SOUTH AFRICA'S TOP 10 RESTAURANTS
When you’re done visiting the main attractions, you’ve explored all the adventure the country has to offer - the best thing you can do next is settle down for a hearty, filling meal.
idecided to travel South Africa’s most populated cities in search of the best places to tantalise the taste-buds, from high-end dining to fabulous flavours without the fancy prices.
Johannesburg - The Codfather Sandton Skye
I had heard about them. Reviews varied according to where you were on the Eatto-Live barometer. But as a ver y pick y eater, I wasn’t going to let the opinions of my peers dictate my perception of a venue I had only heard of through the grapevine. Finding this venue seemed simple enough on the GPS – and if they were going for a hidden gem in the middle of Sandton – they nailed it. Took me a few minutes circling their perimeter to realise… oh, they’re par t of a luxurious apar tment suite. #FacePalm
The Codfather is one of those seemingly quiet, understated places that whacks you between the eyes from the moment you set foot inside. It is an establishment that could take on any of Johannesburg’s foodie temples – Signature, Saints, Marble – all of which I adore. Waitrons know the main dishes and ever y thing that goes in them like they made it themselves, but the real excitement lies within the printed menu, which is a collection of thoughtfully considered dishes for ever y palate. Whether you’re a lion-hearted carnivore or a stuck up pescatarian, there’s a handful of meals to satisf y your gastronomic pleasures.
Some great restaurants are anticipated with sweaty expectation. But ever y now and then a place like The Codfather Sandton comes seemingly out of nowhere and delivers plates of food you just can’t forget.
Pretoria - La Pentola
There are not enough words to describe the diverse menu offered by La Pentola. It’s a ragingly modern restaurant determined to feed you with the seriously good stuff, until you slump back and say, enough already.
The three course meal being the star ter was fulfilling, more to an imagination that wanders in the field with no reasoning. The Cape fusion is my favourite. The pure simplicit y of strawberr y, salmon, almonds, cheese and lemon laced with honey. A perfect change between the sour and sweet flavours that complement each other and leave this lasting mint strawberry hint on the tongue. A definite must repeat and recommended. It’s one of those dishes that you think about when you wake up the next day.
La Pentola has a service you would not get from any other ordinar y restaurant. The place has the most extraordinary beautiful staff members that pay attention to their customers. You are guaranteed a spectacular experience from the moment you set foot through their doors.
Durban - The Grill Room
There is a reason people spend for tunes on st yling restaurants. Sometimes the decor is there to reassure, at other times to challenge our assumptions. From waiters in tuxedos, crisp white table cloths to the best foods, The Grill Room situated at the Oyster Box, Umhlanga Durban is one of the best restaurants and a must visit when in Durban. Their attention to each and every meal they prepare has made them to be the best restaurant for almost 70 years. To dine at the restaurant, a reser vation needs to be made well in advance and there is a specific attire that you need to uphold to. Even though the Grill Room is famously known for their cuisines, their atmosphere makes you want to come and experience the restaurant. The melodic music, the light in the restaurant and not to mention the décor. The Grill Room is definitely all about fine dining. The food, décor and service were definitely outstanding. This is a perfect place to dine when you want to celebrate an anniversary, a birthday party or just simply want to enjoy a feast fit for royalt y.
Durban - 9th Avenue Bistro
Situated in 9th Avenue, Morningside in Durban, it may look like an average neighbourhood bistro restaurant, but 9th Avenue Bistro is a must try. It is a fancy place in a fancy development of coloured stone that will never be allowed to discolour. Too of ten in spendy restaurants, the expense buys you an amorphous thing called an “experience”. You leave having been indulged by the staff. 9th Avenue feels like a rarit y, because here it is the cooking – vivid, inventive, idiosyncratic – that is front and centre. A smart restaurant that’s all about food: it could just catch on. 9th Avenue Bistro taught me not to let appearances fool you, the décor may be iffy, but the food is absolutely fantastic. This is a perfect place to dine as a group, family or simply when you are on a casual date night.
Johannesburg - Bowl’d
I wanted to experience they bowl’dness in Bowl’d. I wanted to see what they had to offer since I have been hearing a lot about them.
A centric place to just chill and enjoy the great outdoor activities. A good place to be, and at an affordable price. You’ll never want to be anywhere if you have experienced the kind of atmosphere given at the Bowl’d restaurant. It is located in Sandton at the Masingita towers, Morningside, Johannesburg where you have easy access to transport and the mall.
With the champagne to best celebrate the wonderful experience of dining inside the swimming pool and enjoying life to the full. I had to pop the Veuve Clicquot Rosé
bottle that came with an aromatic intensity. The restaurant sits approximately 260 guests and can host private events and has a vast variety of the Mediterranean, Asian and African cuisine that is careful prepared for you from scratch.
From time to time, most restaurants promise you heaven and service you with nothing. With no promise but a clear delivery on all well-perfected and presented plates, Bowl’d restaurant does truly stand towards its name.
Johannesburg - Clico
After the perfect invitation, I was headed to the Clico Boutique Hotel located in Rosebank, Cnr Jellicoe, and 27 Sturdee Avenue, where the hotel had named the new Head Chef, Neo Mkwanazi who dished up a storm for his guests.
With lots of effort, which led to his promotion as a Head Chef, Neo’s complete consistency for learning and growing has surely put him where he has always wanted to be because of what he has achieved thus far.
“I believe in food that is true, in a sense that it doesn’t destroy or take away. At Clico, we do locally sourced, sustainable, flavour-packed food – always identifiable in its simplicit y. We consistently strive to keep our guests coming back by giving them a holistic, silver-ser vice experience, paired with a taste sensation of classic dishes done with a local twist,” says Neo. It was just my kind of environment, so peaceful and intimate.
Johannesburg - Social on Main
There is something about this place that makes you want to tr y it out. Located in one of the safest suburbs in Johannesburg, this was a spot I had to visit – I mean, why does everyone come here for after-work drinks?
When you first get a look at it, you can’t help but wonder how such a small place can have such a vibrant energy, but then you figure it out – it’s quite spacious once you are inside. We were welcomed by the General Manager Sam, who made sure we were comfortable throughout our stay. Lovely and a happy soul that will definitely give you a very gratifying time there.
The place got crowded fast and there was a very hyped mood by the customers who walked in. A great place to just unwind and enjoy the busy crowd. With customers coming in numbers and others just outside enjoying the nice weather, I definitely should advise that you do pop by and experience this moment. With the fun and most memorable time spent here, I should be amongst the people that say, this is definitely a place where I can call my second home. This venue really makes you feel as though you are home and enjoying an intimate time with friends/colleagues and family. Catering all ages even children who would also love to tr y their friendly non-chilli burgers are catered for.
Johannesburg - Social on Parkwood
Social on Parkwood is a singular, spacious yet intimate and rather creative space clad in various shades of the African dream. Social on Parkwood is a lot like how I hope heaven will be; a sort of tasteful, colourful VIP room, away from the riff-raff, with a nook full of vintage cognacs.
With specific colour coordination, a bright and unique colour scheme the restaurant was given a really awesome touch and fantastic atmosphere.
The revamp took place at Corner Bolton Road and Jan Smuts Avenue Parkwood, Rosebank. The one city that never misses a beat and never blinks. This hyped suburb area is well known for their art and its busy corners. Ask anyone about Rosebank and they will definitely tell you that it is one place to be at if you are looking for a night out life.
Definitely, something I wanted to experience all over again, the memory is still
fresh and the food there will make your saliva twitch. There could be no excuse for the mouth-watering food that is ser ved with explicit fragilit y.
Johannesburg - Reubens
Reuben’s Restaurant located at The Capital Moloko, an upmarket hotel with all the bells and whistles you’d find in the hear t of Sandton. The effort it requires to reach a restaurant is not the restaurant’s fault. It was my own silly idea to ignore the fact that Sandton has traffic in every single direction, all the time. We arrived relatively on time and were met by one of the most charismatic and truly the best par t about this establishment, a manager by the name of George! His warm smile, knowledge of the wines and hearty jokes helped us settle in.
Reuben’s cooking doesn’t contradict anything and it isn’t worryingly contemporary. It’s just really solid, extremely enjoyable stuff. The restaurant is designed by someone who is serious about muted tones, parquet flooring, dado rails and oatmealcoloured banquettes. On a hot summer’s day after the journey from hell, it is exactly where you want to be, watching the butterflies fluttering by the open, mullioned windows and clutching a glass of dr y white.
To anybody who has ever eaten at Reuben’s Franschhoek – the cooking will be familiar. It’s confident Cape Malay food is aimed at a grown-up crowd. You admire the good taste and technique without being distracted by it.
Johannesburg - Marble Restaurant
With easy access to all amenities, located in the hear t of Rosebank, Trumpet on Keyes road, corner Keyes and Jellicoe avenue, Johannesburg, South Africa was where I was headed and just hungry for a feast. On entering the restaurant, you are welcomed by the beautiful portraits. This restaurant has a different ar t fill, from the best self-designed portraits and a mixture of both classic and contemporar y st yle. The restaurant has this heav y but most welcoming ar t feel. Ver y dark covered most with grey and white patterns that is not too much but just welcoming. The staff members make you feel like you are at home. The waiter comes past the tables, assuring that ever y thing is to your taste. Benjamin, the waiter did make it a mission to make my stay there memorable.
A vast selection of different drinks to choose from; the bar offers you a selection of wines, cocktails and lounge bar bites. As tempting as it was with the featured wine, I opted for a simple cocktail. My first choice was obviously the Purple Lotus cocktail. A perfect combination of the Avion Tequila, Clarified milk punch, lemon grass syrup blended together with purple syrup. More of a feminine drink should I compliment i t. It had a unique strong pinch which I believe came from the tequila itself. It had a craving af ter effect that makes you want to still get some more.
Johannesburg - Athol Place
My first thought was, are they serious? This is just impossible. How can a person eat so much? But af ter having their special allgo Valentine theme, I was reassured that I would literally not die from over-indulging.
The food was just beyond it, it had flavour, taste and a lot of freshness in it. The chef came out personally af ter the wonderful feast, going from table to table and giving out the thoughtful desser t preparation. Dessert for two, a dessert for remembering.
Having won the best restaurant award for the Cape Town branch in 2015, the restaurant in Johannesburg also lives up to these expectations. coming first to the Cape Town restaurant in 2015. The restaurant still lives to its best excellence.
Edible ar t, candy floss, rum jelly, gold, white custard, chocolate macaron dusted with strawberr y flakes, dark chocolate mousse, marshmallow, blueberry sponge. Now this is just what one needs to end off a perfect evening.