World City Guide

Restaurants

We have selected 25 restaurants, which we have divided into five categories: Gastronomic, Business, Trendy, Budget and Personal Recommendations. The restaurants are listed alphabetically within these different categories, which serve as guidelines rather than absolute definitions of the establishments.

By law, VAT, which currently stands at 14%, must be included in all prices on menus and will, thus, already be included in restaurant bills. Most restaurants do not charge a service fee and ‘waitrons’ (local term which incorporates waiters and waitresses) expect to be tipped at least 10% for very mediocre service and more if they make an effort.

The prices quoted below are for a three-course meal and for a bottle of house wine (usually a dry red) or equivalent, including VAT but excluding service charge, unless otherwise stated.

Gastronomic

La Belle Terrasse and Loggia
Perched at the top of the cliffs, into which the Westcliff Hotel has been carved, this terrace certainly has one of the city’s most beautiful and surprisingly pastoral views. The decor, in quiet pastels, is elegant, opulent and unabashedly colonial, while the service is confident and competent. The Sunday brunch (a weekly pilgrimage for discerning folk in search of refuge from the bustling city streets) offers a cold buffet that includes French oysters, Caspian Sea caviar, queen prawns, smoked salmon and charcuterie, as well as a host of terrines and salads. The hot buffet includes eggs Benedict, as well as other lunch specialities, such as roasted spring lamb in a rosemary-scented jus. It is a fantastic place to dine in luxury while watching elephants (in the Zoo) amble across the paddocks below.

The Westcliff Hotel, 67 Jan Smuts Avenue, Westcliff
Tel: (011) 646 2400. Fax: (011) 481 6071.
E-mail: tlatimer@westcliff.co.za
Website: www.westcliffhotel.orient-express.com
Price: R200. Wine: From R90.

Le Canard
15 years ago, a stately suburbian Georgian Homestead became this elegant, romantic rendezvous with noble halls and flower-filled courtyards. Dishes are typically timeless with duck, veal and seafood dishes that are Le Canard's signature. Try the Le Pansotti (ravioli, cheese, vegetables in olive) for starters, followed by my favourite - chicken in coconut milk seasoned with ginger, juniper and liquers and then top it all with baked cheesecake.

163 Rivonia Road, Morningside, Sandton
Tel: (011) 884 4597. Fax (011) 883 8735.
E-mail: chet@icon.co.za
Website: www.lecanard.co.za
Price: R175. Wine: From R95.

Dino's
Visitors should not be put off by Dino’s bland Bedford Shopping centre location. With decor resembling the opulent dining carriage of South Africa’s five-star ‘Blue Train’, it is certainly a ‘dress for dinner’ establishment. The ambience is sophisticated and dignified, the staff highly trained and the menu a fusion of gourmet indigenous African and French colonial. Notable are the wild duck in a litchi-orange sauce, accompanied by vegetables, or the ostrich fillet, cooked in a delicious plum and port sauce.

Bedford Centre, corner of Smith and Bedford Streets, Bedfordview
Tel: (011) 622 3007/8. Fax: (011) 615 6226.
Price: R140. Wine: From R65.

Linger Longer – Sandton
Set in the converted mansion of a former mining magnate, the classic decor with a romantic feel recommends smart to formal dress. Service is skilful (menus are superfluous and the waitrons can rattle off all the standard and special dishes) and the haute cuisine is top class. As a starter, fresh knysna oysters or snails swimming in garlic are fantastic, for the main event either the duck (an all-time favourite) or one of the tempting specials are recommended, topped with homemade assorted sorbet. The Linger Longer opened in the 1970s and can be relied on to impress the most picky of palates – ideal for business lunches or dinners. Guests are advised to book well in advance.

58 Wierda Road, Wierda Valley, Sandton
Tel: (011) 884 0465. Fax: (011) 884 4798.
Price: R160. Wine: From R85.

Vilamoura
Vilamoura has been considered one of the city’s best Portuguese/seafood restaurants for long enough that the label has firmly stuck. It is smart and quite formal, with a cream and gold interior and stiff, unconvincing art prints decorating the walls. It has a renowned seafood platter that will delight any fish fanatic and is the ideal place to impress important guests (with price tag to match). In addition to seafood, Vilamoura’s piri-piri chicken, Portuguese steak and rabbit casserole are consistently delicious. There is a private dining area with seating for up to 130.

Sandton Sun Hotel, corner of Fifth and Alice Streets, Sandhurst, Sandton
Tel: (011) 884 0360. Fax: (011) 784 3615.
E-mail: mwvssun@mweb.co.za
Price: R220. Wine: R250 red.

Business

Browns of Rivonia
Occupying a charming old farmhouse, in the relatively rural suburb of Rivonia close to a major freeway, Browns offers elegant ‘impress-your-clients’ dining, a large patio, a cosy fireplace, and a 40,000 bottle cellar. Recommended are the roquefort snails in garlic, the calamari, the chourio (Portuguese traditional sausage), the roast duck in black cherry compote, Eric’s prawns, and the ever popular Moroccan lamb. The restaurant can accommodate private groups of up to 50.

21 Wessel Street, Rivonia, Sandton
Tel: (011) 803 7605 or 803 7533. Fax: (011) 803 7605.
Price: R180. Wine: From R105. Closed Sundays.

Carnivore
Situated just off the N1 highway on the outskirts of the city, with a dozen types of flesh on offer, Carnivore clearly aims to beat the appetite of the most ravenous of meat-eaters. Waitrons carve meat off converted Masai spears, while patrons sit round a huge, open central fire and scoff everything, from tame chicken legs and lamb with mint sauce to the wilder crocodile, eland and zebra. It is the local version of the original Nairobi Carnivore and not a pretty sight for vegetarians. Guests lower a white flag to show when they are totally stuffed.

Plot 69 Drift Boulevard, Muldersdrift
Tel: (011) 957 3040. Fax: (011) 957 3132.
Price: R70-100 (for the carvery). Wine: R60.

Giles
The English evergreen cartoonist Giles and, closer to home, the writers of the Madam and Eve newspaper cartoons are much in evidence on the walls, tablecloths and menus of Giles the restaurant. This is a homely, convivial and unpretentious place, offering the most cosmopolitan collection of English cuisine prepared by affable chef Gary Segal. For starters, the Giles’ trout salad is recommended, followed by traditional English fish and chips, ended off with ‘Madam and Eve’ chocolate brownies with cream or ice cream. It is very pleasant to sit outside under the South African sun on the terrace-balcony and sip one of the excellent beers, while another awesome Highveld sunset spreads itself across the horizon above an urban forest. There is a cosy wooden-panelled traditional British pub for pre-dinner drinks.

9 Grafton Avenue, Craighall Park
Tel: (011) 442 4056. Fax: (011) 442 4057.
E-mail: Gilesrez@mweb.co.za
Price: R100. Wine: From R55; BYO (free corkage).

Ile de France
Really want to impress your company CEO or a visiting member of the Matres Cuisiniers de France (patron Marc Guebert is a member)? Then Ile de France, under Geubert for a magnificent 40 years, is by far your best bet in Johannesburg. Outside of France, it is difficult to find dishes such as bouillabaisse, cassoulet, tripe in Calvados and cider and deboned saddle filled with chestnut puree in Dijon mustard sauce. It is expensive but with six types of French oysters, and a seven-course banquet on offer to special groups, it is money well spent. Oh and remember to end off with the signature dessert: a Grand Marnier souffl. Open for lunch and dinner on Tuesday to Friday and on Sunday. Dinner only on Saturdays.

Cramerview Centre, 277 Main Road, Bryanston
Tel: (011) 706 2837.
Price: R125. Red wine from R85.

Moyo Melrose Arch
While the fenced and safely patrolled Melrose Arch development may look about as African as Buckingham Palace, recently relocated from Norwood, Moyo manages to be fixed firmly deep within the soul of this enigmatic continent. Mimicking the impressive subterranean scale of Joburg’s famous goldmines, Moyo’s eclectic African decor of beaten copper ceilings, Ali Baba lanterns, brightly painted columns and mosaic patterned tables set with wicker mats and oil lamps extends down half a dozen levels to accommodate smokers, cocktail bar, function basement built around huge granite boulders, sofa-lined cigar lounge, wine-cellar and daily live musicians. Expect wondrous dishes such as samaki kavu from Kenya, chicken yassa from Nigeria, venison babootie from South Africa, and from Morocco, varieties of fragrant tagines. Highly recommended too is the Mozambican grilled barracuda-topped with tomato and basil drizzled, served on a bed of garlic and herb mash garnished with stuffed grilled pimento on the side.

5 Melrose Square, Melrose Arch, Melrose (off Atholl Oaklands Drive)
Tel: (011) 684 1477/8. Fax: (011) 684 1218.
Email: info@moyo.co.za
Website: www.moyo.co.za
Price: R155. Wine: R105 (premium red).

Trendy

Anno Domini
Set alongside antique and second-hand bookshops, this restaurant has a relaxed and earthly romantic ambience with an open-air upstairs dining area, handy for smokers or those who like to dine under the stars with their Valentine. Ornate chandeliers, sand-washed walls, garish Expressionist pictures and somewhat clumsy handmade menus make up the decor. Specialities (the chef doesn’t like his offerings to be classified) include the beef fillet salsa verde, a marinated fillet in tamari, grilled and served with lightly sauted oriental cabbage and salsa verde, and the dessert of warm chocolate cake with a tamarind crme anglaise, which takes about twenty minutes to prepare, is definitely worth the wait. The restaurant is very popular so booking is essential.

Corner of Fourth Avenue and 13th Street, Parkhurst
Tel: (011) 447 7634. Fax: (011) 447 1134.
Price: R110. Wine: R85.

Buzz 9
With an owner from the Czech Republic and patrons from the ‘hipper’ parts of Johannesburg, Buzz 9 has become a quirky but reliable landmark in Bohemian Melville. The interior is industrial-style and the menus are like mini-art folders where listing what food is on offer is secondary to making a statement. The main attraction here is the vast cocktail selection – the Beach Buzz house special is highly recommended – vodka, peach schnapps and gin tipple, mixed with grapefruit and orange juice. If eating, something simple like the huge and delicious Nacho platter is a good bet. Diners can eat outside at pavement tables, watching the eclectic street life cruise by.

Corner of Seventh Street and Third Avenue, Melville
Tel: (011) 726 5907. Fax: (011) 726 2019.
Price: R95. Cocktails: From R17.

Circle
A relative newcomer to the city’s list of eating places, Circle is owned by the same couple who run The Singing Fig and the service and menu are on a par. The decor is shiny black and starched white, but there is nothing stiff about the jazzy, fresh-faced ambience and the young, opinionated clientele. Located on a row of curiosity shops in the fashionable suburb of Greenside, easily reached from Rosebank or Sandton, Circle’s dishes, such as seared calamari slivers with braised fennel, guineafowl in ginger and mango or crisp herb rolls in brown paper bags, are highly recommended.

41 Greenway Road, Greenside
Tel: (011) 646 7240. Fax: (011) 646 3744.
Price: R120. Wine: R60.

The Singing Fig
With secure parking behind and a location close to main through routes, The Singing Fig’s ambience, which lies somewhere in-between Italians-at-home and trendy pop-art, has made it one of Joburg’s ‘Place’s to be seen’. Some of the dishes prepared with an unusual mix of fresh ingredients (no preservatives here) are the chicken liver pt with onion jam and brandy cream on a baguette as a mouthwatering starter, and crisp free-range duck drizzled with lacquer sauce and grilled vegetables.
44 The Avenue, Norwood Gardens
Tel: (011) 728 2434 or 728 2485.
Price: R120. Wine: R50.

Yo! Sushi
Yo! Sushi, part of the international chain, is modern, spacious and Western-Zen inspired (low-cost decor) and claims to be ‘a keen participant in avant-garde international culture’. While the sushi and other similar dishes are certainly fresh and healthy, master sushi chef (with seven years of study in Japan under his belt) adds a ‘funky’ touch to time-honoured tradition. Dishes trundle past on the conveyor-belt making Yo! Sushi ideal for folk who take ten-minute lunch breaks and want to avoid ‘junk’ food.

Shop 449, Village Walk Shopping Complex, corner of Rivonia Road and First Avenue, Morningside, Sandton
Tel: (011) 783 6166. Fax: (011) 783 6221.
Price: Dishes range from R17-R55. Sake: R35 (200ml pourer).

Budget

Black Steer Grillhouse and Bulldogs Pub
Black Steer is primarily a steakhouse/sports bar and, with its garish (but strangely comforting) Wild West decor (complete with the obligatory ‘Wanted’ poster), it has no pretensions of being anything else. Located in the Rosebank Mall, here is a chance to tackle the awesome pork rib rack and steaks or the succulent calamari surrounded by an eclectic selection of the city’s inhabitants. The service is friendly, competent and attentive.

Shop 171, Rosebank Mall, corner of Baker Street and Cradock Avenue, Rosebank
Tel: (011) 447 6918. Fax: (011) 447 6920.
E-mail: info@blacksteerfoods.co.za
Website: www.blacksteerfoods.co.za
Price: R85. Wine: R35 (500ml bottle).

Chon Hing
Any restaurant that can boast that it has been presenting authentic and delicious Chinese fare for 42 years must be doing something right. And just when this part of Johannesburg's supposed ‘zone of decay’ is being upgraded as part of the Newtown cultural precinct, the new Nelson Mandela bridge happens also to lead almost directly over the tracks to Chon Hing. Here hostess Yvonne will sit you down at a gaudy plastic table on rickety schoolroom chairs and regail you with tales of a city which has seen it all, and serve the best prawns chow mein (one of over 100 dishes) this side of Beijing. Charming and timeless.

26 Alexander Street (off Commissioner), Ferreirastown
Tel: (011) 834 3206. Fax: (011) 838 7530.
Price: R48 - R95 (4-course set menus). Wine R45.

Golden Peacock
Fordsburg, and Johannesburg’s Oriental Plaza, is usually associated not with dining but with bargain shopping and the city’s finest tailors. However, it is the ideal place to go for a really authentic Indian curry in a comfortable (not halal) restaurant where anybody can sit down and share a glorious meal. No trendy decor but there are quaint teardrop chandeliers, a symbol from a time gone by. There is succulent oriental mutton or vegetable biryani, peri-peri prawns, green bean curry, dhal and roti. All meals are served with yoghurt, poppadoms and pickles, and breakfast (served from 0900) is grilled chops, eggs, sausages, toast, tea or coffee for R30.

Shop 28, Oriental Plaza (East entrance), Pine Street, Fordsburg
Tel: (011) 836 4986. Fax: (011) 492 1205.
Price: R80. Wine: R70.

Pescador
This cosy, intimate place in a quiet suburb is ideal for a relaxed evening undistracted by rowdy revellers. Authentic Portuguese seafood prepared according to traditional recipes (bacalhau – Portuguese dried salted cod in five variations) has given Pescador its enviable reputation. The grilled langoustines and the crab curry are great and they arrive in servings of challenging size, so the not-so-hungry could perhaps share a portion. Service is unobtrusive and professional and there is a pub and deck for light meals, coffees and sundowners.

21 Fort Street, Illovo, Sandton
Tel: (011) 786 2746 or 440 4732.
Price: R120. Wine: R50.

The Radium Beer Hall
The Radium is the oldest surviving bar and grill in Johannesburg, with a genuinely historic ambience that is just as enticing as the good food on the menu and as authentic as the foot-tapping live jazz that makes the embossed tin ceiling vibrate in sympathy. One of the oldest pubs in Johannesburg, once frequented by celebrated local author Herman Charles Bosman, now by loyal but loud regulars, it is a no-nonsense pub/restaurant with enough authentic character to make it a tourist attraction. This is the closest to experiencing what Joburg was like during the ‘gold-rush’ era – the walls are covered in memorabilia, from photos of pre-war soccer teams and jazzmen who have played there, to vintage posters and press clippings that record The Radium’s history, beginning in 1934. Delicious prego rolls, excellent ribs, 1kg of prawns for R150 and a wide selection of local and imported beers. The Radium is a great live music venue, with the accent on jazz. Owner Mannie has been known to evict obnoxious guests with his baseball bat.

282 Louis Botha Avenue, Orange Grove
Tel: (011) 728 3866. Fax: (011) 483 2345.
E-mail: mr.radium@iafrica.com
Website: www.theradium.co.za
Price: R105. Wine: R70.

Personal Recommendations

The Butcher Shop and Grill
Another on the list of renowned dining venues that lean over Nelson Mandela Square (formerly Sandton Square), diners should book well in advance to get an evening table here. Granted, the ‘Barnyard’ decor may be a little ‘standard steakhouse’ and ‘childish’ (ironic as no one under 14 is allowed in), but for some of the best steaks (pork, ostrich, lamb, beef and game) in town, this is definitely the spot. For starters, the snails, done in garlic, lemon and other ingredients unique to The Butcher Shop, are great, and to end up, there is a straightforward but delicious ice cream in rich chocolate sauce. The menu also offers poultry, schnitzels, and sausage or seafood platter. The waitrons have been known to intimidate guests into choosing one of the truly world-class wines before letting the implications of the price tag set in.

Shop 30, Nelson Mandela Square (formerly Sandton Square), Sandown, Sandton
Tel: (011) 784 8676/7. Fax: (011) 784 8674.
E-mail: thebutchershop@mweb.co.za
Website: www.thebutchershop.co.za
Price: R150. Wine: R350 (bottle of premium red wine).

Carvers
Tucked inside the peaceful suburb of Darrenwood overlooking a small lake and nature reserve, Carvers takes up the bottom floor of a beautiful mansion built in the Cape-Dutch style. The surrounding gardens feature large trees while the interior walls are hung with paintings by the father of owner Francois van Halter, who is clearly a fan of Van Gogh. The atmosphere is one of calm confidence and the renowned theme buffets and other specials, such as the authentically traditional Belgian mussel-pot, are sure to impress. Guests should definitely take advantage of the beer list that tops the 50 mark and include an impressive choice of Belgian beers. Carvers also boasts comprehensive function and conference facilities and remains a truly professional and yet unpretentious establishment. Highly recommended.

51 Mountain View Avenue, Darrenwood
Tel: (011) 678 5417/8. Fax: (011) 478 0133.
E-mail: info@carvers.co.za
Website: www.carvers.co.za
Price: R105. Wine: R85.

Moyo Newtown
Like its famous sister establishment at the Melrose Arch, the decor and ambience of Moyo at the Market Theatre Newtown is a fusion of the signature Moyo style, with its African materials and mosaic work, incorporating the deeply embedded 'protest' history of the theatre and surrounding area. Listen to live music under a 7m (21 foot) high ceiling, or drink a local laager beer at the raised pub with a startling view of the city CBD. There are three set menus or select from or peruse the ‘a-la-carte’ from which I chose and enjoyed the grilled barracuda with tomato and basil served on a bed of garlic and herb mashed potato.

Market Theatre Complex, 121 Bree Street, Newtown
Tel: (011) 838 1715.
Website: www.moyo.co.za
Price: From R95. Wine R80.

Pappas on the Square
From the murals on the walls to the breaking of plates (R3 each), apart from its location overlooking a fairly successful attempt at an Italian piazza (Nelson Mandela Square), everything about Pappas is loudly and proudly Greek. The chef once cooked for Christine Onassis and he produces kleftiko (lamb shank) and a mezze platter delicious enough to prove it. Here it is acceptable to shout across the tables for a fresh bottle – something like eating in a Greek home. Guests should hang around long enough for the Greek dancing and (Egyptian really) belly dancer. There is an impressive wine list and big functions are readily catered for.

Nelson Mandela Square (Level 1), corner of Fifth and Alice Streets, Sandton
Tel: (011) 884 9991. Fax: (011) 884 6700.
Price: R125. Wine: R85 (bottle of mid-range red).

Rodizio Bedfordview
This Brazilian restaurant is an excellent choice for lovers of spicy food. Those feeling in the mood for beef must try the house speciality, ‘Rodizio’, which begins when a plate of rice, big bowls of spinach in white sauce and chips and vegetables arrive. Guests are then presented with a wooden ‘robot’ (local term for traffic light) with which they can signal for a variety of roasted meat as often as they wish. The piri-piri prawns (guests should ask for ‘real’ piri-piri) and fresh oysters are excellent too. Large groups of regulars usually patronise the evening live act, sometimes accompanied by bands and Latin-American dancers. The service does match the laid-back but fairly festive ambience. For a different drink, the Guarana, which tastes like apples, or the Caparinha, a sweet Brazilian cocktail, are both recommended.

Shop 35, Village View Shopping Centre, corner of Kloof and Van Buuren Roads, Bedfordview
Tel: (011) 455 1093. Fax: (011) 455 1093.
E-mail: rodizio@netactive.co.za
Price: R135. Wine: R65.