Buri Nails Casual Dining with Proper Boerie Rolls & Brannes on Tap
Is there anything more South African than a boerewors roll? Every South African knows the makings of a good boerie roll — the smell of wors on the braai; the soft white roll waiting on the side; the fried onions; the smoor; the sauces; the first bite that is messy, warm and completely worth it.
It’s a braai favourite so synonymous with South African culture that at this point I challenge you to name one place in our country where you won’t find a random boerewors roll stand. The cart outside your local Spar, the field-side drum braai at school rugby games, the stand with the longest queue at the local fete … you don’t have to stumble very far to get your boerie fix.
But listen, with all great things, there’s always room for a little refinement and Buri is doing just that with its menu that promises to bring its own take on the much-loved South African staple. The casual eatery, located on Harrington Street in Cape Town’s East City, is the newest concept from Neil Swart and Anouchka Horn, the business partners behind Belly Restaurant Group (BRG).
The group is behind some of Cape Town’s most distinctive restaurants, including Belly of the Beast, Galjoen and Seebamboes, and is known for thoughtful food, strong concepts and hospitality that feels personal rather than predictable.
With Buri, the idea starts with one of the country’s most loved casual eats, the boerewors roll. Traditionally, it is boerewors tucked into a roll with smoor, fried onions or whatever sauce is on the table. It is humble, generous and part of everyday South African food culture. BRG is taking that familiar favourite and doing it the Buri way.
At Buri, every part of the classic boerewors roll has been thought about properly. The soft white bun has been made specifically for Buri, created to hold the full experience while still feeling like the comforting roll everyone knows. The boerewors has also been developed especially for the restaurant, with a bespoke Buri boerewors recipe created by Frankie Fenner Meat Merchants. It gives Buri its own flavour from the start, while still keeping the spirit of the boerie roll South Africans know and love.
What’s on the menu?
The menu opens with three standard Buri rolls, each one built around boerewors but given its own personality. The Classic keeps things simple with boerewors and fried onions. The Farmer leans into tradition with smoor, bringing that rich, homely tomato and onion character that belongs with a proper boerie roll. The O.G brings a little more attitude, with garlic mayo, chilli chutney and rocket.
If you went with a classic style there is also a self-serve sauce station, because everyone has their own way of dressing a boerie roll. Guests can finish their Buri with tomato sauce, mustard, chutney as well as homemade BBQ, peri-peri and Buri sauce, the restaurant’s signature sauce.
Finally, there’s some room to play and experiment with The Special, a creative take on the boerie roll. The limited-edition menu item changes monthly giving the team a chance to experiment with different kinds of sausage and toppings. This month’s menu item features wild boar knackwurst, mustard mayo, crispy onions, pickles and curry leaf, all crammed into a hotdog bun.
Some creative takes to look forward to include experimenting with different sausages such as venison wors, sosatie wors and playful options like skilpadjie wors. It is a reason for regulars to come back, try something new and see what the team has been dreaming up.
For those who want to go all in, Buri Loaded Fries take the same boerie roll energy and pile it high. Fries are topped with garlic mayo, chilli chutney, rocket and pieces of boerewors, creating the kind of dish that is made for sharing (or very happily not sharing at all).
Dessert keeps the fun going with soft mini doughnuts and a rotating selection of toppings. Think caramelised white chocolate and pecan nut, milk chocolate with hazelnut and Maldon salt, a Peppermint Crisp tart inspired mini doughnut with dark chocolate and Peppermint Crisp, and mini doughnuts dusted in tonka bean sugar.
The first bite
I got my hands dirty with The Special and shared a side order of Loaded Fries and Regular fries with a friend. This month’s special Buri is something you need to experience. It’s comfort food and nostalgia all ‘rolled’ into one. I also stole a few bites of The Classic doused in Peri-Peri sauce, because meal envy is real and I had to affirm my choices in life. I can confirm this classic, laid-back option is just as exciting as the buri of the month with the sauce option to spice things up.
If you’re in a group, I highly recommend ordering both regular fries and Loaded Fries to share. The portion sizes are big enough to share between two people. The Loaded Fries are too good not to gorge yourself on and the regular fries are cooked too perfectly to miss out on; crispy on the outside with that moreish soft slapchip consistency on the inside. The regular chips also offer an opportunity to load up your basket with little sauce piles and try all the sauces on offer. Special mention must go to the Buri sauce and the Peri-Peri sauce.
Now, let’s discuss the doughnuts of dreams. If you don’t leave space for an order of mini doughnuts to share then you’re a damn fool. The Tonka Bean spoke to the minimalist in me (I adore a basic cinnamon doughnut so this was on point for me) while the Dark Chocolate and Peppermint Crisp had my inner child screaming for more. Once again, I must stress the importance of taking friends to dine with so you can share and try all the things. Or go alone, and visit more than once… And often.
Who doesn’t love an adult soda fountain?
And to drink? Well, that’s not conventional either. Drinks keep the same tongue in cheek spirit with Buri’s Adults Soda Fountain, a playful nod to the classic corner shop counter, but made for grown ups.
The drinks offering keeps things lekker and easy, with brandy and Coke (brannes) on tap, gin and tonic, beer and cider on tap, and the kind of uncomplicated serves that belong alongside a boerewors roll. Nothing too serious, nothing too complicated, just cold drinks, good humour and a proper reason to stay a little longer.
The good times and light hearted takes continue in the decor, seating is casual and the colours are bright and fun — think old school American diner vibes with a splash of 80s South African interior design elements thrown into the mix. Grab a bar stool at the counter and roll up your sleeves or nab a spot at the wrap around booth-style seating and share a small table with a friend.
There’s also a colourful courtyard with outside seating on warmer days. If you can’t stay, grab a takeaway and eat on-the-go, it’s just as good enjoyed in your car, on a nearby park bench, or at your desk while you fantasise about control-alt-deleting all the emails in your inbox.
Cape Town needs more eateries like Buri. It’s not fancy for the sake of being fancy. It’s deliciously uncomplicated. Each bite of a Buri roll is easy, generous and full of flavour, without any need for anything over the top. It is a proper South African favourite, done with care, good ingredients and a bit of BRG personality.
Buri is casual, quick and full of energy. It is made for lunch breaks, walk-ins, late afternoon cravings, after work bites and anyone who believes that a good boerie roll can be every bit as memorable as a full restaurant meal. It takes something familiar and gives it a new home on Harrington Street, one of Cape Town’s most exciting food corners.
Buri is open from Monday to Saturday, from 10:00 to 22:00, with happy hour every day from 16:00 to 18:00, when everything on tap is half price.
