Foodie Review: Aurelie's Health and Lifestyle Cafe - Waterfall
Set in the scenic Waterfall Lifestyle Estate in Midrand, Aurelie's which means Golden in French, has become a household name for the residents of the area.
While the area was still being developed and the school next door, Reddam House was being established, a little Health and Lifestyle Cafe was born. 2013 was the year when the doors opened at Aurelies with the young Mauritian-National owner, creating a Home Decor Vegetarian Cafe. She ran the store for almost two years before she fell pregnant and decided to pack up and move back to Mauritius to have the support of her family as this was going to be her first child.
Bongani the head chef at the time and now Store Manager took the extra responsibilities in his stride. The new owners took over the cafe in February 2015 and shortly after gained a Halaal status to the Cafe to attract a more diverse range of customers. The store which is now open 7 days a week caters to the parents who just want to relax after dropping their children off at school, to hosting educational talks and support groups.
On our entry to the restaurant we were greeted by our friendly waiter Vusa. A Zimbabwean born Sales and Marketing specialist who made us feel like we were at home. We were offered a tester of the famous Soul Mate Smoothie in a shot glass and we were immediately sold on the non dairy strawberry fruit drink.
The decor and the wooden furniture made one feel like they were in a little cafe in Mauritius. The shelves were fully stocked with healthy and nutritious products for sale and if you liked the furniture you could purchase that as well.
With plenty of room in and out of the store my son was free to walk around and explore. Bongani and his team always had an eye on him so that we could enjoy our meal. Even though a baby chair was provided for him to sit on he preferred to enjoy the tranquil setting of this little cafe.
With so many healthy options to choose from, one did not know where to begin. We finally decided on two choices of burgers; the Cuban Feel and Mexican Twist. The patties are made up of a combination of great spices including coriander, tahini and cumin, with the main ingredients being chickpeas, onions, garlic, and a dash of lemon. The Cuban Feel burger was topped with feta, grilled pineapple, peppadews, and a sweet chilli sauce, and a side option of chips. While the Mexican Twist was topped with cheddar, jalapeños, caramelised onion, and guacamole, with a side option of baked potato wedges.
The food was well prepared and the ingredients were fresh as if it were picked out from the backyard. I wouldn't be surprised as a few years ago this land was just a farm!
Even though the store was closing at 3 we never felt pressured or a need to rush our meal. In fact after the meal we still managed to chat with Bongani and Vusa before they closed up for the day. They love their job and you can see in the way that they interact with their customers. Very professional staff, the whole team, and that made our experience that more pleasant.
If you are looking for a healthy meal option and great service Aurelie's Health and Lifestyle Cafe in Waterfall is highly recommended, and definitely worth the drive if you are out of the area.
