Smart addition to Umhlanga promenade

Surf Riders Cafe Cabanas

Where: 10 Lagoon Drive, uMhlanga Rocks

Open: Daily 6.30am to 10pm

Call: 031 065 3444

Ingrid Shevlin and I were invited for a prelim recce - a few days before they opened. And what a transformation the Cabanas has undergone. 

The venue which many will remember as the site of the original Razzmatazz, that was decades ago, and more recently Bellezar, has been completely refitted with floor to ceiling windows to take in the breathtaking sea view. It’s light, modern, stylish and airy. There’s a cocktail bar, a private deck and a lower outdoor deck that looks over promenade. And yes there are even some gold plated taps in the newly renovated washrooms.

We were impressed. 

The main menu is everything you’ve come to expect from Surf Riders - home-made burgers piled high with sauces and toppings - in fact chef Samantha Small Shaw brought us out one to try. The patty was juicy and fresh, topped with bacon, cheese and cheese sauce and made all the more dramatic by a tower of onion rings. Neither of us are big on burgers, but yes, we were impressed. If I’m going to order a burger it needs to be something like this.

And then there’s a selection of gourmet hot dogs, and thin crust pizzas with an array of tempting toppings.

Small Shaw also offered us one of her signature dishes - the salmon ramen. These were ramen noodles in a spicy but balanced Asian sauce with crisp stir-fried Asian veg and a lovely lightly cooked piece of salmon on top. It was topped with a jammy boiled egg. What was not to like.

And then she insisted we try her milkshakes. The caramel version topped with popped corn and honeycomb got out seal of approval. But there are strawberry, and lime, and even bubble gum versions which would be a hit with the kids.

Then last week the Glass Guy and I went out to give it a second try. On a balmy Friday night the restaurant was buzzing. Families munching on pizzas with the kids slurping up those same shakes. Groups of friends knocking back wine and plates of calamari. It had a lovely vibe.

We sat on the outside deck and soon had a GnT in hand looking out at the array of ships waiting to come into Durban harbour.

The specials menu was limited, although I am sure it will expand as the restaurant finds its feet. And I’m sure a full dinner menu will soon become a regular item. 

Starts included the likes of chicken livers and a mussel pot and what we tried were some very good jalapeno poppers. These were less poppers than croquettes with a lovely crisp crumb and good dipping sauce. The Glass Guy - jalapenos are his thing, not mine - was in his element. We also shared a Korean fish sandwich which I really enjoyed. Toasted Brioche bread topped with spicy sauces, crisp fish fillets and fresh Asian slaw. It was enormous and wonderfully messy to eat.

For mains they were out of the lamb rump that was on the menu, so I opted for the fillet, pan fried in bone marrow butter and served with a rich mushroom sauce. What a treat, even if the chips that were supposed to go with it somehow went awol in the kitchen. The Glass Guy enjoyed his crumbed calamari which was a generous portion. I stole a few of his chips, which were good.

We’d had more than enough to eat, so weren't tempted in the ice-cream and shake department, but instead enjoyed an excellent coffee, looking over the ocean.

Food: 4

Service: 3

Ambience: 4

The Bill: R899 for the Glass Guy and myself