If you’ve never tried an Indian inspired High Tea, then head over to Continental BBD the next time you’re in Durban. In true Durban style they have turned the traditional High Tea on its head to bring it to you Desi style!

Durbanites are all too familiar with Continental Butcher Baker and Deli, but you might be wondering what has a Butchery got to do with high tea. Continental BBD, is anything but a traditional butchery. It has been around since 1992 and has re-invented itself with a really unique offering. Think butchery, deli, market, eatery, sweetmeats and Jumuah lunch all rolled into one.

It’s a large venue able to comfortably accomodate all of these departments. Rather like a department store eatery. So you can go there and shop for your monthly meat supply, pick up some Indian sweetmeats, speciality luxury sweets and chevra. Then grab some deli items for a takeaway meal which means you don’t need to cook.

If you have a moment grab a coffee and cake from the inhouse coffee shop or come back on Friday for Jumuah lunch or Saturday & Sunday mornings for a buffet brunch. We were there in time to try the new Indian Inspired High Tea Buffet on Sunday afternoons.

The spread included an array of sweet and savoury dishes with an Indian theme. There was Indian streetfood like pani puri, chaat and pav bhaji. Sweet treats like mesh om ali, barfi tarts, fresh coconut cupcakes, jelebi and naan khatai. We started by helping ourselves to some chicken and corn soup served with soft buns. The soup was tasty and fiery hot in true Durban style.

I tried the chaat cups which was potato chaat served in shortcrust cups. This may have been an attempt to make the chaat less street foody, and more high tea-like, but it wasn’t working for me. The shortcrust cups were too heavy for the chaat and the combo was too dense. I enjoyed the pav bhaji and tikka chicken pitas. There were also traditional samoosas and pies on the buffet.

We helped ourselves to karak chai from the tea flasks on the counter to have with the sweet round. From the sweets, the fresh coconut cupcakes and barfi tarts was a win. While there was much more we could have tried, at this point we were both quite full. At R175 per person this was pretty good value.

As a high tea, I feel the presentation wasn’t quite fitting. There is an expectation of more pomp and luxury when you use the words high tea. Pretty tea cups, elegant crockery and cutlery and a more dressed up buffet would have been appropriate. This to me was more of a traditional Indian afternoon tea. And it would still be good value at that. Keep an eye on their social media to find out when the next one will be.

Find them at: 171 Argyle Road, 4091 Durban, South Africa, Tel: 031 208 0951
Find their full listing here.