Bunny Chow Outlets | Outside South Africa

 1860

28 South End, Croydon, Surrey, United Kingdom, CR0 1DN

http://www.eighteensixty.co.uk/

Down the popular stretch of South End in Croydon lies a South African Indian restaurant which takes its name from the year that the Indians arrived in Durban.

When you walk into 1860, you know they support South Africa as you spot South African flags, Springbok scarves and African art all over and the varied menu bursts with South African favourites with an Indian twist.

Run by a South African family, headed by Rivaaj, who makes you feel comfortable and most welcome through his true South African warm hospitality, their friendly and attentive service is sure to make you return to this ‘home’!

The main reason for visiting this hidden gem was the bunny chow on their menu, 1860 is the first restaurant to introduce this South African dish to the UK. We enjoyed some poppadoms and fruit chutney while we browsed the menu and opted for potato samoosas and lamb chops as a starter!  

What a lovely taste I experienced when the crackling of the samoosas mixed with the smooth creamy potato inside and the spicy lamb offered a true SA flavour complimented with creamy mashed potato.

It was now time to try out the popular ‘bunny chow’ which is a slang term for this SA speciality consisting of a hollowed out loaf of bread filled with curry. 1860 serve this dish with fresh bread filled with chicken and potato mix with a spicy curry - the perfect bunny chow! However, if you do not feel too adventurous, rather opt for the medium or mild curry.


Bunny chows are strictly a messy fingers affair and locals find the use of utensils quite amusing, however we have been told that the Brits both enjoy and have mastered the use of utensils while eating the bunny chow!

1860 offers a variety of wines and beverages to enjoy with your dish (even Klippies and Coke). You are able to ‘kuier’ with the owners like you were old friends, over a couple of Savannas and Windhoek Lagers, enjoying being with fellow countrymen and speaking ‘the taal’. It is an absolutely amazing atmosphere that is not often available in all restaurants, and I thank 1860 for this! And all food favourites are at extremely affordable prices, from vegetable curries to seafood korma, and leaving the very best for last - the Peppermint Crisp Tart! So when you leave 1860 and miss this ‘home’, you can soon return as you will not be out of pocket by this great experience!

Prices are excellent and portions are big. Family friendly and fully licenced.

Review contributed by Ursula Newman | Editor

SA PROMO Magazine Issue 25 June 2009

(Photos: Ursula Newman & www.lacartes.com)

  Bunny Chow

Lower East Side / Manhattan, New York

74 Orchard Street, New York, NY 10002
(212) 260-5317

http://www.bunnychowny.com/index2.html

Will comment more on this outlet soon...

(Word is that the restaurant has closed down and their property in Lower side New York is now on the market)

In the last number of years, businesses at 74 Orchard Street have struggled to survive. Ultimately, each met their doom. During this tumultuous period, three different eateries called the space home – Ronald’s Pizza Cafe, Sonia Rose, and most recently, the South African themed Bunny Chow.

Now, it appears as though the Bunny Chow operation is for sale.  Last week, neighborhood real estate conglomerate Misrahi Realty released a commercial listing for this property on both their website and Craigslist.

Beautifully built restaurant on Orchard St with full liquor license, 1200 sq ft on main floor with 500 sqft mezzanine and 1200 sq ft basement on the most desirable block in the lower east side.

Asking price is $9,000 per month, plus $250,000 in key money.

Anyone wanna take it over?!