Winter restaurant specials in Durban

Posted by Rachel Robinson on 24 May 2012

Winter restaurant specials in Durban? Durban don’t even have a winter! (This is being compiled by a jealous Capetonian). In fact, the rest of the country comes to you from June to August if they feel like having a beach holiday or simply to get away from the cold and the drizzle. At most you may have to don a long-sleeved shirt for work and a wetsuit to go surfing. So there are no “winter specials” for you guys. Period. That’s the price you pay for having balmy weather all year. But we have managed to find some restaurants that are serving up good food at budget prices. Which should put more money in your pocket to buy a long-sleeved shirt or wetsuit.

If you’re feeling flush

The Oyster Box Hotel
Lighthouse Road, Umhlanga Rocks

Feeling a little decadent? Put on your heels or smart shirt and get down to the Oyster Box Hotel where you will feel a sense of opulence simply by walking through the door. Once there, indulge in a designer Glamour Crayfish and Prawn Bunny Chow at the Ocean Terrace restaurant for R990 for two people. Wash it down with a complimentary bottle of Moet & Chandon Champagne. If bunnies are not your style, there’s also a curry buffet for R220 per person. Choose from a selection of 11 curries along with freshly baked naan breads, papadums, roti’s, chutneys and sambals.

Tel 031-514-5018, email [email protected], www.oysterboxhotel.com.

If you’re feeling the pinch

Moyo @ Ushaka
uShaka Marine World, Bell Street

Moyo uShaka is a multi-leveled restaurant and a multi-cultured African experience seasoned by sea-salted air. Cast your eye back over Durban city and watch as the sun sinks splashing all shades of pink as it descends. Tantalise your tastebuds at The Mezze-Style Taste of Northern Africa for R100 per person (serves 2). Expect a variety of dips with Tunisian flatbread, Moroccan mint meatballs, Algerian fish cakes, a Tunisian tajine along with a grilled vegetable salad. Or feast on a Pan African Potjie and Tagine Buffet menu every Thursday evening for R145. Expect oxtail potjie, ostrich potjie, chicken tagine, seafood potjie and a pudding potjie, served with a variety of delicious sides.

Tel 031-332-0606, email [email protected], www.moyo.co.za.

Hai.Bo
Lilian Ngoyi Road (Windermere), Greyville

Offering a relaxed yet sumptuous dinning experience, HaiBo is a must stop-at venue, offering the perfect pre-dinner drinks or after work sundowners and great food from morning til night. The term ‘haibo’ is an expression of surprise, and there are a lot of surprises and delights for guests, including impromptu pole dances at the bar and old Scope magazines from the 80’s in the loo. Under the “budget rebate programme” they are offering any pizza or pasta at half price on Monday through to Saturday from 11h00-16h00.

Tel 031 823 4745, email [email protected], www.haibogroup.co.za.

Taco Zulu
Florida Road, Morningside

Popular with students, Taco Zulu is an upbeat Mexican grill house and cocktail bar situated in the trendy Florida Road restaurant area. Soak up the carnival atmosphere, friendly service, contemporary Mexican cuisine and legendary cocktails. If you have any sense and are watching your cents, get there at 18h00 for their legendary specials – R15 drafts, R19 cocktails and R25 pizza. On offer from Monday to Saturday. If you have the Monday blues, get a burger or burrito for R53 with a 500ml draught .

Tel 031-303-9584, email [email protected], www.tacozulu.co.za.

Simply Fish
Florida Road, Morningside

Simply Fish offer value-for-money meals in a relaxed Mediterranean atmosphere with good service, great views and adequate parking. Sushi fiends can enjoy half-price sushi on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays whilst prawn lovers can indulge in a Mozambican prawn feast on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays for R129 per person (minimum 2 people).

Tel 031-303-8431, email [email protected], www.simplyfish.co.za.

Livingston’s Gastropub
Cnr Aubrey Road and Harrold Place, Glenashley

Situated in Durban North with clear views of the Indian Ocean, Livingston’s is a popular pub that serves up top-class food any good restaurant would be proud of. Mondays are Pie n’ Pint night for R55 and on Wednesdays ladies receive a complimentary glass of Pongracz or Durbanville Hills Wine with their meal from the Bubbly Wednesdays Menu. Pongracz is also on offer every Wednesday night at R100 per bottle or R25 per glass.

Tel 031-562-9018, email [email protected], www.livingstons.co.za.

The Fish Plaice
Musgrave and Glenashley

Loved by students and housewives alike, The Fish Plaice is a popular spot to grab a good portion of grub at a realistic price. They have a different special every day of the week, so choose your favourite. Or go every day. Monday – Meal for 3 for R93, Tuesday – calamari & chips/rice & sauce for R35.50, Wednesday – hake & prawn combo for R46.50, Thursday – Housewives Special for R64, Friday – large hake & chips for R39, Saturday – hake & calamari combo R45, Sunday – grilled prawns & rice R60.90.

Musgrave branch tel 031-201-4439, Glenashley branch tel 031-572-7959.

Woodcutters Pub & Grill
Buckingham Terrace, Westville

Woodcutters has been around since 1984 and there must be something special for a restaurant to still be busy after so many years. It could be the live music, the great food or the fact that there’s a kiddies area which keeps the kids occupied whilst parents have some time to themselves. On Thursdays they are offering a prawn platter with 30 prawns for R99. Along with basket specials, a bucket of 6 SAB Beers will set you back R66 if the rugby is on. If it’s a Sharks game, buy one draught and get one free from kick off to end of game. The elderly are taken care of on Tuesdays with 25% off for pensioners.

Tel 031-266-1843, www.woodcutters.net.

If you’re feeling the need for something different

Greensleeves
Camelot Estate, Hillcrest

Fancy a medieval feast where you are addressed as Milord and Milady and served by wenches and lackeys in Elizabethan period costume? Then get a group together and make a booking for an evening at Greensleeves where you’ll recapture the bawdy thrill of feasting as they did in good King Henry’s days of splendour. Medieval costumes may be hired at Greensleeves on the night so you can live out your dreams as a bishop, monk, jester, knight, wizard or wench for the evening. After you’ve been entertained in royal fashion and supped your fill there is dancing till late. R260 per person (does not include costume hire or drinks).

Tel 031-765-9400, www.greensleeves.co.za.

Freedom Café
Campbell Avenue, Greyville

This restaurant is so awesome that it inspired an award-winning cookbook. Brainchild of ad man and design guru (and now award-winning cookbook writer), Neil Roake, the Freedom Café is a quirky eatery worth a visit. The restaurant is housed in a red shipping container, expanded with glass and is brimming with quirky details from ceramic sausage dog salt and pepper holders to wire lampshades. Along with daily specials, the Freedom Burger Trio for R59 is worth a try. You can also purchase one of Neil’s cookbooks while you are there.

Tel 031-309-4453, email [email protected], www.tastefreedom.co.za.

Market fun and fare
Most weekends

Durban has great weather in winter, so why not get yourself outdoors and try a market in your area. Browse through interesting goodies and trinkets whilst munching on delicious freshly-prepared food from a stall of your choice. Expect anything from samoosas to burgers, organic and free range meals and beer and wine. Not only can you find a meal to suit your pocket, you are supporting local trade and getting fresh air at the same time. Try the Stables Market, I Heart Market or Litchi Orchard Market.
If we’ve missed out a wonderful winter special or a great place with good prices that you know about, please let us know! Email [email protected] with your suggestions and we could add it to the list for others to know about.

You may also like






yoast-primary -
tcat - Food
tcat_slug - food
tcat2 -
tcat2_slug -
tcat_final - food-and-drink