Review for MyShtetl.co.za
By Yosef W

Thursday night is buffet night at Cafe Monroe in Norwood Mall. It is primarily a pasta buffet with a few add-ons and it’s an all-you-can-eat deal at R80 for adults and R40 for kids.

Their usual a la carte menu and their famous all day Breakfast Menu are also both available, but the buffet - served between six and nine - is a real treat and definitely value-for-money.

As is their usual routine, Cafe Monroe only accepts bookings for tables of eight and over. Last Thursday was well-attended, so it would be advisable to book if you are going to be a big table.

Chef Beatrice Maila, 27, has been cooking professionally for seven years. Her Dad was a chef before her and she has cooked since childhood. Don’t be fooled by her age, she has a great attitude towards her work and a genuine passion for food.

No matter how popular the regular dishes, Beatrice insists on adding new items every week.

The buffet

The buffet includes starters, appetisers, and deserts and was so extensive that the only way to do it justice is to present it as a list:

• Tomato Lentil & Minestrone Soup

• Chick pea Pate & Melba Toast

• Make your own Greek salad,

• Caprice salad

• Minted couscous salad

• Roasted Almond stuffed Trout

• Napolitana Gnocchi

• Soy Cottage Pie

• Canneloni in a creamy butternut sauce

• Caprice Macaroni

• Baked sweet potato in a butter and poppy reduction

• Bow tie pasta with an option of either spinach and feta or spicy mushroom sweet pepper sauce (very good)

• Mixed fruit and chocolate trifle

As someone who doesn’t normally favour lentil soup, I partook somewhat reluctantly. I was, however, pleasantly surprised how well the tomato flavour overcame the starchiness which is what normally keeps me away from lentils.

Although a number of the items were sweet, such as the butternut cannelloni and the sweet potato dish, the highlight for me was the spicy mushroom sweet pepper sauce.

It had just enough spice to bring out the subtle tastes of the mushrooms and sweet peppers without being overwhelming in any way. It left me with a well-balanced, savoury aftertaste.

I particularly liked the roasted almond trout which was not only cooked to an interesting recipe, but perfectly prepared to boot.

The Caprice Macaroni also bears a special mention, with the tomatoes adding a delicate touch to a heavy cream sauce.

The salads and desert were all fresh, well prepared and frequently replenished.

The service was just as it should be, with an attentive and well-informed staff there when we needed them, but not when we didn’t.

This is definitely a wonderful place to take yourself and the kids for an affordable meal with something for even the pickiest of children.

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