Mocktails, milkshakes save the day
Restaurateurs get creative with extensive range of delicious options in the face of SA alcohol ban
Restaurants have been battling to survive the latest alcohol ban and curfew, with fewer customers and shorter trading hours in an already restricted environment which allows for only 50% seating capacity.
In the midst of these struggles, restaurateurs have had to be creative to keep feet coming through the door, like promoting alternatives to the tipple their customers might have preferred.
Our milkshakes and mocktails feature highlights some of these alternative drinks, many of which have previously been available.
TotT news editor Jon Houzet had the pleasure of sampling these, from decadently rich milkshakes to refreshing, fruity mocktails.
At Tash’s Craft Bar, I tried the blueberry daiquiri, one of Tash’s mocktails. Made with fresh blueberries it was thick and refreshing, akin to a smoothie.
Other flavours available are mango, pineapple, strawberry and mint, and plain strawberry.
Coffee at the Mall offers milkshakes in the following flavours: coffee, banana, chocolate, lime, strawberry, bubblegum and vanilla.
They come in regular and kiddies sizes. I tried the chocolate, which had a lovely flavour and creamy texture.
At Graze by the River, owner/chef Nick Howard wanted me to try both a milkshake and a mocktail.
“We’re trying to be healthy with both the mocktails and shakes,” he said.
I was presented with the Graze Mock, a pomegranate based drink with lemongrass, ginger and lime. The ginger bites your tongue in a pleasant way, then there’s a hint of mint and you’ll want to munch on the blueberries swirling around.
Howard also makes a Mango Mule (mango, cucumber, lime juice and ginger beer), a Mom-Gavita (orange juice, sprite, lime juice and salted rim) and a Daiquiri Mint (strawberries, crushed ice, mint leaves).
The king of milkshakes at Graze is the salted caramel/banana, with toasted almonds and pecan nuts, cinnamon and cardamom.
Salted caramel has become a very popular flavour recently, and the banana adds another dimension.
The almonds also add tremendously to the flavour.
Other milkshake flavours are chocolate, strawberry, banana, lime and the regular salted caramel.
Howard appealed to customers to make bookings, as on a slow day he will have to make the decision on whether to close early and send staff home.
Burksies’ legendary milkshake is the Zoop It Up, which comes in cookies and cream or shortbread flavour.
I had the cookies and cream, which comes with an Oreo cookie, a Kit Kat stick and waffle