Deli-cious fine food

(OUT AND ABOUT)

Our ladies Out to Lunch Club had our hearts set on sushi — so on a sweltering day we attempted to squeeze our cars into scarce shade in Sam Levy’s Village and were looking forward to the cool upstairs den that is Mekka cocktail lounge. Unfortunately it is just that — a cocktail lounge and doesn’t open till the evening. Only lunch day is Sunday which we discovered to our disappointment only when we were already there. Luckily the Village is full of eating outlets — though with sushi on your mind and the day a scorcher — everything else seems second class!

We chose the Deli — and were ushered inside by a solicitous waiter who assured us that it was cooler indoors than on the deck. Debatable.  But he seated us next to a roaring fan which, while delivering a very welcome air flow, necessitated for conversation being shouted.

The Deli has a comfortable café ambience, with mismatched furniture — home dining tables in different shapes and sizes and varying chairs. Books and magazines are tucked under the counter and wireless connection is available. Clearly home to a loyal group of regulars, the café was hosting Zimbabwe’s most famous tennis family, The Blacks, who were quietly celebrating Wayne’s birthday en famille, with a cake and birthday chorus from the staff.

Menu is comprehensive, delivered on a large and well-used, laminated fold up, evidence of consistency in prices and content. Deli is extremely popular for weekend breakfasts and all day breakfast choices range from variations on the English — early bird US$6, Farmhouse US$10, Veg US$8 — through different sandwiches —croque monsieur (US$7) and madame, (US$8), toasted tramazzinis filled with sausages, eggs, cheese, bacon and tomato (US$10), breakfast wraps and Canadian French toast or American pancake stacks served with maple syrup.

Eggs benedict have their own section — served with bacon (US$10), creamed spinach (US$9) and smoked salmon (US$12). Wasn’t thinking about breakfast, otherwise that may well have been a good lunch choice but my husband breakfasting there a couple of weeks ago, said they were excellent. 

Still hankering for sushi, a couple of us chose the smoked salmon wraps (also US$12) which seemed the closest we were going to get. Fresh and light, they were served with a pretty salad — a nice mixture of leaves and flowers. A large selection of wraps — mostly chicken or beef with different combinations, come with sweet chillie jam but needing a fiercer hit, we requested a tiny bowl of good fresh red chillie to keep us sweating!
We stuck to cool sparkling water for drinks and did move to a smaller and more intimate table further  away from the fan before our food arrived Comfort Food included kebab combos — chicken, haloumi and zucchini, (US$10) beef onion and peppers  (US$12) or  zucchini, haloumi and mushroom (US$10). Pies and sausage rolls were $7 and an aubergine stack — eggplant, tomatoes and mozzarella sounded a good vegetarian option at US$10. Our choice was panfried tilapia served with Greek Salad (US$9) plus US$2 extra for chips.

Categories include salads — our choice was a chorizo and tomato (US$7 for a ladies portion) served with a dinky miniature brown bread loaf, gourmet burgers — all around US$12 to US$13 except for the salmon pesto burger (US$18), quesadillas and grills. (steaks, chicken and ribs. )

So a wide choice of prices and products — even a Mexico City burger wrap (US$12) filled with burger patties, tzatsiki and avo.
We eschewed dessert — though there are different cakes, cupcakes and pastries on offer. Although it wasn’t what we had in mind — it was a nice lunch out — and provides plenty of variety for repeat visits.
– g.jeke@yahoo.com