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4 Normandy Road
Off Churchill Avenue
Belgravia
0774 076 032 or 0776 401 772

Two Spoons Coffee Shop – Honest Tasty Food 2012

If like me you sometimes want to eat simply and well and not have to exhaust yourself reading a vast menu which offers so much and delivers substantially less, then coffee shop dining is for you and there is no shortage of choices in the Northern suburbs.

To get to Two Spoons in Normandy Avenue (off Churchill Road) requires deft navigation between multiple and serious pot holes but that is nothing new to most of us. Situated in an old house access is through the garden which has magnificent well established palms and a more modern rockery type water feature. As well as the Coffee Shop there is a selection of other shops – children’s toys, crafts, lingerie, baby and maternity clothes - all operating in what can only be described as a relaxed manner from various rooms in the house. Outside there is a florist and that harbinger of organic gardening, the WormMan.

The Coffee Shop has tables under sun shades in the garden and on the veranda and a long utilitarian table in the rather spartan inside area. The informal atmosphere is reinforced by the Menu which offers a selection of breakfast dishes, light lunches, deserts, cakes, juices, teas and coffees, interspersed with pages bearing pithy homilies such as “Recipe for Happiness”, “Grace Before Meals” and “Kitchen Prayer”.  All dishes are very reasonably priced, breakfasts are served all day and as well as the full Farmhouse Breakfast ($8) or a mini breakfast ($5) the more adventurous can indulge in a Banana Chocolate Toastie ($5)! Lunch dishes include mini pizza, a selection of salads (very reasonably priced at between $6 and $10) and for the less health conscious a burger or pie. My attention was caught by the wrap and pitta bread ($7) which offered an own selection of three fillings from a list including onion, cheese, bacon, banana, smoked chicken / beef, tuna, olives. This proved to be a good choice.  My companion chose the wrap (wonderfully thin) and I, the pitta, both were generously filled and served with a crisp fresh salad of mixed lettuce, croutons, baby tomatoes and feta cheese with crisps on the side. Of note was the unique dressing which I was told was made from “any herbs growing in the garden” and was a piquant thick green blob of flavour!

Although we would have liked waffles for dessert, they were not available so we settled for a couple of slices of cake (chocolate and carrot), both served with ice cream and chocolate sauce and of the pleasantly light rather than the overpoweringly stodgy variety. Most importantly we ended this delightful meal with Espresso coffees. I have to admit to being disappointed as mine was more like a strong filter coffee although our waiter assured me it was my favourite La Lucie coffee (from Chiredzi).

Two Spoons is a delightful Wi-Fi and pretension free informal meeting place where friends can sit for as long as they like in the tranquil garden enjoying a cool drink or a light freshly prepared meal and escape from the stress of everyday life. It is open every day except Sunday from 08.30 to 16.30hrs.

Coffee Shop
4 Plates
Expect  to Spend $10 - $15 per head
Two Spoons Coffee Shop, 4 Normandy Road, Alex Park, Harare

 

Two Spoons Coffee House - great name, great place! 2011
I must admit to being skeptical about a new Coffee Shop opening up in Belgravia.  There is stiff competition already in this area, and so any ‘new-boys’ need to be prepared for the challenge. Negotiating Normandy Road in my very ordinary, non-four-by-four vehicle was a challenge in itself. Beware; there are potholes a-plenty so drive slowly!  Parking outside Number Four, Normandy Road is shady and monitored by a guard, which is a positive thing in a sea of negativity.

Plenty more positives awaited us as we entered the lush, well-kept garden of the Two Spoon Coffee House.  I have, somewhat pretentiously, considered myself to be a palm ‘fundi’, but I was unprepared for the magnificent array of mature and well-established palms in the garden. Palm-lovers, this is the Coffee House for you.  In keeping with the garden theme, I was delighted to see that the ‘Worm Man’ is operating out of Two Spoons, and his novel four-by-four vegetable/herb/flower boxes are prominently on display, and you can purchase your ‘worm-soil’ as well.

Distracted by the delights of the garden, we sat down at the beautiful iron and teak table, and were immediately presented with the menu.  The menu offers a comprehensive choice of coffees, teas, smoothies, milkshakes and fruit juices.  The meal choices are focused on fresh, appetising and wholesome food.  You can select from four types of meal; Breakfast Bar, Salad Bar, Snack Bar and Cakes and Muffins.  As I scanned the menu, I was pleasantly surprised by the reasonable prices, and felt that Two Spoons had done their homework, and have priced themselves at just the right level.  The most expensive item on the menu was Sue’s Special Salad at $8.  Coffees range between $1 and $3, fair prices indeed.

A mix-up in our timing meant that we arrived at Two Spoons during that intermediate time – not quite tea/coffee time, and not quite lunch time.  We felt that the menu catered very well for ‘in-betweeners’ and Rupert opted for a Steak Pie with a Side Salad and Filter Coffee;  I couldn’t resist the Carrot Cake and a Cappuccino.  After placing our order, my eyes lit upon a row of gorgeous warthogs – no, not real ones, but hogs made from scrap oil drums.  Anyone want to get me a birthday present?  I had to wait before I could go and inspect my hogs, because our meal was quickly and efficiently served.  Rupert’s Steak Pie was short of meaty filling, but his Side Salad was fabulous; fresh lettuce topped with carrots, green pepper, sun dried tomatoes, croutons and delicious feta cheese.  The dish was accompanied by gravy for the Pie and a tasty basil salad dressing.  I can’t wait to go back to two Spoons and order a full salad!  My Carrot Cake was moist and substantial and eaten in a flash.  The Filter Coffee was rich and robust – not afraid to stand-up for itself and say “I’m proud to be real coffee”.  My Cappuccino was a little on the quieter side, and I felt that it needed a boost, but on the whole, we were impressed with the coffee.

Make sure that you allow yourself extra time to browse the boutiques at Two Spoons.  There is a gift shop with exquisite selection of items.  Iron and teak furniture is on display, and if you need any lingerie, or maternity and baby garments, go no further – this is the place for you. There are also seedlings and plants for sale.  Diverse, interesting and delicious, we were very taken with this new Coffee House, and we love their name.
Coffee Shop
4 Plates
Expect to spend $10 - $12 per head
4 Normandy Road off Churchill Ave