Publications
Partners
In Eat This There, #Trending rounds up dishes that are so good, they’re worth making the trip just for that item. You’re welcome.
The shisa nyama at Meat Lounge
Price: About R150 per plate
The meat is so damn good. Properly spiced and done just right, with the juice still tangible as you chew. Vibe-wise you will struggle to beat this joint, especially on Sunday afternoons when the flowers of Azania are in full bloom. The clientele makes it the perfect place to unpack the fourth industrial revolution, Eskom’s unbundling and the DA’s stance on BBBEE. – Mondli Makhanya
Cnr Leeuwkop and Kikuyu roads, Sunninghill, 011 234 4624
The dhal soup at Bikaner (v)
Price: R35
It’s a big claim, but I think Bikaner in Linden makes some of the best Indian food in Joburg. From flaky, tear-apart garlic naan to sumptuous curries in glossy sauces, their dishes are authentic and wonderfully spiced. But one of their unassuming gems is their dhal soup. Savoury and warming in all the right ways, you won’t get a better dish for R35. – Grethe Kemp
Cnr 4th Avenue and 7th Street, Linden, 011 912 7770
The vegetable biryani at Al-Hamra (v)
My dishiest dish in Joburg – a city that is basically the apocalypse for vegetarians – is the vegetable biryani at Al-Hamra in Fordsburg. Unlike any other biryanis I have come across in Joburg, this one is smoked and packed with the most delicious veg gravy and nuts. But it’s the smokiness that lingers on your taste buds and whispers your name when you least expect it. – Charl Blignaut
70 Mint Road, Fordsburg, 011 492 2348
The pepper fillet at Lambrusco’s
Price: R198
Aside from Northcliff residents, not many people know about Italian gem Lambrusco’s, owned by experienced restaurateur Raffaele Adamo. Their famous grilled pepper fillet is laced with a brandy pepper sauce and served with potato wedges and seasonal vegetables, and one bite will have you craving it for weeks. – Grethe Kemp
Fir Drive Centre, Cnr Fir and Weltevreden roads, Northcliff, 011 431 0591
The dolci della nonna at Dolci Café
Price: R60
Featuring layers of zabaglione, cream, amaretti biscuits, pecan nuts and dark chocolate, this signature dessert is a whipped dream you’re sure to go back for. – Grethe Kemp
Shop 6 Lancaster Village, 28 Clarence Avenue, Craighall Park, 010 900 2274
The mushroom ravioli at Foundry (v)
Price: R135
Consisting of mushroom, feta and spring onion, sage, truffle brown butter, and toasted pine nuts, this beloved dish at the Foundry in Parktown North will have you shedding a silent tear of enjoyment. There’s just something about the combination of flavours that’s a match made in heaven. – Grethe Kemp
21 3rd Ave, Parktown North, 011 447 5828
GOING TO CAPE TOWN?
The shisa nyama at Mzoli’s
Price: About R100 per plate
Mzoli’s in Gugulethu is more than what you’ve heard. Walk in one door and there’s a selection of every meat you can think of to slap on a fire. Pork riblets and steak do the trick ... they are doused in Mzoli’s secret spice, cooked to crispy perfection and dished over. Walk next door to where the vibe is humming, pop a Black Label and settle back for a quintessential South African jol. – Gabriel Seeber
Ny 115, Guguletu, Cape Town, 021 638 1355
*Prices according to online menus; correct at time of print; (v): vegetarian
