Years ago, before I was a penniless writer, I was a penniless shop assistant. Surviving retail depends on three things: working somewhere fun, working with someone fun and having decent foodstuffs in the near vicinity. I lucked out on the first two, but with the exception of DIY chip rolls at the Spar, Kloof Street in 2005 didn’t have much going for it, food-wise.
If I could send Molten Toffee back in time to open a decade earlier, I would.
Molten is one of a number of, shall we say, compact eateries to have opened recently in Cape Town (Max Bagels and Como spring to mind). A counter, deli display and some cleverly maximised seating (including a window bar and tables spilling on to the sidewalk) are pretty much it. But they make it work, and the space is light, airy and inviting, with a polished brass counterfront and eclectic art on the walls.
Cute cork clipboard menus offer breakfast, a variety of lunch options and drinks, though there is a chalkboard for the day’s specials too (but of course). Breakfast is a build-your-own affair out of toast, eggs, bacon, avo and salmon. On the lunch menu I can vouch for the FAB – feta, avo, bacon – toastie and the pulled pork, which forms part of the daily specials, but I’ll be back for the chicken kofta salad.
Oh and, if it’s a 30ºC summer’s day like it was yesterday, do yourself a favour and try the iced latte – not only do they stock Deluxe beans, it’s also just so good to find real iced coffee on a menu for a change.
Co-owner Robbi Gordick was super-friendly and helpful, and, all in all, Molten Toffee ticks the boxes for a cute, carefree stop on Kloof Street.
OF NOTE
Where 45B Kloof Street, CBD
Trading hours Monday to Saturday 7 am – 5 pm
Average cost R50 for food, R18 for coffee
Contact +27 21 422 2885 (or follow them on Facebook and Twitter)
Photography Jade Cooke (and special mention to Robert Scholtz, without whose invaluable help this post and its featured image could never have happened. Cape Town Etc is forever in your debt Rob. You are a gentleman and a scholar. Is this enough yet?)
