Aweh Brew, Knysna (CLOSED DOWN)

Updated: 10-12-2024

This December, I went to Knysna and stayed for 18 days. I know what you must be thinking…. why so long? But truth be told, I simply love the place AND I am fortunate enough to have family over there which means I save on accommodation costs.

18 days of living on the brim of Knysna’s lagoon witnessing the most spectacular sunrises and sunsets but also means 18 days of home-cooked food cos let’s face it, there are not many options in Knysna itself other than KFC and AmaZen. There are other options in George, Plettenberg Bay and the surrounds if you want to drive out.

Whilst on holiday, a friend sent me a video showcasing Aweh Brew. Believe it or not, my family had no idea this place existed so we decided to try it out. Located in the House of Classic and Sports Cars on Main Road (vroom vroom…. imagine my excitement being a bit of a speed junkie), they have a section on the one side. The space is not large and they do not have many tables but I am guessing that the seating space out of season should be okay. We waited to be seated and got a table close to the window next to a classic car.

The menu is limited but it is to be expected. Sourcing halaal meats means stock coming in from either Port Elizabeth, George or Cape Town where you are more likely to find halaal butcheries. They have a selection of toasties served on either bread or a panini, bakes such as croissants and brownies, coffees, cold drinks and milkshakes. During the festive period they also served something that is not on their daily menu. On the day we went they were serving Smash Burgers which meant my boys were HAPPY!

I opted for a Toasted Chicken and Mayo sandwich, the boys had the Smash Burgers and each enjoyed a milkshake. The food took a little longer than anticipated but in all fairness we arrived there minutes before load shedding. My sandwich was tasty. The chicken was well prepared and I enjoyed the crunch of the slaw. The boys enjoyed the Smash Burgers which was packed with flavour, spiced and cooked perfectly. We were told that the Smash Patty is made in-house by their chef. We give him a solid 9/10 for flavour and taste. We only wish it was a little bigger.

The space is pretty, it is well lit and has that diner-meets-sophisticated feel. The owners are Muslim and are originally from Johannesburg. You can see that they take pride in their business and make you feel right at home. They take the time to come and check up on you personally even though they do have waitrons. For a petrol-head like myself, the car showroom on the premises was an added bonus. The experience on the whole was enjoyable.

I only have two negatives, one being that when they are full as in all tables are taken, they close the front gates so initially I had driven past thinking they were closed. I then called their number and was advised to come back and they did that only when they reached capacity but a family was clearing out so I would get a table. The other negative is the signage. When you are driving along the Main Road, you do not readily see it. You see a coffee sign BUT the halaal logo is small thus my family had no idea that there was this halaal gem in their hometown. This of course are things that can fixed. The experience on the whole still a pleasant and tasteful one.

Make sure you check them out on your next trip up the Garden Route.

By Munira Allie
Project Manager by day, everything else all of the time. A wannabe baker and passionate chef who loves an adrenalin rush cos it makes me feel most alive. I love fast cars and daydream about superbikes. I have a predilection for all things nature and love capturing the Almighty’s majestic beauty even more. If I had a statement to describe my life it would be “she turned her can’t into can and her dreams into plans”.