Restaurants Archives - NowTHINK!AboutIt

Scrumpy Jack’s Can’t Be Missed

May 28, 2016 by EnnisP 1 Comment

Easy To Find
Hard To Leave

Literally! You can’t miss Scrumpy Jack’s. It fronts on the road and sits on a hill.

It’s also on the way to just about anywhere you’re going in the Central Drakensberg (7 kilometres south of the Thokozisa information centre on the R600, opposite the turn off to the Ardmore Guest Farm, just after the entrance to The Nest if you’re headed south).

What that long winded description means is it’s right in the middle of anywhere you want to be in the Central Berg.

But the visibility and easy access aren’t the most important bits of information.

I wouldn’t say this shop has everything – no shop does – but it has a very diverse and personalized assortment of offerings: Bee tours, pony rides, a cafe and more. It even has a pet pig named Porky who lazily – sometimes snoringly – welcomes all visitors to the shop.

The shop has a range of delectables to browse and buy: chocolates, nougat, nuts, biltong, jams, brittles, biscuits, teas, coffees and hot chocolate to name a few. I even noticed corn chips and a cool drink cooler.

If you’re snackish or ready for a meal, no worries. Seating is available and they offer puddings or light meals with hot or cold drinks to order.

But there’s more. This is not just another been-there-done-that tourist shop. What makes Scrumpy Jack’s unique are the high quality, locally produced and packaged products that you’ll rarely find any where else. [Read more…] about Scrumpy Jack’s Can’t Be Missed

Truth Coffee Shop – Cape Town

March 14, 2016 by EnnisP Leave a Comment

A Coffee Roastery
To Remember

Cape Town’s Truth Coffee Shop was rated one of the world’s best by The Telegraph in February 2016, and it was rated alongside several serious contenders. The Best list was comprised of vendors found in the world’s most popular cities.

After visiting the coffee shop (36 Buitenkant Street), I do agree that Truth is unique, but I’m not sure “Best” is the right fit. Not because of any inherent flaws but because there are too many great coffee shops in Cape Town alone to call any one of them the “World’s Best.”

More accurate descriptors might be: Interesting, worth the visit, worth a second visit, worth repeated visits, memorable, clever, appealing, enjoyable and really great food, but “Best” really gives little detail about the shop and is more sensational than helpful.

How To Find It

Sorry but “Convenient” is another word that doesn’t fit. We found Truth easily enough on Google, first page, but then needed a Garmin to get there. It didn’t seem like it was “on the way” to anything. Certainly not on the way for a tourist.

I can’t fault them on that, though, since Cape Town can be a little tangled at times. You learn very quickly that Capetonians never throw old buildings away. Tight fits are common and, I must say, can be very interesting if not a little maddening. Even Garmin gets confused occasionally.

But, if you’re in Cape Town, get out your Garmin and navigate to Truth. We loved it and would happily visit again. Following is what we found.

Arancini – Easy To Make Great To Eat

June 8, 2015 by EnnisP Leave a Comment

Arancini Frying In The Pan

Easy And Delicious

My wife and I recently visited the Quarters Restaurant on Florida Road. It was during the lunch service and I decided to try something I’d never eaten before: Arancini.

I’d never even heard of Arancini before, and I’m not one to try new things, but this sounded good. I’m a sucker for anything with tomato based sauces and this came with a healthy portion of the stuff.

If you’re wondering, Arancini is not a rare ingredient, unusual cut of meat or a dish requiring several delicate processes. It’s arborio rice formed into balls with a mozzarella center, dipped in egg wash and dredged through bread crumbs.

Arancini - risotto, mozzarella, egg wash and bread crumbs with sauce. Once fried, it’s served in a bowl of marinara sauce. And it really is tasty. So tasty, in fact, my wife decided to try it at home.

How was it? In a word: Success!!

Sorry Quarters. My wife’s rendition was better than yours but that’s not unusual. She is the best cook I know. Very difficult to better her servings.

Here’s the recipe. [Read more…] about Arancini – Easy To Make Great To Eat

Old Town Italy Review – Umhlanga Gateway

June 7, 2015 by EnnisP Leave a Comment

It’s An Experience

Just had lunch at the new Old Town Italy restaurant located near Gateway in Umhlanga Rocks.

Wow!! It was an experience. A good one.

How would I describe it?

In a word: Delicatessen/Restaurant/Bakery/Coffee Bar/Gift Shop/Veggie Shop/Imported Goods Shop, and more.

It’s a cheese shop too.

There’s no end to looking, exploring and discovering. Great variety! Many choices!

You can stroll around shopping. You can eat at the coffee bar. You can eat at regular or tall tables inside, or at regular or tall tables outside. You can buy take-out and eat at home. You make the choices.

It was busy. It was crowded in a nice way. The buzz was apparent. The vibe was consuming. My wife thought it was too loud. I thought it was upbeat.

The service was sufficient but not stellar. The food was more than acceptable but not superior. It was fun and playful, not pretentious.

The bread was incredible. The gelato was more-ish but the pizza and confections didn’t amaze me. Restaurant pizzas never do.

But this is not just a restaurant. It’s an experience. A good one. I recommend it.

Note: A few reviews complained loudly about service errors and overpriced dishes but let’s be fair. It’s a new restaurant so service errors can be expected. As for the food, so far I haven’t been disappointed. Presentation, variety and taste are great and you’re getting much more than food anyway. It really is an experience!

Update: We’ve now visited Old Town several times and still very pleased. Apparently others find it that way too. On Sunday after church, it was so busy we couldn’t get a table. But no worries. You can always stop in to buy some incredibly tasty fresh baked bread, along with meats, cheeses, prepared foods and more, and eat at home.

Contact Details:

39 Meridian Drive
Meridian Park (behind Gateway)
Umhlanga Rocks, KZN

Ph. 031 566-5008
Email: info@oldtown.co.za

Directions:

Head north on Umhlanga Rocks Drive toward Gateway.
Cross the M41 (Phoenix Highway) and turn left at the second traffic circle, Centenary Blvd.
Turn left and travel to the end – Tee junction.
Turn right and Old Town is 75 meters on left, just past Leigh’s Cycles.

Enjoy!

The Waterberry Is Back – Ballito

December 8, 2010 by EnnisP Leave a Comment

Waterberry
Reopens
November 2014

Although the restaurant burned down in June 2013 it has recently reopened and according to reports is still a great place to relax, eat and enjoy the environment.

The Waterberry is not your average restaurant. It isn’t surrounded by commercial development nor is it a franchise and you won’t find too many venues with the same mix of interests.

It is easily accessed on main Ballito roads and is located in a well-established, up-market residential area but is nestled on the edge of a high canopy coastal forest. The Waterberry is a gateway between two different worlds and it offers everything you could want in between.

The decor has changed but it is still tastefully and seasonally decorated, very clean and always tidily arranged. The quality is still the same.

The entrance has a gift shop offering gourmet jams, chocolates, coffees and baked items. They even have a nicely furnished lounge area should you have to wait for seating.

For those who are squeamish about public toilets, the loos are very clean!

The construction is wood rather than the usual cold drab brick and plaster.

The dining area is a covered deck open on all sides to forest so your meal is accompanied by the singing of birds and forest shading insures you’ll not be overly hot during your visit. [Read more…] about The Waterberry Is Back – Ballito