Africola: Restaurant review

Vibrant energy sustains Africola – in its ostentatious décor, informed floor staff and in the busy open kitchen, where vegetables are heroes of an exciting array of dishes best shared. Start with the irresistible tea sandwich – crisp chicken skin and hot chicken fat squashed between white bread – then bite into outstanding falafel, bright green and herby, on feisty romesco sauce. Outstanding golden dhal is teamed with deep-fried chickpeas that pop then dissolve in the mouth. Salted cabbage is seasoned with the spicy bite of peanut achar. Seafood is treated with the same affectionate touch – a bowl of briny steamed pipis with the flare of chilli and salty bite of sea succulents, or sardines served whole on a bed of harissa. It's clean, fresh, simple, delicious. Meat lovers are also well catered for, with a deeply warming lamb neck curry served with vegetables pickled in whey and puffy grilled lavosh. On-trend wines and spirits come courtesy of micro-producers, and while it may look like a clubhouse for the cool crowd, Africola sits squarely among the nation's most affordable and accessible dining destinations of the moment.

Phone:
(08) 8223 3885

Bookings:
Bookings recommended

Chefs:
Duncan Welgemoed