The Coffee Tree’s Judd Campbell has recently opened his newest venture in the heart of Glenwood, Durban. Prep Room, located at Glenwood Preparatory School, is a vibrant, family-friendly café that’s been built out of shipping containers. Eat Out critic Nikita Buxton nabs a spot on the sunny deck for a taste.

Prep Room shipping containers in Glenwood. Photo supplied.

Fast facts

Serves: Quirky café-style eats
Average main meal: R75
Best for: A weekend breakfast with the family or midweek coffee before collecting the kids from school
Star rating: Food 4, service 5, ambience 4

Food

Prep Room’s small but playful breakfast and lunch menu caters both for health nuts and pleasure seekers. On the ‘salubrious’ section you can look forward to dishes that are free of gluten and wheat and low in carbs, such as the breakfast of garlicky wild mushrooms on mustard rye, or local avo with buttered bacon for the banters.

A healthier breakfast option at Prep Room. Photo supplied.

For a more indulgent bite, we look to the ‘hedonistic’ offering. The strawberry-cheesecake French toast with honey and crunchy toasted nuts is fabulous. It’s sweet, comforting, and packed with a creamy strawberry mixture that’s bubblegum pink in colour. Sadly, we’re told that this hasn’t been a popular seller and will be taken off the menu soon; we suggest you get your orders in while it’s still available.

Another winner is the deconstructed deluxe sarmie: Three slices of ciabatta (from The Glenwood Bakery) are topped with zesty guacamole, mature cheese, wilted spinach, and an egg that’s been baked into the bread à la toad in the hole. Whether eaten stacked up or piece by piece, it’s filling and great to share.

Strawberry cheesecake French toast at Prep Room. Photo supplied.

Another clever concept is the Prep Room’s take-home dinner offering, which is great for families in the area. The eatery closes at 5pm, but the team fires up some whole roasted chickens in the rotisserie for those wanting an easy dinner fix. Choose from weekly flavours like lemon and thyme, barbecue, butter and rosemary, and peri peri. There are also family-size lasagnes on offer.

Drinks

Prep Room brews special beans from Colombo Coffee and offer a few tea options. The restaurant is not licensed, but you’re welcome to bring your own tipple (with no corkage fee) should you want something a little stronger. There are also some Sir Juice beverages on offer and water is always topped up.

The al fresco seating at Prep Room. Photo supplied.

Service

The staff here feel like your friends, and Judd is always around to check in on your meals.

Ambience

The eye-catching space just outside the school grounds has been built using shipping containers. The double-storey construction is perfectly nestled underneath large trees, ideal for sunny Durban days. The containers house the kitchen and bar, while the seating area is attractively set in an undercover deck area with a perfect view of the school sports field for event days. The work of local graffiti artist Iain EWOK Robinson adorns a brick wall, and playful window decals add some quirkiness to the space. A grassy playground for the little ones completes the scene for this new family-friendly spot.

The play area at Prep Room. Photo supplied.

And…

Keep your eyes on the Prep Room Facebook page for news on Friday pasta nights and burger dinners with live music.

Have you been to Prep Room in Glenwood yet? Write a review and put Prep Room in the running for this year’s Best Everyday Eateries, the winners of which will be announced in October. Write a review now. 

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