Birds
Where: Spade Design Centre, 185 Lothian Rd, Park Hill
Open: Monday to Friday 7am, to 3pm, Saturday 8am to 3pm.
Call: 082 880 1327
I’ve always enjoyed this spot at the Spade Design Centre. It’s a nursery and decor shop with a casual down-to-earth coffee shop attached.
It used to be Dee’s Cafe, known for its omelettes, but now it has been taken over by two Durban North women and renamed Birds. And they’ve set about making it a home for locals.
Located under a covered verandah the outdoor restaurant boasts eclectic decor that makes it memorable and interesting. There are cushions with various jungle print themes, a rustic - some might say slightly buggered - comfy sofa, plenty of wirework sculptures of birds in bright colours, and a whole array of mismatched retro and vintage crockery, and glassware. There are fresh flowers on every table, arranged in a carefree homespun style, while lemons and pineapples stand on antique fruit stands, presumably for sale.
Even as the rain poured down suddenly, it was pleasant to sit out and take in that smell of freshly mown grass, and admire the roses in the beds in the nursery. I enjoyed a pleasant coffee and an equally pleasant start to the day, despite the grey weather.
The menu is so simple it almost adds to the quirkiness. It’s basically scrambled eggs on toast, boiled eggs on toast, avos, you guessed it, on toast, and a quiche of the day. Beyond that, there’s freshly baked scones, and a selection of cakes - on my visit a chiffon cake, a carrot cake, lemon meringue pie and cookies of course. These give it that homespun touch.
I enjoyed the soft buttery scrambled eggs (R35) topped with a selection of herbs from the herb garden. Even the plate had its very own avian theme. I also enjoyed the scones (R30) topped with what was more a peach preserve than a jam and fresh whipped cream. I enjoyed it all the more as nothing was too sweet. Cheese too can be an option here.
It’s a setting that’s ideal for these pandemic times - essentially outdoors, it offers customers confidence. And being owner run, it adds that personal touch.
I am surprised that a couple of other nursery tea gardens are closed because they have so many of the pluses of a relatively safe - after all, nothing is totally safe - dining experience. Even if it’s only good old scrambled eggs. And even though they’re easy enough to make scrambled eggs at home, it’s much nicer to enjoy them in a garden setting.
Food: 3 ½
Service: 3
Ambience: 4