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The buzzing Somerset Road strip sees many football fans, concert-goers, dog-walkers and city commuters in the average month – but it’s going to be busier than ever in March, thanks to the finish line of The Cycle Tour on Sunday and The Cape Town Carnival on 16 March. Offering everything from quaint delis to vibrant Mexican spots and burger joints, Green Point’s Main Road is where it’s all happening. Here’s our list of where to go and what to eat around the Somerset strip.

For breakfast and good coffee

Bootlegger Coffee Company

Breakfast ranges from a coconut chia pudding with fruit to truffle-infused mushrooms on ciabatta toast and salmon trout with poached eggs and hollandaise and a potato rösti. As at any Bootlegger, they’re serious about coffee. Get a classic cuppa or try something new (the ‘Magic’, for instance, is a three-quarter flat white). Milkshakes, fruit juices and smoothies also feature.

 

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Cushty Deli

This daytime deli has no airs and graces about it. Breakfast options include light homemade granola with seasonal fruits and Greek yoghurt from Gay’s Dairy, or a veg-friendly pesto and cherry tomato toast with mushrooms, rocket, feta and pecans. If you’re an eggs Benny fan, you can’t go wrong here. If you prefer toast, you’ll be looked after with slices from Woodstock Bakery (also available to take home).

 

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Jason Bakery

Look forward to breakfasts like the spinach-spiked green pancakes, the deliciously creamy mushroom ragout or the fragrantly spiced shakshuka. For mid-morning cravings, indulge in the selection of sandwiches, all served on your choice of homemade Bree Street sourdough, ciabatta or 66% sourdough rye. Order your coffee how you like it but remember the golden rule – no cappuccinos. (Jason serves only flat whites.) There’s also a selection of on-trend matcha, turmeric and beetroot lattes.

 

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A post shared by Jason Bakery (@jasonbakerycpt) on Mar 4, 2019 at 9:25pm PST

Shift Espresso Bar

Organic Fair Trade coffee, sourced and roasted in Africa, is the drink of choice at this laid-back coffee spot. They do some easy-eating breakfast and lunch options, too. Try the creamy scrambled eggs on toast with avo and cherry tomatoes, or The Revolver baguette sandwich with seared beef, Spanish onions, parmesan and a light mustard. Their forte, however, is speciality coffees, made with some pretty decadent extras. Standouts are the Hashtag, with a blended double-shot of espresso, vanilla ice cream and Oreos, and the Italian Plumber, with vanilla ice cream, Nutella and condensed milk.

 

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For takeaway meals and deli favourites

Giovanni’s Delicatessen

This little Italian deli is always humming with locals – and for good reason. The shelves are stocked with a never-ending supply of local and imported specialty condiments, pastas, sweets, snacks and wines. Need a quick lunch fix? The pre-packed heat-and-eat meals and salad goodies are great. And then, of course, there’s the buzzing espresso bar.

 

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For top-quality meat

The Butcher Man

This light and airy butchery is an ideal spot for your weekend braai runs. Equipped with everything from wines, spices and marinades to braai tongs and aprons, this is a one-stop-shop for meat lovers. The selection is wide-ranging and includes the usual suspects like free-range chicken and beautifully marbled local beef in a selection of cuts, or different options like seasonal game, whole rabbits and duck. Customers can also take a seat in the restaurant section and enjoy their favourite cut of meat cooked to perfection, or tuck into a Wagyu beef burger with pickled cucumbers and house-made mayo.

 

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For a health kick

NÜ Health Food Café

This bright little eatery and takeaway spot is conveniently located near the MyCiti bus stop, making it a great option for a quick bite en route to work. Priding itself on serving wholesome meals that burst with superfoods and fresh ingredients, NÜ is a winner for health nuts. Try one of the chopped salads, like the Iron Kick with chickpeas, lentils, curry spice, feta, avo and coriander, or gluten-free baked tuna cakes with ricotta, lentils, sweetcorn and broccoli. Wash it all down with one of the many green juices, smoothies or super boost drinks.

 

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A post shared by nü (@nuhealthfood) on Feb 4, 2019 at 10:57pm PST

The Stranger’s Club

Though the menu is small, it’s worth popping into this café. Breakfast is served until 11.30am and promises a choice between a traditional Benedict, cold oats and seasonal fruit. Smoothies and trendy smoothie bowls are offered all day and come served topped with a scattering of seeds and gluten-free granola. Seasonal salads are served from 12pm in generous portions. The roasted peach salad served with Parma ham is a delicious balance of sweet and savoury and the buttery sautéed leeks add a delicious creaminess and, along with the crackle of the croutons, it makes for an excitingly textural taste explosion. There’s also a selection of sandwiches, served all day, on your choice of sourdough or rye.

 

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For a laid-back dinner

Mano’s

This Green Point stalwart has been serving easygoing homemade-style food for years. Unpretentious food with a slight contemporary twist is what you can expect here. The mood is bustling and energetic, with locals taking over most of the restaurant. Grab a street-side table for people-watching, or find a table inside the breezy eatery. Dishes include favourites like the spicy prawn curry, creamy chicken limone with a portion of shoestring fries, or chicken-liver pasta. Don’t leave without trying the brownie mess for dessert.

 

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For gourmet burgers

Hudson’s The Burger Joint

This popular burger spot serves its glorious patties from lunch until 11pm and is a great place to linger before or after an event at the stadium. Tuck into a rich Rockafella burger with eight-hour roasted pulled pork, cheddar cheese and a fried egg, or a simple cheeseburger with tomato relish and cheddar. Not in the mood for a burger? Try one of their cheesy pizzas. They also do takeaways for those midweek pick-me-ups.

 

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Rocomama’s

Meat lovers are spoilt for choice at this diner-style restaurant known for its smashburgers, spicy wings and sweet-fire ribs. Order the bacon, cheese and guac smashburger with aged cheddar and smoky mayo, or try the mushroom swizz with delicious sautéed mushrooms and emmenthaler cheese. The Uncle Jack bourbon ribs dish is a winner, and so are the old-school barbecue wings. To mop it all up, order a portion of shoestring fries.

For a slice of cheesy pizza

Big Route

Popular with Atlantic Seaboard locals, this spot offers a winning combination of pizzas and cocktails. The menu boasts adventurous options – almost too many from which to choose – like the Sofisticata with stracciatella cheese, parma ham, balsamic reduction and sundried tomatoes; the Contadina with cauliflower purée, mozzarella, with sautéed mushrooms and onions, freshly sliced bresaola and pecorino shavings; and the Internazionale with grilled tikka chicken, red onions, peas, cucumber and a green-tea dressing with plain yoghurt. Stop here for a sit-in meal or takeaway on the way back to the ’burbs after a trip to the beach.

 

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For a more upmarket meal

Upper Bloem

The set menu here is divided into three parts. Start with smoked snoek croquettes and lightly cured kabeljou on a crunchy sago crisp and Cape Malay-style onions. Then there are delicately spiced carrots with goat’s cheese; plump mussels in a flavourful broth studded with samphire and a quail ‘Kabaab’ – a take on the Scotch egg – soft-boiled and surrounded by shredded beef on a bed of beetroot. The hearty third part boasts duck breast with quince and samosa crisp, beef short rib with crisp sweetbreads and thinly sliced pickled tongue with fresh green apple. For dessert try ‘After school’, a play on tinned fruit with evaporated milk.

 

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For old-school Italian

Mario’s

An Italian institution in the area, Mario’s serves authentic dishes like risottos with saffron; veal saltimbocca; osso buco casserole; a seafood pot with fresh mussels, calamari and prawns; and even tripe alla Milanese for something really authentic. For those looking for a simple pasta or pizza, they’ve got that, too. It’s a good spot to take a large, hungry family on a Friday night.

For spicy Mexican cuisine and an extra shot of tequila

El Burro and Cabrito

The Mother City’s much-loved Mexican eatery doesn’t disappoint when it comes to authentic flavours. The food dances in your mouth – and so do the tequila margaritas. Speaking of tequila, keep the fiesta going and head downstairs to their equally festive tequila bar, Cabrito. Both spots make for a colourful night out and are perfect for celebrations.

 

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A post shared by EL Burro (@_el_burro) on Feb 25, 2019 at 10:50pm PST

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