There’s a new brunch-, lunch- and late-night eatery to hit the Mother City’s CBD and it’s serving some serious comfort grub with a lekker South African twist. The Raptor Room, a small but super-stylish hole in the wall with pink neon signage, opened its doors on Roeland Street last weekend.

The Raptor Room on Roeland Street. Photo by Jonathan Ferreira.

Owners Amy Lilley and Danel Maree, local creatives with a taste for travel, will focus on local produce, flavours, art and music. The pink-hued menu features brunch, lunches and dinner, and drinks like gourmet soda floats. Late-morning munchies might include smoothie bowls with dragon fruit or peanut butter; Benedict bagels with bacon and eggs; or banana French toast with granadilla curd. If you grab a spot for lunch or dinner, expect items like Cape Town’s famed gatsby with Jurassic pork, cauliflower atchar and chips; classic mac ’n cheese with roosterkoek crumbs and Rooibos-roasted tomatoes; or the veggie-friendly mielie fritter stack with smoked jalapeño butter.

Mac ‘n cheese at The Raptor Room. Photo by Jonathan Ferreira.

There’s also a small plates section with options like sliders with boerenkaas; popcorn chicken with flavoured salts; and a tempura oyster with a shot of bloody Mary. To round off the menu, there are sweet-sounding treats like the Peppermint Crisp sundae and the Lola float, with cherry cola and Cape cherry ice cream.

Loaded fries at The Raptor Room. Photo by Jonathan Ferreira.

As for thirst-quenchers, The Raptor Room is still waiting on its liquor licence, but guests are encouraged to bring their own or opt instead for a coffee made with beans by Flat Mountain Coffee Roasters.

The Raptor Room is open from Monday to Saturday, 11am to 11pm.

The sauce station at The Raptor Room. Photos by Jonathan Ferreira.