Spice Restaurant is the brainchild of husband-and-wife team Russell and Linda Burger and has been a favourite in the Durban foodie scene since 2003. After spending years in the grand old house on Windermere Road in Morningside, the Indo-continental restaurant moved locations to the beachy Bali Hai building in Westbrook, Tongaat. The space offers some of the best sea views along the coast, paired with interesting Eastern flavours fused with familiar European flair. Eat Out critic Nikita Buxton heads to this seaside spot for a lingering spice-fuelled lunch.

The restaurant’s new location in Westbrook, Tongaat, offers some of the best sea views along the Durban coast. Photo supplied.

Fast facts

Price: R125 on average for a main dish
Serves: A fusion of Indian and Pakistani flavours with European twists
Best for: Flavourful curried lunches on the sunny deck
Parking: It can be busy on weekends but there’s usually space on the grassy curbs outside the restaurant
Star ratings: Food 5, service 4, ambience 4

Food

Spice’s focus is on aromatic dishes with curries, grills, seafood and even pasta dishes that have a sprinkling of Indian influence. A pro tip would be to skip the appetisers to save space for the bountiful mains, but if you’re really peckish, the spiced tempura prawns are juicy and the grilled calamari with avo, green chilli and coriander-and-lime dressing is light and refreshing.

The prawn- and avo-filled poppadom. Photo supplied.

The top mains are definitely the curry dishes. Standouts include the fiery prawn curry with a robust sauce that’s generously laden with plump pink prawns; the lamb curry with a medium spice and fall-apart boneless lamb; and the tamarind fish curry served with fresh local fish, which has a moreish sourness from the tamarind. The curries are served with a mound of perfectly cooked basmati rice, a crisp poppadum and a selection of soothing sambals. If you’re looking for a little less heat, go for the superb tender Balti chicken stuffed with Cajun prawns and served with a mild curry cream.

One of the standout curry dishes. Photo supplied.

The portions are hearty and it’s usually (almost) impossible to fit in a dessert. If your sweet tooth is calling, the coffee-infused crème brûlée is a classic choice, or try the refreshing seasonal sorbet with slivered mint leaves, which is ideal after a heat-filled feast.

Drinks

There’s a good selection of perfect-with-spice wines, bubblies and beers.

Service

Warm and efficient. Spice owners Russell and Linda are hands on to make sure everyone is happy.

A meaty dish at Spice. Photo supplied.

Ambience

The restaurant is spacious and filled with light. The pale green walls, wooden accents and palm fronds lend a Bali-esque feel. The wraparound doors offer views of the sea, but prime position is the sunlit deck.

The interior. Photo supplied.

And…

Spice also offer a light menu with easy-going dishes like spiced fish cakes, a chicken salad, and a prawn-and-avo-filled poppadum.

Have you been to Spice Restaurant on KZN’s North Coast? Tell us about it in a review and we’ll pledge a meal for a hungry child through Stop Hunger Now SA. (Your rating will also put Spice Restaurant in the running for the Indian Restaurant category of our annual Best Everyday Eateries.)

Eat Out critics dine anonymously and pay for their meals in full. Read our editorial policy here.