District Six Eatery

The discovery

I stumbled upon this small restaurant in Emmarentia on my way to a meeting with a friend last week. When you walk in there is a vintage vibe and a story about the place. What grabbed my attention was the colourful mixture of pink and purple table clothes, the décor of panama hats on the wall and old tea and biscuit tins and collected jars of pickles displayed on the shelves. On the other wall, there is a display of old family pictures which I later learned were from Clarence’s childhood.

The inspiration

The inspiration came from Clarence’s youthful experience growing up in the 60′s in Cape Town’s District Six. The food that is cooked at the restaurant is what Clarence remembers eating as a child, food that his granny and his mother used to cook for them.

“Clarence has always loved to cook. His expertise in the kitchen has always been appreciated and his food has always been loved by friends and acquaintances, so what better way to show off this talent than opening a restaurant” says partner Romano.

The people behind District 6 Eatery

D6 eatery was opened in November 2010. Both the owners, Clarence Swartland and Romano Gorlei hail from the entertainment industry. Clarence a former dancer and choreographer also danced in many Extravaganza’s at Sun City and Wild Coast Sun Casinos and choreographed cabarets and Extravaganza’s. He was the choreographer behind the hugely successful AFRO-DIZZIA Extravaganza at Sun City. He was also part of an events company that staged and choreographed huge corporate events that took him around the country and overseas.

Romano was a director of television soapies, namely Isidingo, Backstage and Scandal, and also a producer of Scandal. He recently directed the mini soap on TV2′s COLOUR TV.

Keeping the Legacy alive

“It has been important for us to keep the legacy of Cape Town’s District Six alive. D6 Eatery is a perfect platform to do this. We are not didactic. We are not political. We want people to experience District Six hospitality and traditional, home cooked foods. District Six was made up of a diverse community, a melting pot of all nationalities, race and religion. It was a place where everyone lived in harmony. Our intention at D6 Eatery is to capture the spirit of Cape Town’s District Six” say Romano.

To visit D6 eatery book an appointment on 011 – 486 7226

Operating hours:

Lunch: 12:00am – 3:00pm, Tuesday to Sunday Dinner: 6.00pm – 9.30pm (kitchen closes at 9pm), Tuesday to Saturday
42B Greenhill Road, Corner Greenhills and Barry Hertzog Road, Emmarentia