Experience Florida Road in Clermont with Kunta Kinte Afro Cafe


By Nomfundo Cele


In the south of KwaDabeka is Zazi Road in Clermont, the road is filled with tarvens and fast food tuck shops, but on the same road is a stylish, elegant restaurant called Kunta Kinte Afro Cafe, which sells African cuisine and fast foods. The restaurant has an outdoor open space and indoor dining; the setting of the place and the mixture of colours in the chairs make the place look appealing and inviting. 









 


Xolani Mbambo, owner and chef, says that the inspiration behind this lovely restaurant is how he saw an opportunity to present something unique to the people of Clermont and the surrounding areas. 

"There are many fast food restaurants in this area, but none are like this one; they don’t cater to everyone like we do." 

 The dine-in and take-out restaurant has a variety of food options, including beans and bones, beef curry, chicken curry, tribe (usu), chicken feet, and pork chops. These are all served with starch (rice, phuthu, or steamed bread) and 3 salads of your choice. 









Mbambo says these are available everyday on his menu, but over the weekend they serve them with fast foods such as wings and ribs, fried fish and chips, and braai meat. 

Mbambo says what keeps this place going is the busy location it is in and the fact that people who work around the area always buy from them. 

"There are schools, churches, a taxi rank, municipal offices, and a hotel around, so all these people buy from us, which is what inspired me to have this place here." "As an entrepreneur, it is important to know who your customers are," said the joyful Mbambo. 

Mbambo prides himself on introducing the concept of dining like you are on Florida Road when you are in his restaurant. "We treat our customers like they would be treated in a restaurant on Florida Road, and we always make sure that our customers experience something they have never experienced in a restaurant in a township before," said Mbambo.

Carol Dlamini, a customer at Kunta Kinte, says she was introduced to the restaurant by her friend, who was impressed by how elegant the place looked and told them to try it out.

"We came here to try tribe (usu) with my friends, and we never looked back." "What impressed me was their customer service; they treated us with so much patience and respect, and we felt very special," said Dlamini. Dlamini says that she enjoys beef curry and starch, and she always orders it when she visits the restaurant. 

"There is something about their beef curry that is different from others that I have tried; even I can’t cook it like them," said the excited customer. 

Mduduzi Ntshangase, a regular customer, says he likes to come to the restaurant on weekends because it is usually packed. 

"I like the vibe here on the weekends, and the food is great as well; I enjoy their wings and ribs served with chips," said Ntshangase.

Ntshangase said he brings his friends even when there are events in the restaurant, which usually take place at the end of every month. 

Andile Mzobe, a waitress at Kunta Kinte , says that they are usually busy from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and again from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. during the week, while over the weekend they operate from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. 

Mbambo said they have encountered challenges as a business, especially during COVID-19 and the 2021 July civil unrest, but they are fortunate that they are under the Clermont KwaDabeka Tourism Development organisation, which helped them to claim funds from the relief funds for businesses that were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

John Ramaota, a coordinator for Clermont KwaDabeka Tourism Development, says that they are a community tourism organisation that markets and promotes Clermont and KwaDabeka globally. 

Ramoata says that their main focus is to help small businesses in Clermont, KwaDabeka, and surrounding areas attract tourists to the area.

"We help promote small businesses in Clermont and KwaDabeka to attract tourists to the area by having business fairs and advertising their businesses nationally and internationally," said Ramaota.

Ramaota says they have more than 10 businesses under the organization, and their work can be found on their website. 

If you want to order food from Kunta Kinte , you can order on WhatsApp or Call 073 907 4127.



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