Many South African restaurants promise tourists an authentic South African experience but few deliver. Nyoni's Kraal Restaurant aims to set the record straight and tourists can now get a taste of the real South Africa and savour the vast melting pot of flavours and cultures that makes up our colourful country.
The restaurant's menu - at this newly opened restaurant and live music venue in Cape Town's buzzing Long Street - aims to reflect this diverse blend of South African cultures and cuisines.
Restaurant owner, Colin Nyoni, wanted to create a restaurant in which the food reflected how South Africans really live. As a result, diners at Nyoni's Kraal can sample a comprehensive range of tasty local fare from a vast range of cultures.
These dishes include Cape Malay curries, braaivleis, pastas, Mopanie worms and pap and meat dishes.
An innovative and entertaining addition to the restaurant's menu is the glossary of South African-isms: Guests can brush up on some local terms while browsing the menu, and attempt to get their vocal chords around interesting gems like "Spook and Diesel" (Afrikaans for "ghost and diesel") - a slang term for Cane spirits and Coke.
Nyoni's eyes sparkle with ardent enthusiasm as he talks about his latest business venture. A born and bred Gugs* local, Colin started at the bottom of the hospitality industry chain, peeling potatoes. His roots in the kitchen fostered his desire to give something back to his employees once he had opened up his own place.
According to Colin, restaurant kitchen employees are often treated terribly, because they don't know their rights. Colin also got tired of seeing guys who where eager to learn ask, asking for jobs at restaurants, but being turned down because they had no experience.
In an attempt to address this problem, Nyoni's Kraal's chefs are trained at the restaurant's own culinary school and all the permanent employees own a stake in the business. Staff members are taught all aspects of the hospitality industry, from waitering, to the ins and outs of running a restaurant. Colin admits that it was difficult to give up such a large piece or his pie, but if he can give them something to fall back on, it will be worth it.
Diners can pay a visit to the restaurant's spaza shop* afterwards and buy arts and crafts made by local crafters (All the arts and crafts adorning the restaurant's interior are also for sale - from the beaded headbands adorning the heads of the waitresses, to the crockery). And don't forget to have a few before- or after-dinner drinks in the restaurant's shebeen*.
The restaurant showcases a diverse selection of local talent on stage (four to five days a week). Guests can expect everything from African jazz, marimba bands, poetry, blues and gumboot dancing. Nyoni's Kraal is also planning a series of 'Open Mic' nights in the near future - where musicians can bring their own instruments along and partake in free jamming sessions - giving up-and-coming talent their ten minutes of fame.
Colin is also busy training the waiters to entertain guests by telling them stories from South Africa's rich oral history. Like the magola (myth) that babies born from a certain South African tribe will be licked and blessed by a snake right after they are born. Anyone who kills the snake will unleash a bout of bad luck onto the tribe.
Colin Nyoni's face lights up when asked about what the future holds for Nyoni's Kraal: "I've got big plans' he says. "I promise you this is going to be a success. I want to make Nyoni's Kraal one of those legendary places in Cape Town. I'll let you know in two years time".
Nyoni's Kraal African Restaurant98 Long Street, Phone Number: 021 422 0529
Opening Hours Nyoni's KraalBreakfast - 8:00am to 12:00 noon
Lunch and dinner - 11:00am to 23:00pm
*Glossary:Kraal: A rural village, made up of huts surrounded by a stockade
Spaza Shop: A small store, run from a residential property (Spaza shops are common in South Africa's townships)
Shebeen: An (il)legal township pub/liquor store
Gugs: Slang term for the Cape Town Township of Gugulethu
Lekker: Tasty/nice or fun
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