Sunny side up at Eziko

Café: Eziko Restaurant Address: Corner of Washington Street and Jungle Walk, Langa Contact: 021 694 0434 Hours: 8.30am to 4pm (Monday to Friday), open at other times with a booking. Dish: Plated breakfast Price: R45 FRIENDLY service and quantity is the name of the game at Eziko.

This little township restaurant operates like no other café I’ve reviewed. They work largely on bookings. When I called last week to check if they do breakfast, they offered to e-mail me a quote for breakfast for two. I made the booking and specified that one of us was vegetarian.

We arrived a little early, so the staff weren’t ready. They politely asked us to wait a few minutes while they tidied up. A host then invited us in. We walked in to find a cutely laidout table for two: a jug of mango juice, a large dispensing flask of filter coffee, two varieties of tea bags, hot water, warm milk and cutlery on a placemat.

Our food was brought after I had time to down some juice and coffee. There was enough coffee to drink after breakfast, too.

My breakfast was scrambled eggs, three fried sausages, mushrooms and two slices of tomato. Feeling a little carnivorous, I sliced my way through them quite quickly. The mushrooms were more moist than I am used to.

The vegetarian colleague was presented with a spinach and cheese omelette. It looked a bit rectangular for an omelette, but she seemed satisfied, saying it had a good amount of cheese.

The service is friendly. Our host checked on us regularly and at one point introduced the chef.

The restaurant was founded by Victor Mguqulwa, a former history teacher, in 1996. It offers buffet lunches, cooking lessons, tours and conference facilities for 70 people.

I might just go back for that buffet. At R180 it offers samp and beans, rice, pap, lamb casserole, beef casserole, grilled chicken, vegetables, roesterkoek, steamed bread, ginger beer and African beer. Take one casserole out and it’s R120.

Eziko is a spacious spot on a tourist-friendly street in Langa. It’s a good idea if you have visitors wanting a township experience.