Restaurant review: Elemental Café, Joburg

30 August 2015 - 02:00 By Pearl Boshomane

Pearl Boshomane finds a tempting array and heaped plates at this meat-free restaurant Dining at a new restaurant is always exciting, although if the eatery in question has no meat whatsoever, it can dampen any enthusiasm a meat eater might have had. However, a quick look at the menu of Elemental Café quickly dispels any notions that meals without anything bloody on the plate are bland or boring.Elemental is tucked away in a tiny complex on the corner of a busy road, and soon as you walk in you're greeted by the smell of fresh fruits and herbs - it really is quite the welcome.mini_story_image_hleft1The colour scheme is summery: mainly whites, bright greens and soft blues. If you chill outdoors, there's a large play area for the kiddies, which is perfect for parents who want a place where their children can run around without disturbing any patrons who might be allergic to children.The menu has a large selection of fresh and natural drinks. There are, of course, freshly squeezed juices (the orange juice has quite a kick), and smoothies with ingredients such as almonds, coconut oil, dates and avocado. If you do order one of the smoothies or juice blends, you'll need to exercise some patience because you could easily wait 15 minutes for them.Their burgers are rather divine, although their size means it is difficult to finish one without looking like you haven't had a meal in days. They have only two signature burgers on the menu, and I highly recommend the black bean burger on ciabatta: smoky sweet potato, butternut, tomato, pickles, crumbed feta, spicy tomato relish, lettuce and sprouts. All this for only R59. At no point did I find myself wondering, "Where's the meat?"story_article_right1Other enticing menu options are wood-fired pizzas,gourmet sandwiches and wraps. They have a decent breakfast selection that includes omelettes, home-made granola, French toast and assorted sweet and savoury muffins.For the kids there are selections like hotdog and chips, a platter (veggies, fruit, sausages, nuts, seed bread and pink sauce) and the black bean burger. Best part? Kiddies can even get creative and make their own pizza.While my main was divine, my favourite part of the meal was the dessert. I'd been told Elemental's cheesecake was good, but I wasn't prepared for just how delicious it was. It was soft and sweet, topped with an incredible berry sauce. If you need just one reason to go to Elemental Café, it's that cheesecake, which must have been baked by angels - that and the incredibly pocket-friendly prices. A lunch for three - including dessert - cost R237. Only fast food joints rival such prices - and who wants to eat that, right?Visit: Corner 1st Ave and Standard Drive, Linden, Johannesburg. Call 082-687-9053...

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