Cape Town's Secret Gem: Cafe Max

When it comes to food there is nothing I enjoy more than stumbling across tiny and relatively unknown cafes and restaurants that serve good, wholesome, fresh food. Today I decided to head back to a good old favourite that I hadn't been to for some time, and boy am I glad I went.

Previously known as Cafe Maxime, which opened in 2007, it has now been re-changed to Cafe Max. Located in Waterkant Street, Cafe Max is off the beaten track of all the other well-known places in the De Waterkant area, but the food is just as good, if not better.

I first tried Cafe Max when it first opened and instantly fell in love with it's quaint, girly feel to it with silver and pink stripped walls. The lamb burger with roasted balsamic cherry tomatoes was an instant winner for me then but the menu has changed since then.

Breakfast is now served all day for those wanting to get in their egg and croissant fix for the day or you could create a Meze platter for two or three people, as well as choosing from a list of Max favourites or the menu of the day.

It was so difficult deciding what to opt for as the relatively small menu was bursting with so many different temptations. I decided to go for the Chicken salad dressed in freshly made Honey and Mustard dressing.

As far as Chicken salads go this was the most amazing one I have ever had. The chicken breasts were cut into slithers and freshly cooked in the kitchen so upon arrival the actually chicken was so warm and tender. The salad was sprinkled with cashew nuts caramelised in the honey and mustard dressing with avocado cut on top. The actual dressing was a proper concoction of honey and whole grain mustard that was made fresh as it was also still warm when drizzled across the chicken and the salad. The tastes of the fresh honey and msutard dressing with the warm chicken, soft avocado and crunchy cashews just blended so well together as all the different textures left me feeling highly satisfied and glad that I returned.

My mother ordered the crepe of the day. This was a generous helping of a large crepe filled with sweetcorn, cherry tomatoes, artichokes and some melted Parmesan shavings. The dish was as appetising as it sounds as once it was cut into the Parmesan and sauce came oozing out with the colourful vegetables.

The service was good and friendly as we were greeted by the Chef and the waiter upon arrival. The gentle smells of the kitchen slowly drifted through the restaurant making us more hungry. t certainly was a delight returning back to Cafe Max and I will be sure to return again.