DUTYWA– After operating for nine years as a small catering business, Panatty Kitchen has officially opened as a fully fledged restaurant in Dutywa. The owner, chef Sisanda Jonas welcomed customers to the new sit‑in establishment on 10th November 2025, marking a major milestone in her long journey.
Jonas, who grew up in Zintukwini village started Panatty Kitchen in 2016 while working as a bank consultant in Ngcobo. She later left her job to follow her passion for food and completed a two‑year culinary diploma at the Alfresco International Academy of Food and Wine in East London.
She says turning her dream into a restaurant took years of patience, especially with challenges around funding and securing a suitable location. “I wanted to see our small town develop with a great change coming from the youth,” Jonas said. “Owning a restaurant has been my dream since childhood.”
Panatty Kitchen now offers a full dining experience, serving a mix of traditional dishes and Western favourites. The menu includes breakfast, lunch, smoothies, kota, burgers, wraps, seafood plates and the popular Panatty Big Breakfast.
Customers can also enjoy Jonas’s signature sparkling ginger beer, inspired by her village upbringing. The restaurant’s full meal samp or rice with vegetables, salads and a choice of beef or umleqwa is already a customer favourite.
Furthmore, Panatty Kitchen pride itself that has four permanent staff members and buys its ingredients from local suppliers. It also continues to offer catering services for weddings, graduations and other special events. With support from the Mbhashe Municipality, Jonas says she is hopeful that the restaurant will grow into a well‑known brand in the region. “We’re committed to excellence and customer satisfaction, opening this restaurant after nine years means so much,” she said.
Panatty Kitchen is located at Ngcozwana Complex, Evelyn Street, opposite Nogaduka in Dutywa.
For more information, contact 060 849 0467 or 084 537 6879.
Photographs: supplied
