Their excellent food, lively vibe and the fact that the friendly owner Maro is always on hand with a smile and a suggestion of what to order, are what have kept Zaras Café at the Ballito Lifestyle Centre a firm favourite amongst North Coasters for so many years.
This month the Get It team was treated to a Mediterranean feast at the beautiful Zaras Café, where we indulged in a fantastic Greek-inspired lunch and finished off with some decadent sweet treats. Here’s what we thought . . .
Walking into the gorgeous Zaras Café is like going on a quick escape to a Greek island. The décor is crisp, clean and chic with ocean-inspired colours and a striking feature wall with glass jars choc-a-block with bright yellow lemons.
At the heart of the restaurant is an irresistible table overflowing with freshly-baked decadence . . . but more about that later!
Browsing the menu, you are introduced to a wide variety of dishes ranging from Krispas (flatbread) topped with mouth-watering delectables, to gourmet pastas and intriguing salads.
After much debate, we decided on the Spinach Salad, Meze Chicken, Falafel Meze (a great option for veggies), Parma Ham Krispa and the Pigallo Salad.
And, for a little extra dose of goodness, we all ordered freshly squeezed juices to drink!
The generous portions are beautifully presented and we tucked in eagerly as they arrived at the table!
The salads were crunchy, fresh and full of flavour, while both Meze meals made for an interesting foodie experience allowing you to really play with the different flavours. The Parma Ham flatbread was topped with loads of rocket and cream cheese and finished with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar.
After lunch we couldn’t say no to trying some of the tempting treats on the dessert table. The Loukatini – a Greek version of a decadent lemon meringue – was a natural choice, and the life-changing Custard Slice is an absolute must try!
Despite indulging in our generous helpings of food, none of us left feeling bloated and in need of a ‘recovery nap’ at the end of the meal . . .
Instead we felt energised and really spoiled!
Details: Zaras Café: 032 586 3204
Text: Elana Wagner | Photographs: Monique De Villiers-Delport