Much sweeter at Sweetbeet a second time around

 5 September 2023

 

SWEETBEET (a slight return)

Gardens Centre, Cape Town 

 

The wife and a friend had a good lunch here recently and, as she had a rare bit of spare time in what are usually ultra-busy days, I took her to lunch today so I could revisit the place where I’d had an unfortunate breakfast experience a while back. 

 

The wife chose the lemon herby chicken bowl with grilled chicken, mashed sweet potato and butternut, brown rice, avocado, cocktail tomatoes, herby lemon dressing and onion pickle (R105.)

 

My selection was the Mexican bowl with chilli beef mince, Mexican corn, white Cheddar, guacamole, nacho chips, crème fraîche, shredded lettuce and diced tomato (R109).

 

Both dishes were excellent. The various elements were well cooked, fresh, super tasty and presented as bowlsful of visual pleasure.

 

My only criticism would be that the chilli heat of the mince was too subtle to hold its own in the melting pot of  ingredients when one tried a combined mouthful.

The wife drank a flat white and my choice was the Johnny Cashew health shake with cashew & almond butter, banana, figs, Bulgarian yoghurt, vegan protein powder and milk (R77 for the large size.)  I don’t know what the point of the vegan protein powder is but I do know that the shake immediately increased my health and happiness. The nutty taste was non-intrusive, not as bold as peanut butter, and combined well with the equally subtle fruit flavours.

 

The bill came to R326,00.

 

Sweetbeet was considerably less popular than Bootlegger next door but, considering our experience, I would say that the food at Sweetbeet is as good as anything Bootlegger can offer, probably more reasonably priced and Sweetbeet offers Vida coffee, which we prefer to the Bootlegger roast.