Brews & Bites
Grate Café: Sandton’s Go-To Spot for Coffee, Brunch, and Community
There is something special about the energy on Fricker Road in Illovo. It is a mix of Sandton polish and neighbourhood calm, the kind of place where regulars greet staff by name and newcomers are settling in by the second sip of coffee. This is exactly where Grate Café has built its home, turning a simple love for coffee and well-crafted meals into a loyal community.
A Café Built on Kindness and Good Food
Grate Café began as a small idea rooted in Illovo. A place where good coffee was made with intention and where meals were handcrafted rather than rushed. Over the years, that idea stretched far beyond a single shopfront. The café has grown into a national chain while keeping its warm, local character.
The mission has always stayed the same: serve comforting food, celebrate flavour and make people feel welcome. That sense of care shows in everything from the menu to the atmosphere. There is no fussiness. Just good food, friendly service, and a space where people feel at home.
Breakfast That Brings People Back
Breakfast runs until noon and has become one of Grate Café’s biggest drawcards. The Grate Breakfast is the one most regulars swear by, with eggs, bacon, Italian sausages, mushrooms, and roasted tomatoes. A smaller version offers the same goodness in a lighter portion.
Health-conscious guests often choose the Banters’ Dream. You can expect eggs, fresh tomato, avo, and a choice of halloumi or bacon. The omelettes come packed with fillings like Parma ham and basil or cheddar and avo. Benedict lovers can enjoy theirs on English muffins with Parma ham, bacon, beef sausages, or smoked salmon.
On the sweeter side, there are stacked pancakes with mascarpone and berry compote and brioche French toast that tastes like a weekend treat. Fruit salads, oats, and yoghurt bowls offer softer, lighter options for those who like to ease into the day.
The All Day Favourites
After breakfast hours, the menu stretches into something much broader. Sandwiches and tramezzinis arrive with sides of fries or salad. There are generous options like chicken mayo with jalapeños, mince and cheddar, or BBQ steak with caramelised onion.
The gourmet sandwiches are a step up in flavour. Think chicken schnitzel with spicy mayo, smoked salmon trout on a bagel, melanzane and halloumi on sourdough, or a classic chicken Caesar wrap.
Salad lovers are spoiled for choice. Bowls are packed with roasted butternut, quinoa, halloumi, avo, tuna, steak, or prawns. Everything arrives in fresh, colourful portions that feel nourishing rather than boring.
Burgers, Steaks, and Comfort Plates
If you want something hearty, Grate Café delivers without hesitation. Their beef burgers are built from pure beef patties and served with fries. You can choose anything from a classic cheeseburger to a chicken burger or a cheese and bacon combination.
For something more substantial, the café-style section offers steak rolls, half chickens, crumbed chicken schnitzels, fish and chips, Norwegian salmon, and even prawn curry or chicken curry. Pasta lovers can enjoy napoletana, bolognaise, rump steak pasta, chicken pesto, chicken and mushroom, or a rich prawn option.
Wood-Fired Pizzas for Every Mood
Pizza arrives with a proper tomato base and generous toppings. The Margherita remains a classic choice, but most regulars lean toward the Pollo with spicy chicken and avo, the El Greco with bacon and feta, or the Parma Ham topped with rocket. There is even a fully vegan option filled with aubergine, peppers, baby marrow, and fresh avo.
Drinks for Every Kind of Day
The drinks menu follows the same spirit of abundance. You will find freshly squeezed juices, smoothies, granitas, classic milkshakes, coffee freezos, teas, and hot chocolates.
The coffee is where the heart of the café sits. Whether it is a flat white, cappuccino, cortado, or an imported matcha latte, everything is made with care. Patrons mention that the coffee feels personal, almost like each cup carries the DNA of the café’s original purpose.
Image 1: Facebook/Grate Café
A Space for Dogs, Families, and Celebrations
One of the biggest reasons locals love Grate Café is the atmosphere. It is lively without being loud and warm without being chaotic. Pets are welcome, which has turned mornings into a collection of wagging tails.
The café also accommodates events. Whether it is a birthday, graduation, baby shower, or anniversary, the team helps put together something meaningful. Their platters include croissants, wraps, sandwiches, sushi, sliders, pastries, and more, making it easy to host a function without stress.
Gift boxes filled with Pastéis de Nata and decadent cake slices have also become a quiet favourite among customers who want to spoil someone special.
The Heart of Illovo
What makes Grate Café such a consistent favourite is not just the food. It is the feeling. The staff greets you warmly. The meals arrive full and satisfying. The energy feels casual, homely, and lived-in. From solo coffee drinkers to families with prams, from students to executives, everyone finds themselves settling in easily.
It is this sense of belonging that keeps Grate Café at the centre of the Illovo and Sandton café scene. A humble idea that became a large community. A café that still feels like a neighbourhood spot, even as it continues to grow.
Also read: Dos-Tea Café: Sandton’s Calm Escape for Serious Tea Lovers
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Source: Grate Cafe
Featured Image: Facebook/Grate Café
