Surf Riders Cafe

Our favourite spot!! The food is always on point. The specials menu can be a bit pricey, but with the portions, you’re not losing money! The staff are always friendly and welcoming, and it’s a few meters from the beach. Our favourite branch by far.

Good food. Variety of dishes from seafood to your burgers and steaks and chops. Alcohol available. Had the best long island tea here.

The food was bland and horrible. The burger was dry. The pizza was tasteless. The milkshakes were good. It was hot in the restaurant. Service was good. If I could give a Zero star rating for the food, I would! Not worth the time and money spent.

On our recent trip to Durban, we couldn’t resist checking out the buzz around Chef Sam at Surf Riders. Let me tell you—every bit of the hype is well-deserved and then some! The food was absolutely incredible, cooked to perfection, and bursting with flavor. The service was equally outstanding, with a warm, family-like atmosphere. The team went above and beyond, checking in on us regularly to ensure everything was perfect. We were lucky enough to meet Chef Sam herself, who graciously took a photo with my cousin (a big fan of her cooking). To top it all off, she surprised us with two complimentary carrot cakes, which were absolutely delicious. This was more than just a meal—it was an experience. I can’t wait to return on my next visit to South Africa. Thank you, Chef Sam and the entire team at Surf Riders, for making our visit so memorable!

To be honest - you guys have the best location in the house but you do not deliver accordingly. The staff was ok - the menu and seating not much better. Really do not understand how staff can look and be so demotivated.

Great Food & Vibes, But Missing the Basics Visited Surf Riders Café in South Beach for their wood-fired fish and overall had a good experience. The wait was quite long — over an hour — but the meal was mostly worth it. The fish was tasty and well-cooked, though not without some issues. There were a few leftover scales, and it didn’t quite deliver on the expected wood-fired flavor. The prawns (which seemed more like shrimp) were de-shelled — I personally would’ve preferred them with shells on for more flavor and texture. That said, the peri peri sauce was excellent and brought the dish together nicely. My wife had an iced coffee and a Cosmo cocktail — both of which she enjoyed. The pet-friendly environment was a major plus for us. We brought our dogs along and were pleasantly surprised when they were served complimentary treats — ice cream and Digby biscuits. A really thoughtful touch! The vibe was relaxed and beachy, just what you’d expect from a coastal café. However, a major drawback was the lack of on-site toilets for customers. Being directed to public toilets in the neighboring building felt out of place for an otherwise quality establishment. This could be a deal-breaker for some. I’m hopeful the new Umhlanga branch maintains the charm and improves where it counts — especially by ensuring basic facilities are available for guests.

Late post from Jan. Yum Yum Yum. Food was delicious. Weather was scorching. Service was tops. Was very comfortable to sit at my table and soak in the sun, ambience and positive vibes. Food was well prepared, delicious and too much to eat. Those milkshakes are the BOMB. Wow, divine.

Great location and atmosphere. Pity though, as I found it poorly managed. Was really feeling for a lamb shank on 2jan. My partner decided it was worth going to Surf Riders. After a R30 parking fee and a bit of a walk on my injured leg, we were told that we needed to wait for a table. Eventually after about 15minutes we got a table. We waved down a waitress, who had to go in and check if there was stock of lamb shank and to my dismay it was out of stock. So I asked why was it not displayed as out of stock at the entrance or something 🤔 because I could've easily gone somewhere else instead of waiting for a table and after taking a seat, being told it is out. I then proceeded to order an iced coffee/latte as I was already annoyed, and found it to be dreadfully sweet and cool (definitely not iced), and ended up wasting more than half a glass. We left without tipping and with no meal. Very disappointing for a venue that wants to rank up for service and food. No real apology or explanation was even received. Im a local and this is really bad for a Durban spot. Left a bitter taste for me.