On The Dock Of The Bay
Food & Home Entertaining|January 2020
A legacy of excellence, hands-on commitment and steadfast vision are the foundations of 9th Avenue Waterside restaurant, which is reeling in patrons at its prime spot on Durban’s harbour
Andrea Abbott
On The Dock Of The Bay

When Gina and Graham Neilson, owners of Durban’s multiple award-winning 9th Avenue Bistro, announced they were relocating the restaurant, their website received so many hits – around 90 000 – it kept crashing. “One of the biggest lessons I learnt from moving is that I hadn’t realised how much we meant to Durban,” says Gina. The move was necessary though. “We were a neighbourhood bistro but a lot of our customers and many local businesses were moving out of Berea and going north to Umhlanga and beyond.”

The couple knew that in the challenging restaurant arena, if they were to grow their business, they too would have to move from the space they’d long occupied in a shopping centre on 9th Avenue in Morningside. “The bistro was purely about dining. We realised we needed a bigger place so we could offer multiple facilities like a cocktail lounge, and a venue for conferences and weddings,” Gina shares.

Their search for a new location took them to Umhlanga and as far as the KZN Midlands before ending at Durban’s Yacht Mole, a pier that extends into Durban’s harbour. There, the dockside premises that once housed the popular Café Fish (which closed down in 2013) grabbed their attention. The dilapidated, 25-year-old building had been condemned by the city but Gina and Graham were not deterred. “We loved it and saw a chance to do something special in Durban that would also uplift the neighbourhood, in a similar way that The Test Kitchen in Cape Town has uplifted Woodstock,” Gina enthuses.

This story is from the January 2020 edition of Food & Home Entertaining.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the January 2020 edition of Food & Home Entertaining.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM FOOD & HOME ENTERTAININGView All
Country harm
Food & Home Entertaining

Country harm

Country kitchens are a well-loved style that many daydream about. Whether rustic or modern, here are some of the core qualities of a country style that soeaks a thousand memories and enviable kitchen snaps

time-read
2 mins  |
Autumn 2023
Your home Composting Guide
Food & Home Entertaining

Your home Composting Guide

Making your own compost will benefit your garden and waste management at home. It could also be a fun learning experience for your family. Here, you get to learn the ins and outs of composting at home

time-read
5 mins  |
Autumn 2023
Heavenly HOT CROSS BUNS
Food & Home Entertaining

Heavenly HOT CROSS BUNS

It's a trusty traditional favourite this time of the year, and now you can make your own!

time-read
1 min  |
Autumn 2023
Stock up!
Food & Home Entertaining

Stock up!

While store-bought stock is great in its convenience, nothing beats the authentic flavours of home-made stock

time-read
2 mins  |
Autumn 2023
hop hop Hooray
Food & Home Entertaining

hop hop Hooray

Get your little ones excited for Easter with these cute and tasty cookies

time-read
1 min  |
Autumn 2023
Fun & games
Food & Home Entertaining

Fun & games

Finding new and exciting things to do as a family where the kids are genuinely entertained, can sometimes be a tricky situation. But fret no more as we've got you covered with activities that everyone will enjoy

time-read
2 mins  |
Autumn 2023
THE Liquid gold Rush
Food & Home Entertaining

THE Liquid gold Rush

Rare and exclusive bottles of whisky and tequila, worth hundreds of thousands, sit unopened as collector's items. Meet Reinhardt Paulsen, the man behind Urban Spirits and a purveyor of sought-after spirits from across the globe

time-read
3 mins  |
Autumn 2023
Iconic pairings with a twist
Food & Home Entertaining

Iconic pairings with a twist

' Looking to upgrade dinner plans, host with ease, and enjoy new spins on the classics? Here are five unique wine _ pairings you simply have to try out!

time-read
3 mins  |
Autumn 2023
Reap the rewards
Food & Home Entertaining

Reap the rewards

Start tending to your autumn veggie gardens to make these warm and hearty meals perfect for the colder weather!

time-read
6 mins  |
Autumn 2023
Liquid gold
Food & Home Entertaining

Liquid gold

What makes RIO LARGO's olive oil as renowned and precious as it is? Edwain Steenkamp visits the spectacular farm to find out

time-read
3 mins  |
Autumn 2023