Following a day spent up in Johannesburg for a meeting with one of the big banks for a potential project with them, Chantelle and I stole a moment of alone time by heading out for a midweek lunch at the slightly hard to find, but oh so worth it when you do, Foodmandu – a delightful little Indian restaurant startup tucked away towards the end of Gordon’s Bay.
Situated in the Cape Gordonia building (across from the old harbour), Foodmandu, a relatively new addition to the Gordon’s Bay food scene (which is strangely much larger than what technically it should be, given how small our little “village” is), was opened by a couple of staff members who left the popular Moksh Indian restaurant out in Somerset West, bringing with them their exceptional knowledge of North Indian cuisine.
That much is apparent when you work your way through the extensive but cleverly put together menu, literally filled with all manner of mouthwatering curries, kormas and masalas. Chicken, lamb, rice, rotis and naan breads – the flavours are simply out of this world (or are at least for people like me who don’t usually get to enjoy much Indian food in the first place), making a visit to eat there a must if you ever find yourself in Gordon’s Bay with a taste for something other than the typical fish, pizza or a burger on offer.
Although the venue’s location and the lack of a liquor licence are definitely both hard challenges for this little eatery to overcome, I kind of really hope that they do. Foodmandu brings with it a welcome new flavour to eating out in Gordon’s Bay and if I have to bring with my own bottle of wine to do it (for now), then that is okay with me.
Note: There is no corkage charged and although the most lovely hosts at Foodmandu may not sell you any liquor, they are more than happy to nip out across the road to source you some should you need it. Also, it is probably a good idea to listen to their suggestions when it comes to selecting a curry. Hot is hot!
Related Link: Foodmandu | Gordon’s Bay