In pictures: Sea Point’s off-beat restaurant scene

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In pictures: Sea Point’s off-beat restaurant scene

Tuesday, September 1st, 2015 by Jan Ras, Lauren Josephs and Katharine Jacobs

Aside from hairdressers (of which Sea Point has an unnatural abundance), restaurants are what form the greatest part of Sea Point’s street-level architecture. Asian restaurants abound, offering everything from hearty, warming bibimbap to steaming dim sum and fresh sushi. There are old favourites like Bella Italia and Posticino, both 16 years old (practically a century in restaurant years) and there are new kids on the block like artisanal café Jarryd’s and chocolate and coffee shop My Sugar. There’s also authentic exotic African food to be found at Mama Tembo’s and what is probably the world’s only psy-trance dedicated pizzeria. Photographer Jan Ras ventured down Main Road and its tributary, Regent Road, to capture some of the vibrancy and variety of the suburb.

: Fresh bagels being removed from the oven at Kleinsky’s Delicatessen. Photo by Jan Ras.

: The stylish wood panelled counter at Kleinsky’s.

: Kleinsky’s keen barrister shows off his talent at the New-York-style deli.

: Owned by Mikheal Bourjeily and run by his dream team, Monica, Litha, Lungi and Happiness, Mischu is the place to go for efficient service and delicious caffeine variations.

: Mischu is also the home of Mischu’s Coffee Academy, where young baristas can learn the art of making a perfect cup.

: Owner Zane O’Donnell welcomed us into the chic juice-bar One-Juice with a firm handshake. “Surprisingly, we’re fullest during winter,” explains Zane

: Two Flamerizer (turmeric, lemon, ginger and cayenne pepper) shots at One-Juice.

: Unassuming Craft Burger Bar has a loyal following thanks to its R49 build-your-own burger – and the heady aroma of barbecue basting sauce that drifts down the road in the evenings.

: New to the Sea Point family, My Sugar has already made an impression with unusual artisanal chocolates, including miso-caramel Buddhas and chocolate skulls.

: “I can’t go a day without stopping by to treat myself,” says a My Sugar customer, who’s on a first-name basis with the staff.

: The Point centre is home to Knead, Myog, a small Bootlegger outlet and NV-80; a first floor restaurant with a stunning deck offering views of Lion’s Head.

: Gushi Sushi started out as a stall at Oranjezicht City Farm Market. In April, the team took on space inside Sea Point’s fabulous fish shop, Ocean’s Edge. The store offers some unusual options like banting California rolls wrapped in cucumber, chicken origami rolls, and a black rice with pesto and cashew option for vegetarians.

: Something of a landmark on Regent Road, this narrow building is home to Ari’s Souvlaki, a 35-year-old business run by Peter Barnard and Ivan Haupt, with loyal staff like Ellen Visser, who’s worked here for the past 30 years.

: Ari’s Souvlaki’s most popular dish remains the beef shwarma, served with beef, tzatziki and tomato, all rolled up in a pita bread.

: There are two Goloso restaurants within a block of each other (with two separate owners). Goloso Italian Deli and Restaurant specialises in glorious pasta hand-made with imported Italian flour. Cape Town locals may recognise hands-on owner Johan Slabbert from La Colombe, where he worked as manager for eight years.

: Head chef Nami Ditolo of Goloso Italian Deli and Restaurant turns out a spectacular bolognaise and the lasagne has a bevy of fans, too.

: Just across the road from Goloso Italian Deli is Goloso Pizzeria. We’re welcomed by owner Heinrich Smit and the glorious scent of well-made pizza.

: The thin bubbling bases are rolled on site with Italian flour.

: Their most popular pizza is the Parma, with prosciutto, rocket, parmesan and truffle oil. Yours for R95.

: A finished pizza, ready for collection.

: This Korean restaurant recently relocated a few blocks down, but they’re still serving up their beef galbi and grilled pork (prepared at the table) along with Korean-style pancakes, sweet rice balls and deep-fried ice cream.

: Backyard Grill opened up three years ago and has since developed a reputation for ribs.

: Backyard Grill owner Jason Shaw assures us that everything but the seafood is cooked outside on the impressively proportioned braai.

: With a 28-year history, Call-a-Pizza claims to be South Africa’s first pizza delivery service.

: Call-a-Pizza is now South Africa’s – and possibly the world’s – only psy-trance dedicated pizzeria.

: The walls of Call-a-Pizza are papered in photos from trance parties and psychedelic puzzles done by the owners, and footage from trance parties plays on the television screen. Fans include several international DJs and local gal Toya Delazy.

: Ricky Sidelsky and Yolanda Chambers took over Call-a-Pizza and transformed the drab interior. Feeling brave? Tackle ‘The Works’, a monstrous pizza with 21 toppings, including, amongst other things, chicken fillet, beef bolognaise, asparagus, pineapple, peppers and bacon. (Not pictured here).

: The Roti is an Indian buffet-style restaurant (although quite dark and quiet during the day) is perfect for functions. The décor, traditional music and delicious food create a comfortable, cosy ambience.

: The coffee counter and array of treats available at Bootlegger on Regent Road.

: This artisan coffee shop is perpetually buzzing with customers ordering coffee, lunch and enjoying the free WiFi.

: Bootlegger offers a great selection of breakfasts – including a delicious eggs Benedict.

: Owner Pieter Bloem proudly leads us the Bootlegger roastery behind the coffee shop, which fills the outdoor seating area round the back with dark, delicious aromas.

: Around since 1961, this neighbourhood gem was taken over by Franco and Norman after the previous owner passed away.

: Nineteen Sixty One Grill still serves the same delicious steaks and burgers at great prices in an intimate and friendly setting.

: At Flatteur Cafe, a spiral staircase decorated with books is surrounded by comfy couches with cushions for guests to catch the warm rays of the afternoon sun.

: Perched on a corner, Flatteur Cafe has a comforting warmth about it.

: Something of a landmark in Sea Point, The Atlantic Express restaurant offers a fully Halaal menu.

: A warm glow emanates from Posticino, a local Italian favourite since opening in 1999. The manager welcomes us in just as she makes a plan for the steady stream of people hoping for a table. But there’s no room to swing a cat inside, let alone set up a tripod. A second branch has now opened in Hout Bay.

: Andy Wong poses outside his eponymous restaurant, Andy’s Sushi, which is known for its affordable but well-executed specials.

: This Middle-Eastern spot first opened as a stall at the Stellenbosch Slow Food Market, and has since expanded to cater many events with its food truck, and feed plenty hungry Sea Point locals with their delicious shwarmas, until late into the night.

: El Mariachi is a fairly recent addition to the Sea Point strip, but they’re the first in the ‘hood to specialise in Mexican food. In the adjoining bar, we sip a delicious rose-petal tequila, a jalapeño tequila with a pleasing warmth, and a sweet apple tequila, which strikes us as particularly lethal because of the total lack of burn. These three blends are infused in-house and make up their range of 16-odd tequilas.

: Popular with locals and tourists, Mama Tembo’s serves up African classics and some exotic meat dishes.

: Decorated in Lion match box paper, newspaper and with photos and decals of some of our country’s icons, Mama Tembo’s offers a more modern idea of an African-themed restaurant.

: Try the slow-roasted warthog ribs, shisa nyama and wors, or the ever-popular pap and chakalaka at Mama Tembo’s. In winter, you’ll find a selection of stews and soups, served buffet-style on the oven.

: Run by a family from Seoul, Korean Soju has been around many years: first at a local in the city bowl, and another spot in Sea Point, before finding their current home on Sea Point Main Road a year and a half ago. The dolsot bibimbap is a favourite, served up in a hot stone bowl with beef mince, stir-fried rice, spicy sauce and fried egg. There’s also excellent bulgogi and galbi (Korean barbecue) to be had.