J'burg Eats, South Africa

I found myself in Johannesburg on a business trip and did not have time to do any exploration. Food though is different as we all need to eat and I went to try a few places.

I was staying at a hotel in Monte Casino and frequented quite a few restaurants located here.

Mondo Vino

Mondo Vino Platter R155

The Mondo Vino Platter came with a selection of hot selections which included an array of seafood (salmon, calamari) and meat (chicken scaloppini, meatballs). The cold selections came with mushrooms, parma ham and rocket with parmesan shavings.

Nicely grilled and the meats were still juicy and tender. The meat platter makes a good starter and was enjoyed thoroughly.

Tiramisu R39

The tiramisu was not good.

Mondo Vino, Montecasino Fourways, Johannesburg, South Africa

Kai Thai Restaurant

Deciding to with something oriental, it was to Kai Thai for some Thai food.

Starter of 2 curry puffs, spring rolls, chicken satay, wonton R80

Sweet and Sour Fish

Sticky rice litchi rambutan R40

In summary, the food here fills the stomach but doesn't entertain the mind. The food is adequate but not authentically delicious.

Kai Thai, Montecasino Fourways, Johannesburg, South Africa

The Attic

Thanks to a tip from Catty, I found myself at The Attic.

Roast kudu loin with creamed brussels sprouts, pickled red cabbage, gratin dauphinoise and blackberry just R125

I loved kudu when I was in SA the last time and I still remembered the Kudu with Chocolate meal that I had. Fond memories brought me back to ordering the kudu here again.

The gratin dauphinoise were creamy with a slight grainy texture which complimented the kudu loin meat. The blackberry jus hits you really strongly at the beginning but seem to mellow as you continue to eat. It was one of those forgettably good dishes.

Hot chocolate pudding with home made vanilla ice cream R42

We waited a really long time for the dessert to arrive. After 20 minutes, the kind waiter came and told us that it was burned and they had to remake it again. So it was another 2 minutes wait. Now that is a really long time to wait for dessert but it was so worth it in the end. I don't get to use this line often but the hot chocolate pudding is definitely worth waiting for.

The Attic, 24 4th Avenue, Corner 10th Street & 4th Avenue, Parkhurst

Punchinello

Punchinello was a mixed one. The first time I ate here, the food was fantastic. The second time was so mediocre that I could not help but wonder how could it have come from the same kitchen. I peeked into the open kitchen and realised that one or two of the chefs that were there previously were not present in the kitchen. My second night could possibly be their day off.

Nage of mussels with angel hair cooked in saffron sauce, angel hair pasta and shredded sugar snaps R170

The mussels with angel hair was lovely and served with sugar snaps that were al dente.

Baked fig and haloumi cheese R220

I didn't try this but my colleague appears to enjoy it very much so.

Pan roasted fillet of ostrich with risotto milanese, courgette, parmesan and black olive and tomato dressing R130

The fillet of ostrich had a juicy and tender texture that seems to melt in your mouth. I have to say that this was one of those occasions where the risotto was cooked perfectly. It was creamy and yet you can still taste every grain. The tomato dressing was bold and bursting with hints of vinegar that adds a tartness to the dish.

The following were from the second visit which just did not have the same standard.

Warm duck bruschetta

I really don't know what happened but the duck was too salty and the flavour balance just wasn't quite right.

Veal scaloppini with sage in white wine garlic and wild mushroom sauce, mushroom tortellini and wilted greens R220

The veal marsala was overly creamy and heavy and rich, I couldn't eat it after a few mouthfuls.

Punchinello, Montecasino Fourways, Johannesburg, South Africa

@Monte Restaurant and Wine Bar

Calamari R90

Springbok carpaccio R61

BBQ wings R56

The food here served its purpose with the BBQ wings being the highlight for me.

@Montecasino, Montecasino Fourways, Johannesburg, South Africa

Moyo

Moyo comes recommended by many when you asked about where is a good place to sample some of the local cuisine. Moyo has several branches but we were recommended to head to the Zoo Lake branch.

Impi Platter R165

Grilled platter includes a selection of South African meat such as boerewors, lamb ribs, bobotie samoosas, izinkuku and karoo lamb schops.

Side of sweet spiced carrots with cumin and honey and green beans with sesame seeds R25

Moyo Moja R35

Moyo is about the whole experience and letting yourself go and just take it in. From singing to face painting, it was definitely an experience. I had a great time sampling the local cuisine and I do recommend a visit here.

Moyo - www.moyo.co.za

Coco Bongo

Springbok Carpaccio R59

Fishermans Platter R109

The springbok carpaccio wasn't exciting but the fisherman platter made up for it. South Africans really know how to cook their meat and you can't really go wrong with grilled meat.

Coco Bongo, Montecasino Fourways, Johannesburg, South Africa