So, if you are inclined to want to try something special, and if you are not one of those people who goes to a dive, orders a R20 meal and then bitches about the fact that there was not enough meat, or serviettes, and starts comparing it to The Oyster Box, please save yourself the disappointment.
If you, however can see real charm, and quirkiness, and can eat a curry made from scratch, with just basic ingredients, in a quarter loaf of white, then boy do I have a gem for you. And no, they don’t have a lacto-ovo-vego-nut-job version of anything.
If you take a drive down Brickfield road, and slow down, around no 172, you’ll find a tin shack, surrounded by barbed wire, and probably with a queue down the side, 4 or 5 deep. Its a charming, pink, little slum, with a cheap little Coca Cola sign that says Nita’s Curry Den.
Now inside this 2m X 2m structure you will find; two fridges, one double burner, couple pots, one teeny-tiny cooking space, so much of white loafs on the counter, and one Auntie… Auntie Nita.
If you go at around 9 or 10am, you not going to find anything to eat. Nothing. What you will see is Auntie, making the day’s curry. Chopping, and cutting, and cooking. Only 2 kinds of curry. OK, sometimes 3…”for to make bunny”.
Always bean. Always chicken. Sometimes Mutton. Always ready round 11. Not exactly 11, this is Auntie cooking all by herself, not an exact science.
OK, so for those of you who are going to want duck and apricot samdung-wang-wong curry of some land ,and wherever, don’t come here. And if you got no manners for the Auntie, and you are going to tell her what and how and whatever. Don’t, just don’t. Rather “vaai” there by Oyster Box, or “sommer by your own pozzie“, an make your fancy curry an all. Auntie will tell you.
Auntie knows who her market is, and generally that’s workers, so they know their curry and they like it that way. Auntie’s way. Not your way. But if you have only R7.50 (what you give the car guard at Britannia) you can have a great quarter beans bunny, made fresh.
For R20 if you want, there’s also chicken 1/4 bunny. Yip, that’s what you pay for parking at Gateways. Sorry, when Auntie runs out, that’s it.
1/4 Mutton Bunny. For R30
Say 2 or 3 times a week, when Auntie feels like it, you can get 1/4 Mutton Bunny. For R30. When she feels like it. Remember Auntie Nita cooks everything by hand on a double burner, in a tin shack, in Durban heat, so be understanding, or don’t go.
But for those of you who can appreciate something truly unique, made not for the gourmand or the prissy, but the hard working people at factories all over Brickfield road for lunch.
(No don’t ask if they are open for dinner, please… please.)
All fresh made, all made with love, bursting with flavour, full of oil and chillies and spices, and dripping and delicious, then: Go find Auntie. If you want to order in advance for you and yours, or get Auntie to make you some to order for a party or for whatever, you can call first 0732602147, ask for Auntie
Nita’s Curry Den was reviewed by Jay Pee of The Taste Detectives. Follow them on twitter @TasteDetectives