Sofra Istanbul

245 Florida Road, Durban
Tel: 031 303 2285

The Pavilion Shopping Centre
Tel: 031 265 0115 WhatsApp: 082 305 0086

Ishmail and Zohra Teke are the proud owners of Sofra Istanbul. They have brought the tastes of Turkey to Durban and the Durbanites are lapping it up. One of their restaurants is in the heart of Durban’s food capital, Florida Road, and the other is in The Pavilion Shopping Centre.

They offer most specials until sold out, a concept their regulars have now become accustomed to, and one that shows how fresh their food is. The Turkish heritage shows with the use of fresh herbs and spices like garlic, parsley and chilli. The hands-down favourite is the doner (a shawarma), with fillings of chicken or a lamb beef mix. This is cooked on a rotating grill and served in a traditional Turkish flatbread with salads, a garlic yoghurt, plus a chilli option.

 

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Another favourite is the chicken shish, cubes of chicken chargrilled, served with their Turkish flatbread, chips, salads and sauces. The most popular vegetarian dish is their falafel platter.

 

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They have introduced a R120 set meal; this is an affordable full meal option. The menu for this special changes daily and runs Monday to Friday from lunchtime, extended to 6pm by popular demand.

The menu is on their Instagram handle where they also post their daily specials. The Turkish coffee has the option of being served with condensed milk. Another speciality of theirs is wood-fired breads and charcoal grilled main meals. Customers are asked to be patient as the food is only cooked per order. Set desserts consist of baklava, revani (semolina cake) and kunefe daily, or weekend dessert specials can be added.

 

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This restaurant is truly treating the Durban palate. They offer freshness, flavour and spice tastes that are all 100% halaal. Sofra Istanbul, Durban’s foodies thank you.

Dough Girl

Address: 13 Gladys Mazibuko Road, Essenwood
Cell: 076 812 1183

Dough Girl, the cute little coffee shop, has grown up and into a new venue in Essenwood. The menu has also grown. Now, in addition to the wonderful baked goods, customers also have choices on breakfast and lunch meals.

Courtney Stuart, a graduate of The Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine, opened up a small coffee shop with the help of her parents and their business partner in 2019, alongside her parents’ business. Her clientele grew as she found the gap in the pastry market in Durban.
She truly has made this her own with weird and wonderful creations on the menu, each as original as the next.

Her inspiration comes from her own cravings. She tries not to follow the normal flavours like chocolate and caramel but rather pushes the boundaries with unique flavour combinations that keep everyone waiting for the next special. Specials are uploaded daily on their Facebook and Instagram handles. “Doughies” (Dough Girl lovers) love the original variety of pastries that include thyme and white chocolate croly, spiced apple and cream Danish, coffee brownie cruffin, Kit Kat Long John, baklava croly, and almond, cardamom and condensed milk cruffin. Specials are only available until sold out.

 

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Light lunches now come in the shape of Benedict Cumberbatch – salmon, crispy leeks, hollandaise sauce, creamed spinach served with a potato rosti; Yoga Momma – baked yoghurt, granola base with an orange curd; Better Late than Never – an all-day brekkie made up of macon, fried egg, cheese and sriracha aioli. On a weekday, “Doughies” also have the treat of toasted sourdough or gluten-free sarmies served with chips. There are many vegetarian options available on the menu, as well as a kids’ menu and kids’ sizes on some items.

 

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All of KZN wishes that Dough Girl would expand to every part of the province so that everyone gets a slice of Dough Girl heaven, and that Courtney carries out all of her wonderful plans for further expansion, including night functions and pizza nights. Let’s get Baked!

 

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