Must-taste morsels of happiness

Ballito and the North Coast has seen an explosion of new restaurants and take-aways over the last year, with amoung others, The Market at Lifestyle exposing a series of hidden local food talents to the community.

Small eateries offer handmade delicacies at reasonable prices that you may not find anywhere else, so holidaymakers – here are a few ideas for when you are hunting for some delicious chow to fill your belly.

1. Bird & Co is a lively restaurant and pizzeria based in the Market in Lifestyle, offering beautifully decadent chicken dishes served with seasoned thin-cut chips and coleslaw, or even vegetarian options like a delicious halloumi wrap.

A must is the ‘strip tease’, a velvet-smooth tangy sauce over chicken strips with either chips or coleslaw.

For R55, it’s a filling and finger-licking alternative to a fast food burger.

2. Nikos By The Sea is a Greek-style restaurant at the site of the old Big Blue building on Compensation Beach Road with amazing sea views to go with their food.

It might seem basic, but their Loaded Hummus dip with pomegranate seeds, red onion, feta and chickpea kernels is so good that you will forget about mains entirely, and order more of the same.

Try it for R65, served with pita bread.

3. The Fig Tree Restaurant at Simbithi Estate is a beautiful setting for lunch or dinner, overlooking the Simbithi golf course and provides a great entertainment areas for adults and children alike.

Their mushroom and gorgonzola penne pasta is a filling delight with a beautiful truffle aftertaste, and tastes even better as a leftover served cold hours later. For R90, it’s definitely worth a try for pasta fans.

4. Tasca Pizza at Umdloti Beach is a small but vibrant restaurant overlooking the ocean from the North Beach Road promenade, where people can relax and enjoy a delicious Portuguese-style thin base pizza or ice cream while cooling off with a beer.

Everything on their menu is worth a try, but a standout dish is their chicken, Camembert cheese and fig pizza topped off with rocket.

The smoky flavour coupled with the sweetness of the fig preserve is an amazing taste for lovers of both sweet and savoury food. Try it out for R115 while looking out for schools of dolphins swimming past.

5. Papa G’s at Ballito Junction has a central location in the hub of the North Coast and their ‘livero’ chicken liver starter is a substantial and deliciously creamy peri-peri option for people looking for something potent yet portion-conscious. Served with focaccia slices for R58, one would be crazy not to try it out.

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