parking can be a schlep on Davenport Road. There's some parking at the back!
When my friends and I went here for dinner, the waitress was funny, charming and very knowledgeable when it came to the menu. The menu can be described as Mediterranean, it has tapas on it so that qualifies, right? I had the kingklip special. It was cooked to perfection and came served with a creamy leek sauce. If no one was watching, I would've licked the plate. My friends had pasta and raved about it.
We sat and spoke for ages and never felt like we were being forced to get the bill and leave. The waitress maintained a good distance, was attentive and close enough to be at our table swiftly when we needed her. This is a rare quality nowadays. It's what we want. Not the waitron that takes your drinks order and disappears to whoever knows where for 30 minutes before telling you that they're out of juice and iced tea and coffee. Just as bad is the waitron the one that hovers like a shadow and constantly asks "Is everything ok?".
Back to my review (sorry about the rant) - we shared a few desserts. All were luscious. The creme brulee is highly recommended, and so is the brownies. Whilst having dessert the chef that prepared our meals came to our table to check if we enjoyed it - what a nice touch!
Verdict
Excellent food with fantastic service. Mains range from about R65-R120. That seems like the going rate. A nice place to have a good dinner.
Aside
Parking can be a schlep on Davenport Road. There's some parking at the back!
Blogging
I didn't realise that blogging would take up this much time. I try and think before I write about all the great (and not so great) Durban food but my grammar and vocabulary are not what they used to be. My sincerest apologies to my high school English teacher Ms S.H.
Gateway to India
A very smart restaurant...situated in a mall. Like its namesake, this restaurant is at the Gateway shopping centre in Umhlanga. The good thing is that once you're in the restaurant you actually feel like you could be in any fancy eatery. The walls are clad in traditional orange Indian silk, the furniture and surroundings beautiful and the service efficient.
I've been to this restaurant twice. Both times were with family for a special occasion. The food, whilst very good, is not worth the dough you have to fork out for it (no pun intended). The dishes are pricy and some are very small in size. The Indian breads are nothing short of exorbitantly priced. From this restaurant I can recommend the Gateway Raan - a long marinated, slow cooked lamb dish that melts in your mouth.
GTI has an extensive menu and you can watch your chefs in the kitchen prepare some of the dishes (there is a small open kitchen bit at the front of the restaurant). Previously, there would be interludes where girls trained in Indian classical dancing would perform on a stage built at the end. I am not sure whether this still continues at this time.
Verdict
Too expensive for most. Give this one a skip and get a bunny chow from a street cafe.
Aside
If you are willing to pay $$$ for a fancy Indian meal, go to the Oyster Box Hotel curry buffet instead. It's pricy but worth it.
I've been to this restaurant twice. Both times were with family for a special occasion. The food, whilst very good, is not worth the dough you have to fork out for it (no pun intended). The dishes are pricy and some are very small in size. The Indian breads are nothing short of exorbitantly priced. From this restaurant I can recommend the Gateway Raan - a long marinated, slow cooked lamb dish that melts in your mouth.
GTI has an extensive menu and you can watch your chefs in the kitchen prepare some of the dishes (there is a small open kitchen bit at the front of the restaurant). Previously, there would be interludes where girls trained in Indian classical dancing would perform on a stage built at the end. I am not sure whether this still continues at this time.
Verdict
Too expensive for most. Give this one a skip and get a bunny chow from a street cafe.
Aside
If you are willing to pay $$$ for a fancy Indian meal, go to the Oyster Box Hotel curry buffet instead. It's pricy but worth it.
Friday, 11 January 2013
The Waterberry (Ballito)
Okay, so not exactly Durban but some places are worth the drive. The Waterberry is one of those places. The reason - cheesecake. More on that just now....
If you are in the mood for a drive or if you happen to venture up north from Durban, stop at the Waterberry in Ballito. The setting makes you feel as if you're in a cabin in the middle of a forest. All seating is outside, under shelter on a wooden deck. There are trees all around and even a forest walk for you to traipse through. The entrance to the the cafe is like a deli - bottled goodies, sweets (including turkish delight), beverages and such are available for purchase. You need to be disciplined when you come here otherwise your wallet and your waist may regret it.
Service tends to change with the season or volume of people at the cafe. During holiday or peak tourist season getting a waitron's attention once seated takes effort. Otherwise, the staff are pleasant and can recommend dishes according to your tastes.
Whatever you do, make sure to keep space for cake after your meal. The Waterberry serves breakfast and light lunches. The chicken salad always impresses. It is marinated in a type of marinade (almost like harissa) and the chicken is always moist and delicious. They have recently started to do panini's. These are of a good size so consider sharing so that you can indulge afterwards.
The Waterberry is renowned for its cheesecake. Without a doubt the best cheesecake in the country. And this coming from a person who would choose cheesecake last as a dessert option. The flavours available differ but include nougat, honey nut, hazelnut, bar one, rocky road, chai and black cherry. All are good. And the slices are rich and big enough for you to enjoy over more than one sitting. The other cakes are also very good - a multi-layered chocolate cake and red velvet cake to name a few.
Verdict
Best cheesecake ever. Worth the drive. A must for anyone who visits Ballito.
Aside
They are only open until 4pm so don't go too late.
It gets very popular during holiday season - call ahead and see what it's like or make a reservation (if they allow it)
If you are in the mood for a drive or if you happen to venture up north from Durban, stop at the Waterberry in Ballito. The setting makes you feel as if you're in a cabin in the middle of a forest. All seating is outside, under shelter on a wooden deck. There are trees all around and even a forest walk for you to traipse through. The entrance to the the cafe is like a deli - bottled goodies, sweets (including turkish delight), beverages and such are available for purchase. You need to be disciplined when you come here otherwise your wallet and your waist may regret it.
Service tends to change with the season or volume of people at the cafe. During holiday or peak tourist season getting a waitron's attention once seated takes effort. Otherwise, the staff are pleasant and can recommend dishes according to your tastes.
Whatever you do, make sure to keep space for cake after your meal. The Waterberry serves breakfast and light lunches. The chicken salad always impresses. It is marinated in a type of marinade (almost like harissa) and the chicken is always moist and delicious. They have recently started to do panini's. These are of a good size so consider sharing so that you can indulge afterwards.
The Waterberry is renowned for its cheesecake. Without a doubt the best cheesecake in the country. And this coming from a person who would choose cheesecake last as a dessert option. The flavours available differ but include nougat, honey nut, hazelnut, bar one, rocky road, chai and black cherry. All are good. And the slices are rich and big enough for you to enjoy over more than one sitting. The other cakes are also very good - a multi-layered chocolate cake and red velvet cake to name a few.
Verdict
Best cheesecake ever. Worth the drive. A must for anyone who visits Ballito.
Aside
They are only open until 4pm so don't go too late.
It gets very popular during holiday season - call ahead and see what it's like or make a reservation (if they allow it)
Bangkok Wok
Bangkok Wok is a chain of restaurants that serve Thai food in Durban (they're all over the country). There are outlets dotted throughout the city but I prefer the Florida Road one. I think they're the best one although like most chains, there's not much difference between the taste of the dishes between all the Wok's.
The restaurant in Florida Road is pretty standard and nondescript. Perhaps the best part about the atmosphere is that whilst it is bustling Florida Road, it is a bit away from all the hubbub. Service is efficient but on a busy night, you may feel ignored at times.
The food is very good with many ways to have your thai curries - red, green, massaman etc. They also do stir-fries, noodle dishes and so on. They make excellent chicken wontons. About R40 for 5, these are crispy fried parcels with a chicken and lemongrass filling served with dipping sauces. A very good way to start a meal. Call me boring, but I always seem to order the same meal - the green curry. The kitchen can make it as mild or as hot as you like and it had a good array of vegetables in the curry sauce. The portion size is just right and doesn't make you feel bloated afterwards.
Dessert is forgettable. I think I may have had a bow-tie here once, I cannot be sure.
Verdict
Good value for money Thai food. Grab an ice-cream somewhere else afterwards if you want a sweet treat.
Aside
They have lunch time specials that varies so keep an eye out for these.
I've noticed that whenever I got the takeaway curry, there was a slight aftertaste of polystyrene in my mouth. Maybe Bangkok Wok should look at different takeaway containers.
The restaurant in Florida Road is pretty standard and nondescript. Perhaps the best part about the atmosphere is that whilst it is bustling Florida Road, it is a bit away from all the hubbub. Service is efficient but on a busy night, you may feel ignored at times.
The food is very good with many ways to have your thai curries - red, green, massaman etc. They also do stir-fries, noodle dishes and so on. They make excellent chicken wontons. About R40 for 5, these are crispy fried parcels with a chicken and lemongrass filling served with dipping sauces. A very good way to start a meal. Call me boring, but I always seem to order the same meal - the green curry. The kitchen can make it as mild or as hot as you like and it had a good array of vegetables in the curry sauce. The portion size is just right and doesn't make you feel bloated afterwards.
Dessert is forgettable. I think I may have had a bow-tie here once, I cannot be sure.
Verdict
Good value for money Thai food. Grab an ice-cream somewhere else afterwards if you want a sweet treat.
Aside
They have lunch time specials that varies so keep an eye out for these.
I've noticed that whenever I got the takeaway curry, there was a slight aftertaste of polystyrene in my mouth. Maybe Bangkok Wok should look at different takeaway containers.
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