HAENERTSBURG – This mother of two little girls, has always dreamt of her own restaurant combined with a guesthouse.
She grew up in Polokwane, where she went to school and then attended the International Hotel School in Sandton. After dabbling in antiques and pop-up restaurants, Ninia found her dream venue outside Haenertsburg with a view that ‘skriks vir niks’.
The turn-off to The Eatery is at the former Chalets or Livingstone Place on the R71 towards Polokwane just outside the village.
Owner of the property, Moya Blight, from the interior design company Inspired by Moya, jumped in with alacrity to convert the run-down Amble Inn into this little gem. The building at Viewpoint was an Officers’ Mess a century ago.
Ninia’s aim was to open in time for this year’s Food and Wine Festival, giving everyone a mere two weeks to convert the building into an intimate 30-seater restaurant with five beautifully appointed guest rooms with bathrooms en suite.
Moya came with her team to paint the cement floors with her high gloss finish and Inspired by Moya painted the walls adding a few modern touches to the guestrooms with French doors leading out to a well-manicured garden.
Ninia’s husband, John, created all the furniture in those two weeks, also working day and night to get finished. He used fine pieces of local pine for all the furniture including the long tables, the riempie benches, the beds, the headboards, the basin stands and the bedside tables.
The Eatery is open for breakfast and lunch from Wednesday through to Sunday. There is no menu as Ninia decides on the day what to cook and all her food is made with love and passion.
Helping her in the kitchen is equally talented local Bianca Donaghy. There are special touches to The Eatery like large cups for cappuccinos and soft, embroidered white cloth napkins.
Dotted around The Eatery are shelves with plain yet perfect pieces of pottery from Johannesburg. The log fire is ever present on cold days.
There’s also a secure room off the verandah that has been turned into a nursery. Parents can relax either in the restaurant or the verandah while their children play in the magical nursery.
Bookings are essential to avoid disappointment so contact Ninia at 082 797 2403.
