The good restaurant thread

IceCreamMan · 2011-12-31T16:54:20+00:00

even guitarists need to eat right...so why not a thread dedicated to good food establishments .... ? Today i had a long lingering lunch at Joita's , a lil...

The good restaurant thread

Nitebob

Can we also mention the 'worst'?

I enjoy going to Cappucino's in Wonderboom junction. Also as far as family restaurant goes. Spur in Jacaranda centre. Then a very well kept secret, Colbyn golf park. Very nice food, very nicely presented and, at a very good price....

flatfourfan

Nitebob wrote: Can we also mention the 'worst'?

I enjoy going to Cappucino's in Wonderboom junction. Also as far as family restaurant goes. Spur in Jacaranda centre. Then a very well kept secret, Colbyn golf park. Very nice food, very nicely presented and, at a very good price....

amen on Colbyn, very cheap and very nice food. Plus the driver/ shoes and glove are always in the boot of the car when I'm there.

Dee.......I used to seriously rate la pentola, but they have become VERY expensive and are no ways close to being value for money that they used to be.

deefstes

Aah nice, a foodie thread!

There are some great restaurants out there and I guess this is one of the few advantages of living in Jhb. Anyone been to Roots restaurant at Forum Homini? I've been to a number of good restaurants locally and abroad and this one has got to rank right near the very top of the list.

I'm quite partial to French cuisine and I rate Le Canard in Sandton one of the better French restaurants in the area. They make an excellent Steak Tartare and their duck breast with orange sauce is to die for.

Two restaurants that I've heard good things about but haven't been to yet are Kream in Brooklyn and Restaurant Mosaic at the Orient hotel in Magaliesberg. Has anyone been to these?

dee

flatfourfan wrote: Dee.......I used to seriously rate la pentola, but they have become VERY expensive and are no ways close to being value for money that they used to be.

Really? I have not been there recently. Thats unfortunate that they became so expensive.

Bob-Dubery

dee wrote:
flatfourfan wrote: Dee.......I used to seriously rate la pentola, but they have become VERY expensive and are no ways close to being value for money that they used to be.
Really? I have not been there recently. Thats unfortunate that they became so expensive.

Restaurants are not immune to rising costs and the current financial downturn. So I think a lot of them have had to either cut back on quality, cut back on portion size or put up costs - or a combination thereof.

There's a few places I can think of that aren't quite as good as they used to be with portions having shrunk or a bit of skimping going on with the ingredients.

flatfourfan

X-rated Bob wrote: Restaurants are not immune to rising costs and the current financial downturn. So I think a lot of them have had to either cut back on quality, cut back on portion size or put up costs - or a combination thereof.

There's a few places I can think of that aren't quite as good as they used to be with portions having shrunk or a bit of skimping going on with the ingredients.

Yup, sign of the times, but halving portions and charging more is not the answer, it makes me feel as if I'm being ripped off twice. I'd rather have the same sized portions and pay a bit more for my meal.

Casa Jose just up from Brooklyn centre used to be an amazing Portuguese resturant, amazing food, great mood/ vibe, then the original owner sold and moved on. Variety went down, portions went down, quality of meat/ fish went down the toilet and yet prices went up.

You could never get in there unless you've booked at least a week in advance, the night that we went it was totally empty and I heard crickets.......lol.

Bob-Dubery

flatfourfan wrote:
X-rated Bob wrote: Restaurants are not immune to rising costs and the current financial downturn. So I think a lot of them have had to either cut back on quality, cut back on portion size or put up costs - or a combination thereof.

There's a few places I can think of that aren't quite as good as they used to be with portions having shrunk or a bit of skimping going on with the ingredients.
Yup, sign of the times, but halving portions and charging more is not the answer, it makes me feel as if I'm being ripped off twice. I'd rather have the same sized portions and pay a bit more for my meal.

Me too, but I suspect it's one of those things which is going to be received by complaints no matter which way you do it.

Casa Jose just up from Brooklyn centre used to be an amazing Portuguese resturant, amazing food, great mood/ vibe, then the original owner sold and moved on. Variety went down, portions went down, quality of meat/ fish went down the toilet and yet prices went up.

You could never get in there unless you've booked at least a week in advance, the night that we went it was totally empty and I heard crickets.......lol.

That happens all the time. Somebody sets up a restaurant, makes a go of it and then sells up and the new owners either don't have a clue or have a very different vision.

Also people are resistant to change. They see a new face running a restaurant or pub or some or other change and they start wondering what else is going to happen.

I had a conversation in a pub (the Sun?) in London some years ago. Can't recall how it started, but it was me and an old-timer.

Old timer: I've drunk at this pub for years. My dad drank here. And his dad. But I ain't going to drink here no more.
Me: Oh? Why?
Old timer: This damn yank bought the place!
Me: But is that so bad?
Old timer: Well he's varnished the floor boards! Those floor boards was good enough for me, and they was good enough for my dad and they was good enough for his dad.
Me: Well... but that says this pub was left untouched for a long time. Maybe it's time for a little maintenance.
Old timer: Once they start varnishing the floor boards you don't know where they'll stop.

Nitebob

Okay, have to say it........Spur in Kollonade is awefull. Food is overcooked and service sucks

flatfourfan

Nitebob wrote: Okay, have to say it........Spur in Kollonade is awefull. Food is overcooked and service sucks

If you're looking at a family spur to go to, Wonder Park. I've probably had the nicest steak EVER at that place.

X-rated Bob wrote: That happens all the time. Somebody sets up a restaurant, makes a go of it and then sells up and the new owners either don't have a clue or have a very different vision.

PO owned Casa Jose for a little over 40 years, and he sold it to the checf, man how does a person muck that up.

X-rated Bob wrote:
Also people are resistant to change. They see a new face running a restaurant or pub or some or other change and they start wondering what else is going to happen.

I had a conversation in a pub (the Sun?) in London some years ago. Can't recall how it started, but it was me and an old-timer.

Old timer: I've drunk at this pub for years. My dad drank here. And his dad. But I ain't going to drink here no more.
Me: Oh? Why?
Old timer: This damn yank bought the place!
Me: But is that so bad?
Old timer: Well he's varnished the floor boards! Those floor boards was good enough for me, and they was good enough for my dad and they was good enough for his dad.
Me: Well... but that says this pub was left untouched for a long time. Maybe it's time for a little maintenance.
Old timer: Once they start varnishing the floor boards you don't know where they'll stop.

LMAO......

Squonk

There are still good value for money Restaurant's around JHB , maybe not the top end like Deefstes is talking about ?

The Founders Grill in Gordon Road(not to be confused with the Cresta One) has always over the years delivered a good service and food. Good for Steaks, excellent if you like Kleftiko (Greek leg of lamb). My favourite food is the good old fashioned Burger, and founders does an excellent burger.

Lucio's on Beyers Naude , Italian cuisine, their Pizza's are very similar to "Mama's" that used to be on Rockey Street Yeoville all those years ago. My 10 year old son enjoys the Calzone (Folded Over Pizza) I enjoy the Mexicana Pizza

There are lots more

domhatch

deefstes wrote: I'm quite partial to French cuisine and I rate Le Canard in Sandton one of the better French restaurants in the area. They make an excellent Steak Tartare and their duck breast with orange sauce is to die for.

but my dear boy, you must go to Le Soufflé in fourways. it's there by billy's. you know where's billy's? there. by billy's. djouknowhoeeis? billy? there in that centre, pineslopes i think it's called. they're a bit like a bistro, and if you're planning to go on a thursday, phone - some thursdays they have bookings-only wino evenings. i think it's the last thursday of every month, but i could be wrong. marvy, great wine list, stupendous food, reasonably priced (not cheap, but reasonable). i would advise you book if you're going.

Bob-Dubery

A favourite eatery of mine is the Schwabinger in Main Road, Randburg. Solid, unpretentious German grub (and surprisingly good pizza), but the main reason I go there is that they have some fine beer (Drayman's, brewed in Centurion) on tap.

Just up the road from there is a shopping center, and therein is the Curry Den, which is very good for a budget curry.

domhatch

but Bob, you left out Schwabinger's greatest offering - sport! nothing like an eisbein, a pint or a few, and an o.d.i...

aja

http://www.belthazar.co.za/

If you like steak, this is the place to go. Where else can you buy a 1kg fillet?

It was amazing and tasty, but expensive. You get what you pay for.

I'm no wine person, but their selection is exhaustive

Bob-Dubery

A fab place for steaks is the Radium in Orange Grove. Big steaks if you want them.

flatfourfan

I almost forgot - If you're ever in Windhoek.........Joe's Beerhouse. I found out this morning that I'm going again in Feb for work.....HOO HAA!!!

Nitebob

....and do not forget upper deck, who cares about the food?... the music and vibe there on a Sunday afternoon is so awesome, you leave satisfied even after Russian and Chips.

deefstes

domhatch wrote:
deefstes wrote: I'm quite partial to French cuisine and I rate Le Canard in Sandton one of the better French restaurants in the area. They make an excellent Steak Tartare and their duck breast with orange sauce is to die for.
but my dear boy, you must go to Le Soufflé in fourways. it's there by billy's. you know where's billy's? there. by billy's. djouknowhoeeis? billy? there in that centre, pineslopes i think it's called. they're a bit like a bistro, and if you're planning to go on a thursday, phone - some thursdays they have bookings-only wino evenings. i think it's the last thursday of every month, but i could be wrong. marvy, great wine list, stupendous food, reasonably priced (not cheap, but reasonable). i would advise you book if you're going.

Oh yes, I've been there and it is quite good. It's more like a bistro than a proper restaurant though but they have really good food is you're looking for a light meal.

flatfourfan wrote: I almost forgot - If you're ever in Windhoek.........Joe's Beerhouse. I found out this morning that I'm going again in Feb for work.....HOO HAA!!!

That looks interesting, might give that a try next time I'm around. If we're talking about Windhoek I might throw in another one of my all time favourite restaurants; the restaurant at the Hotel Heinitzburg, one of the three old castles in the city that has been converted to a hotel. Not just fantastic food but also a very impressive wine and whisky selection and the cherry on top, a magnificent view over Windhoek and the Khomas Hochland.

flatfourfan

Oh man, how could I forget the garden terrace at the Hotel.................very nice, just couldn't get in the last time I was there, been to Joe's about 10 times, loved it every time.

IceCreamMan

X-rated Bob wrote: A fab place for steaks is the Radium in Orange Grove. Big steaks if you want them.

Radium...mmmm chicken ....mmmmm peri peri mmmmm