Tribeca Bakery in Kalk Bay is much more than your 
basic baked goods shop; it’s also a restaurant with delicious food and a cosy atmosphere. Tribeca is at 106 Main Road with a stunning view of the sea and Kalk Bay harbour. Its atmosphere aims to capture the feel of the Tribeca neighbourhood of lower Manhattan, which is somewhat bohemian and arty. The walls have scenes from the neighbourhood, giving it an air of authenticity, even though the restaurant is an ocean away.
We went on a Friday night, which is when the resident piano and saxophone players make their regular appearance. The music is light and adds to the convivial setting. Because we didn’t book we very nearly didn’t get a table, fortunately one had just opened up near the musicians and we didn’t have to wait at any of the bars. There are two and they’re not the kind of alcohol serving bars that you may be thinking of. They’re coffee bars and ideal for lazy morning and afternoon caffeine infusions.
The star of the show, however, is the menu. You can get anything from breakfasts and gourmet sandwiches (goat’s cheese, pine nuts, grilled peppers and balsamic vinaigrette) to salads (sweet melon, Parma ham and rocket) and home baked pies, smoked ostrich and line fish.
My significant other opted for a Portobello Mushroom Burger from the Gourmet Burger range. It was huge with a generous portion of crisp chips (I stole some from his plate – it’s a typical woman thing to do). Judging by the satisfied grin on his face when he finished it’s safe to assume that it was good. He gave it an 8/10.
I’m vegetarian and I know from years of experience that it can be difficult to find restaurants that cater sufficiently for non-meat eaters. This is not the case at Tribeca. I had the Caramelised Beetroot and Camembert Tartlet and it was like eating a little piece of heaven. The pastry was light, the beetroot sweet and the camembert to die for. It also comes with pepper leaves, which tempers the sweetness and stops the dish from being too rich.
Unfortunately we didn’t have room for dessert but we did have coffee. Tribeca is known for its delicious coffee which is made from a unique blend of coffee beans. The reputation is well earned.
Tribeca Bakery is owned and run by Ryan New, who also happens to own Satori Pizza and Pasta Restaurant (see our review), as well as Kalk Bay Theatre.
The measure of a good restaurant is how keen one is it go back. We can’t wait to return so my significant other can try the calamari steak burger and I can try the gourmet sandwich; or the butternut, goat’s cheese and cashew salad; or the mezze platter; or the poached red wine pears with goat’s cheese; and, of course, dessert.
Call Tribeca on 021 788 3424 or email info@tribecabakery.co.za
Jade Scully is a copywriter excited about writing copy and stories, blogging about the world and editing. She currently and regularly publishes her stories on a number of blogs. Jade loves animals and hopes to begin writing copy for the animal rescue charity TEARS as her contribution to the cause.
