The Harvard Cafe Midrand Grand Central Airport

I went to Harvard Cafe Midrand and was pleasantly surprised. Good food and drink, affordable prices and attentive waiters. Atmosphere outside is great, watched some aircraft take off and land, and the antics of the local bird life was equally amusing. Many families were having a great time, both couples with children as well as singles, and there was a great big party table celebrating something special.
I opted for the 500g fillet steak, with veggies and chips. It arrived perfectly cooked, nourishing and delectable as any South African steakhouse. Washed it down with a bottle of South African Shiraz, and later with two double espressos, filter coffee and a single 1920. My bill came to R660 I including a generous tip for the Zimbabwean waiter. Where do you get better value?

I have always known about the Midrand airport but well never really went there. A few times I have been so close but well never got there...

Just drive to the end of New Road, it's a lot closer then I one would expect; a few hundred metres down; right next to the Gautrain station!

Upon entering it looks small, isolated ...very remote, one building about two stories high.
Walking in I never knew what to expect, browsing around....It's a very quiet airport.

Harvard Cafe is right in the corner and walking in you can already see the runway and get the exciting feeling of travel.

Upon entering, I was very warmly welcomed by the staff and asked..."Good afternoon Sir, would you like a table?"
Thereafter promptly escorted and showed all the different seating areas....
I opted for outside as it was a lovely warm late afternoon. The outside seating areas are amazing...

Reading previous reviews, I found the hospitality very warm. Every waiter greeted me, the pizza guys greated me, Yip a proper pizza oven.
Then again, I really have no issue making friends and greeting people. I am not one of those people that waits to be greeted... I GREET and expect a response ;-).
We had an amazing waiter "Rambo", I could tell immediately there is no BS here!

Menu's and a jar of Sangria, now to decide on what to eat. We went there just for the pizza special, i.e. 50% of pizza's on a Monday.
So we decided on the most expensive pizza as it was just R55'00 (G1).
Seemed a bit ridiculous to have a pizza for R55'00 so we went for a starter, garlic snails.
A bit of Sangria, then another jar, the snails came.
Wow it looked awesome, tasty and very creamy...
It was just that... awesome!

A bit later our pizza came to us....but before that...
The ambience of this place changed completely. Sunset, each table with little lanterns and this was now a very romantic setting...music perfect.

Honestly reading the previous reviews about slow service and staff not greeting, I must have been in a different Harvard Cafe.
Maybe Rambo was the New Management and forcefully took over....
Maybe all the waiters were called Rambo? Rambo 1, Rambo 2 and Rambo 3 albeit, I had so much fun with the action acting waiters.

There were a few planes landing and taking off.... think I counted 5 and 2 helicopters doing the same. It's no JFK but, it's Midrand... no 747's allowed here.

What amazed me are the prices as shown on my pics, they are very reasonable. Proof attached!
Then there are the specials... they have crazy specials.
MONDAY 50% OF ALL PIZZA'S
TUESDAY 50% OF ALL SEAFOOD
WEDNESDAY 50% OF ALL STEAK & RIBS
THURSDAY 50% OF ALL SUSHI
Please find photo's of the entire menu attached, contrary to previous comments, I can't see how they ripping people off or are over priced.

So our G1 pizza arrives with cheese, tomato, beacon, ham and what what.... R55'00 WOW
The pizza was incredible.... you do the maths, a large pizza for R55'00?
... yes the normal plate size.
Sauces to complement the pizza's are incredible.

Well done Rambo, your hostile take over makes all previous reviews irrelevant.

I know, that's only the pizza's!!!

KEEPING WITH MY PREVIOUS COMMENTS....

The storey:

Harvard Cafe has New Management...effective a few months ago, New Management! New Staff! and have a New Attitude!... this was revealed to me upon asking the manager (Marius) about all the "negative comments which I could not understand, as the food and service was excellent....."

So effective a few months ago, this Gem has been transformed.

On with my storey:
The Seafood special for the Tuesday was incredible.... The Seafood Platter for one is Simply amazing, and everything as fresh as a smack of sea...

AND ANd And and tonight is the steak and RIBS special...rest assured I'll be there, this place has impressed me beyond a reasonable doubt.

So New Management.... Rambo and team have gone in and defended this amazing menu.

That is the storey behind Harvard Cafe.

This place is the place to be.... I can't wait for their Christmas Buffet at R250pp

So guess where I'm going WEDNESDAY NIGHT...?
Yip 50% OF ALL STEAK AND RIBS!!!

Rambo is day off, so I'll be served by the Terminator... and will update this review ;-

Wednesday afternoon/evening was wonderful, the RIBS were amazing, service excellent....
Thanks Harvard Cafe Midrand....
Well worth every cent, definitely be seeing more of me... fantastic food, amazing prices.

Can't wait for your Christmas Lunch....

Sunday breakfast buffet with a relaxed vibe, great background music, kiddy friendly with an awesome view of the landing strip. Good value for money!