Shrewd Food

Interior of Catch, a new seafood restaurant in Umhlanga

Prawn linguine, better looking than tasting

A new seafood restaurant has opened in Umhlanga and the jury is still out,  writes Ingrid Shevlin

Catch
Lighthouse Mall, 14 Chartwell Drive, Umhlanga
Call 031 561 2303

Catch is the newest restaurant on Chartwell Drive, a space already so crowded with eateries it’s a mystery how they can all be busy – or profitable. Just a few weeks back I reviewed another new restaurant, the Chefs’ Table, literally across the road from Catch. The Chefs’ Table seats well over a hundred diners and boasts exceptional cooking. Judging by the social media buzz it’s finding favour.
Others in the area are taking strain. They’ve been around the block and back and even though they serve consistently good food, are being eclipsed by the super cool ( like 14 on Chartwell)  and the shiny new, like Catch, which is  already packing them in. This is something of a mystery. Don’t get me wrong. There are many positives about Catch.
It’s a very appealing space that is a clever mix of sophisticated and industrial. The design elements are on the minimalistic side, but the ambiance is softened by the warm lighting and  a row of palms that separate the eating area from a service area. Service is efficient, the vibe is warm.
It’s the food we ordered that was puzzling. It ranged from a superb seared tuna to a prawn linguine so bland nothing could rescue it from the bottom of the taste barometer.  And believe me, I tried. 

Designer-designed interior of The Chefs’ Table

The sophisticated new Umhlanga eatery, The Chefs’ Table, see itself as everyman’s restaurant. It’s not. Thankfully. Because it’s something much more special, writes Ingrid Shevlin 

CHEFS’  TABLE
First Floor, New Tower Protea Hotel, Chartwell Drive,
Umhlanga Rocks
(031) 001 0200
Open daily for lunch, breakfast on Sundays only, and dinner Monday to Saturday.

Soti Sonatas is either a brave or foolish man. Or both. Time will tell.
He’s the hands-on part-owner of  Chefs’ Table, and a man who can boast a wealth of hospitality experience. Think Circus Circus.
Firstly, he’s opened a huge new restaurant ( at least a 140-seater)  in Chartwell Drive, which must have more restaurants per square kilometre than Amsterdam has brothels in their Red Light district (a not too disparate a comparison considering both sell pleasure for money). 

Lamb curry, students style

A heart-warming bangers and mash

Craft beer brewed in-house, homestyle food, a cheerful vibe and fab views are offered by Quills Deli at the 1000 Hills Chef School. By Ingrid Shevlin

Quills Deli

1000 Hills Chefs School
2 Wootton Ave, Bothas Hill
031 777 1566
Open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 8am to 4pm

You are in for an interesting experience if you elect to visit Quills, a restaurant, deli and micro brewery entirely staffed by students from the 1000 Hills Chefs School. The students both prepare the food and serve customers. It’s perfect training for the real – and harsh – world of hospitality.
Established in 2004 by Chef Dixi (Dixon), its students have since won a slew of national culinary awards. Understandably, since Dixi has a formidable reputation in the hospitality training industry. 

View from Canelands Beach Club

Ribeye steak

Sunday dining on the North Coast in a relaxed environment with wonderful views and good food is seldom this appealing, writes Ingrid Shevlin.  

TWO SHRIMPS RESTAURANT
Canelands Beach Club & Spa
2 Shrimp Lane, Salt Rock
Call 032 525 2300

Canelands Beach Club is a 4-star boutique hotel and spa with stunning views over the sea, barely a stone’s throw away. Contemporary in design, it overlooks a long, infinity-style swimming pool, an indigenous coastal garden, the ocean – and dolphins. A common sight.
The hotel is also home to the newly launched Two Shrimps Restaurant and while London food critic AA Gill firmly stated,  “the better the view, the worse the food”, he’s not right when it comes to the Two Shrimps.
It’s not that their food is without fault, however. But there was more than enough to please the family who lunched there last Sunday, July 17  – and the view and setting were stunning enough to make any pain go away. And we saw dolphins. What a joy.