Freedom Cafe: A Review

Anyone who’s been to Durban would have noticed its slightly rough-around-the-edges look and feel. While it’s this rustic, warm-weathered nonchalance that epitomises the city that is so very close to my heart, it’s always good to see a few establishments that are going a step further. One such place is Neil Roake’s Freedom Cafe at the effortlessly chic Concierge Boutique Bungalows.

Set in the quiet, dappled shade of Morningside, Roarke has managed to bring a sense of contemporary design to both the setting and the table. The thing that struck me first as I approached the cafe, were the dachshund benches. After crunching across the pebbles to the seating area under the Console glass bottle lampshades, I knew I was going to have one of those memorably languid lunches.

The menu is concise but with options that burst with fusion-inspired flavour. To begin our Roake food experience, we started with the Vietnamese spring rolls. They were fresh, crunchy and cooling: perfect for a summer’s day in Durbs. For me, the showstopper was the handmade crayfish ravioli with mussel bisque. The pasta was light and the dish left me feeling as though I was close to the ocean. I also tried the mushroom tart and the trio of avo, beetroot and chickpea hummus, which were both beautiful.

I went against my better judgement and decided to have dessert – the pear and almond tart was a flourless caramelized to perfection and well worth being rolled back to the car for.

Freedom Cafe, you have not seen the last of me.