If you hang just a little more South in Joburg, the malls of the Super North give way to leafy avenues with little eateries and eccentric shops. Like ODD Cafe in Greenway Street, Greenside. An art house cum tapas bar that waxed into a full-blown restaurant, by popular demand of the patrons who dot the pavement on a crazy mix of chairs around comic strip-covered tables. You can breathe out now.
Crazy beautiful
Street bling
Owned by Divan Coetzer and Christina Patricios, ODD provides young hipsters with seriously cool, deliciously crafted alternatives to MacDonalds. The emphasis is on great food made from scratch with only the best ingredients.
Streetwise eating
I tasted four dishes and they were all delicious. I’m lying… we completely devoured all four dishes. For a more detailed description catch the review on SABC3 Expresso Show tomorrow morning at 6.50. ODD Cafe proves that you don’t need starched linen and fine china to serve an awesome meal. Flavours were robust yet clean, and they really go out of their way to source only the best produce. The winelist is dominated by Swartland wines – which is just dandy – and it came as no surprise that the owners are friends with Mynhard Joubert of Bar Bar Black Sheep in Riebeek Kasteel, another favourite restaurant of mine. ODD has a funky Long Street vibe about it, circa the mid nineties.
Home from home in Jozi
I had a starter of bruschetta with cured pork, roasted peppers, artichoke pesto, sour cream and Mama’s chili sauce which was super tasty. And then the handmade gnocchi with cumin pears and Verbelegen cream (made with 9 month matured Magaliesberg Verbelegen cheese), served with Parmesan and pomegranate pips.
Light, freshly made gnocchi
But what I’d go back for is the Trinchado in red wine sauce that my friend ordered. It’s a total spot-hitter.
Trinchado in red wine sauce
Perfect with a glass of juicy Swartland red.
When in Jozi I’d go to ODD Cafe again to enjoy a delicious unpretentious meal, good tunes and the ever-changing street scene. Because, as they say at ODD, Life’s Delicious…
I have been there a number of times. I must say they are really friendly, creative and chilled out. You should try the “Odd burger” it is my favourite and finish with a Avo milkshake. Sounds really wierd but tastes delicious. It’s quite filling though so we shared it between us.