The ultimate Durban food feast

S43 beer and food factory at Station Drive in Durban serves tapas and gourmet burgers with a twist.

The contemporary urban decor at S43 makes you feel like you could be in Malá Strana in Prague or a wine bar in SoHo, except this is Durban meets industrial chic with Tarantino booths, banana palms and spectacular cocoon-like lights with on-trend squirrel cage bulbs. Our charming waiter looked like Clark Gable. What was even more charming was that he’d never heard of the dude, so we said, “You know, like Johnny Depp with a ‘tache.”

Dynamic Duo Station 43 (S43) is energising the food scene at Station Drive, a cultural precinct off bustling industrial Umgeni Road. It’s owned by young and dynamic husband and wife culinary team, Sean (the vibrant, upbeat host) and Marcelle Roberts (the resident chef) who are already known for their popular restaurants Cafe 1999 and Unity on the Berea.

That Brewing Co Over weekends this is a lively, popular restaurant and bar that serves That Brewing Co craft beers, from its toasty, malty, creamy Red Irish Cream Ale to what is dubbed a “session drinking” Blonde Ale. And, yes, of course, you can get Miss Molly champers and a glass of Cab Sauv or Fairview Sauvignon Blanc.

Subverting the traditional The tapas are as extensive as a Spanish art catalogue. Try the calamata olives, crumbed, deep-fried and stuffed with ricotta and served with chilli and spring onion mayo. If you want a gentle chilli zing, bite into the tasty Jalapeno poppers with lime and coriander mayo. Subverting the traditional, there’s crispy salt and pepper squid served with a Vietnamese pineapple salad, or the pulled pork tacos with guacamole, spicy slaw and chilli creme.

Creative burgers Creative burgers for vegetarians include the Gorgonzola, roquet and onion marmalade burger and the shiitake-enriched patty, sauteed mushrooms, Emmental cheese and truffle mayo (Triple Mushroom Mania). The Greek lamb burger, feta-enriched lamb patty with minted tzatziki, chargrilled aubergine and roasted peppers was wolfed down at our table and enjoyed with a side order of the beer-battered onion rings. Yup, they do have Banting burgers served on a roasted brown mushroom instead of a boring bun. The most popular burger is The Durban: a beef patty (a mixture of chuck and rump) with spiced pineapple, smoky bacon, mature cheddar with dollops of that groovy pink ’70s island-style dressing.

Taste for yourself:

S43

031 303 2747

facebook.com/s43venue

This article originally appeared in Neighbourhood, Sunday Times.

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