Many Durbanites have been itching to see what restaurateur Judd Campbell, of now-sold Corner Café and café brand The Coffee Tree, has been up to of late. Fans can now find him at Prep Room, his newly opened venture in the heart of Glenwood – at Glenwood Preparatory School, to be exact. But this is no ordinary school coffee shop.

Prep Room shipping containers in Glenwood. Photo supplied.

The eye-catching space has been built using shipping containers much like Durban’s Freedom Café and Luke Dale-Roberts’s Naturalis. The double-storey construction, which opened at the end of June, now plays host to suburbanites and families looking for a relaxing spot to grab a cuppa. The Prep Room containers were designed to house the kitchen and bar, while the seating area is attractively set in an undercover deck area with a perfect view of the school sports field for event days. A playground for the little ones completes the scene for this new family-friendly spot.

The large play area at Prep Room. Photo supplied.

As for the grub, the playful breakfast and lunch menu caters for both health nuts and pleasure seekers. On the healthier side of things you can look forward to dishes that are free of gluten and wheat, and low in carbs, such as the breakfast of garlicky wild mushrooms on mustard rye, and lunch of coconut-oil-grilled fish with lemon-zest courgette chips. For a more indulgent bite, you might enjoy a breakfast of strawberry-cheesecake French toast with honey and toasted nuts, or a chicken peri-peri rotisserie with skinny fries and aioli. The team is also firing up some whole roasted chickens in the rotisserie for those wanting an easy dinner fix.

Strawberry cheesecake French toast at Prep Room. Photo supplied.

On the beverage side of things, Prep Room brews special beans from Colombo Coffee and a few tea options. The restaurant is not licensed, but you’re welcome to bring your own tipple (with no corkage fee) should you want something a little stronger.

A healthier breakfast option at Prep Room. Photo supplied.