Lamb curry and rice with papadum and roti.
Image: Frank Chemaly
Where: Beverly Hills Hotel, 1 Lighthouse Road, Umlhanga
Open: Daily noon to 9pm
Call: 031 561 2211
I was recently invited to Elements at the Beverly Hills for a journalists lunch. Part of a tourism Durban initiative and with the hotel showcasing its new menu, it was a chance to catch up with old colleagues and meet new ones.
I have always loved the setting at Elements. It feels so completely private - like you’re on your own little island surrounded by the sea. The hustle and bustle of the Umhlanga metropole just above you seems a million miles away. The staff too traditionally are here to pamper you and go out of their way to make you feel special.
I was looking forward to it.
Fish and chips with minted peas and tartare sauce.
Image: Frank Chemaly
The new menu is small and has to cover a number of bases from light lunchtime snacks to proper dinners, but it’s interesting and will certainly cover most tastes. The staff bring out a selection of plates from the snacks and salads section and put them on the table for us to try. There’s good crisp, salty and garlicky flatbreads drizzled with olive oil (R75). The tempura prawns (R275) offer four meaty prawns in a nice light tempura batter with mango salsa and a chilli dipping sauce. The harissa chicken livers (R95) come with a good hint of chilli rounded out by a rich tomato cream sauce. And there's a cajun chicken salad (R180) with a good selection of leaves topped with tender spicy chicken, feta, avo and a sesame dressing. The sensible City Press lady said it was her choice.
Now I’m never going to be one to order a salad in any restaurant but at least this wasn’t just a pile of iceberg lettuce. Otherwise there’s fresh oysters, salt and pepper calamari and a few more interesting salads.
There’s an array of toasted sandwiches and pizzas for those wanting a light meal, the poor Margherita misspelt. And then a small selection of main courses By Land and By Sea.
Fillet steak with chips and mushroom sauce.
Image: Frank Chemaly
The glamorous Cape Town influencer enjoyed her fish and chips (R190) with tempura hake, rustic fries and minted peas. As did the business reporter. Other options include a seafood pasta, Norwegian salmon with a soy ginger glaze and Asian stir fry, and a seafood platter for two.
Then from the land came a really good lamb curry (R300) - there was plenty of succulent tender meat in a rich, deeply spiced gravy along with rice, papadum and roti. The SABC anchor walked the plate down the restaurant a number of times with an assured swagger until his cameraman was happy (and his lunch was cold). Actually, one reason to stop in at Elements for a quick light lunch would be the lamb curry toasted sandwich, which despite a hefty R190 price tag is actually good value.
I enjoyed a simple fillet steak (R360), 300g of perfectly cooked beef topped with roast tomato and caramelized onions with good chips and a decent mushroom sauce. I was very happy.
Other options include burgers - beef and chicken - pistachio chicken, chicken wings and ribs and a signature shisanyama platter with sirloin, lamb chops, chicken wings, boerewors, maizemeal rounds and chakalaka.
I had earlier told our waitress that I wasn’t going to bother with dessert, but when I saw them coming out I was suffering serious food envy. Could I change my mind? Of course I could. She didn’t miss a beat. The peanut butter, salted caramel and chocolate fudge sundae (R110) was everything I remember of the old fashioned sundaes of one’s youth - overstuffed, messy and absolutely delicious. It was topped with peanut brittle. In fact the peanut butter ice-cream alone would make an excellent dessert.
And yes those who had ordered the apple crumble or chocolate volcano also had a serious case of fomo.
Food: 3 ½
Service: 4
Ambience: 4