 On the corner of 11th and Victoria Avenue in Parkmore, is where you will find Thief Restaurant, a chic wine bar that doubles up as a bistro. Twas a space that presented itself as the perfect setting for a long overdue catch-up session with one of my girlfriends. Perfect in the sense that we had both never dined there before, twas great for either an al fresco or casual dinner and judging by internet search results, it had pretty chic décor. When we got there, we found that the place was quiet and looked better than we had anticipated. Our sit-down started in the late afternoon and could have easily been considered as an early dinner date.  The menu was simple yet elegant. They had five(5) starter options, all with amazing descriptions, which left us confused as to which to choose. After asking our waiter for some guidance, we eventually opted for dishes we could share being the Gambas Pil Pil served with chorizo and sourdough (yaaaas to scoring the chorizo, because my friend’s diet was that of poultry and seafood only), also went for the Prawn Bisque with potatoes, coriander, coconut, line fish and chilli. Both dishes were healthy and very tasty.  For mains, we continued with the seafood theme and tried Moules Frites, which was a sizeable portion of well prepared, fresh Mussels with potato fries. The second dish was Fish du Jour on a bed of lentil curry. The fish on that particular day was some delicate Sea Bream that made for a nice light supper.  Dessert topped everything off. Probably the best Malva Pudding I have tasted in Johannesburg. In terms of flavours, think pine nut ice cream and caramel shards melting your mouth. The Apple Crumble was also a real treat, enjoyed its crunchiness. All in all, every meal was delicious and beautifully presented. Bonus is that the menu changes seasonally, so cannot wait for the next visit! 
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 The tropical décor and Reggaeton music make for a definite vibe, perfect for Saturday afternoon lunches. I checked this place out with a girlfriend and we enjoyed the ambience which saw us chatting, taking a lot of pics and singing along to tunes between bites(lol etiquette out the window...) Crackers and pineapple salsa were served as welcoming snacks and put a refreshing start to things.  Then followed the DRANKS! They had a 2 for 1 cocktail special and we went in haha. Ordered the Rum Punch, then went on to try other cocktails: really loved the creamy Pina Colada that came in a pineapple shell as well as the yummy Mai Tai. Complimentary frozen rum shots were also given to those who accepted, thought this was a nice gesture.  Now onto food, their menu had limited options, but we would soon learn that it took nothing away from all the deliciousness. Tried the Fish Burger and Jerk Chicken Burger, which were both well-cooked and tasty. Only thing that almost hampered our experience was the long wait for service, but once things got going, it was fine. Prep time is not long and the general atmosphere made for a jolly good time. A must try! Address: 56 4th Ave, Linden, Randburg, 2104 Hours: 11h00 til late Phone: 076 320 9739   Gotta love spontaneous girlfriend lunches! This was a spot that we would regularly pass on our way to our favourite catchup location on the strip.  However, on this particular day we had decided to make an unusual stop, after noticing that it wasn’t crowded and allowed for a relaxed lunch. We were well received by the staff and the food experience itself was superb.  Everything we ordered tasted scrumptious and we ate from each other’s plates. We opted for the Spicy Vietnamese coconut chicken curry, pickled paw paw, a sweet chilli and peanut micro herb salad served with a side of coconut rice and also a yummy Coobs Ceaser salad. Word-class! Address: 38 4th Ave, Parkhurst, Randburg, 2193 Hours: Tuesday – Sunday 12h00 til late Phone: 011 447 0710   A Capital City gem, neatly tucked away in Eastwood Village's corner, with the cutest courtyard perfect for relaxation. This Continental café has been an age long family favourite since my high school days, ideal for breakfast, lunch or dinner.  Lounge music fills the space, giving it a pleasant vibe. All dishes are freshly prepared, taste amazing and generously served. Main dishes are paired with wines from their collection and breakfast is available all day.  Some of the items we often order are the English Breakfast, Salmon Stack, Potato Croquettes, Spinach and Creamy Feta Pasta, Chicken Trinchado, Rainbow Trout and Jack’s Breast. Worth many visits! Address: Pretorius St, Arcadia, Pretoria, 0083 Hours: 07h00-21h30 Phone: 012 342 8914   A colleague and I, were in search of a quick bite in the Birdhaven area, then stumbled upon this neat café. The terrace was most attractive, as it invited us to bask in the sun.  Another good note was that everything on the menu was organic and still offered great variety from banting to paleo options (kiddies and doggies also have their respective menus.) Tried a customised juicy bunless beef burger in banting style (avo, tomato and fresh greens) and a grilled salmon dish with green veggies.  Happy to confirm that all was prepared wholesomely.Total value for money! Address: St Andrew St & Wrenrose Ave, Birdhaven, Johannesburg, 2196 Hours: Monday – Sunday 07h00 til late Phone: 011 442 6965   This new Cuban style restaurant is a picture perfect backdrop, with its pastel colours, greenery and lots of flavor.  It offers a fun & refreshing menu, for the famished and also those who just like to nibble. The crispy Mojo-Rubbed Pork Belly , Sticky Pork Riblets and refreshing Apple Spritzer were great picks for me.  The service is proper and it is definitely a spot to visit for sundowners or lunch. Address: 357 Jan Smuts Ave, Craighall Park, Randburg, 2196 Hours: Wednesday – Sunday 11h00 til late Phone: 060 575 2471   The table offerings, change every day of the week and lend to different moods. Food I Love You, is a a fresh deli restaurant, great for tasty breakfasts or harvest lunches.  Items on the menu range from creamy mediterranean potato salad, herb roasted chicken, pomegranate bulgar salad, grilled mediterranean fish, vegetarian baklava, chickpea & avo salad to aubergine parmigiana.  I always look forward to days when I can help myself to their harrisa rubbed chicken, quinoa salad, green bean & baby marrow chargrilled salad as well as the roasted butternut, lentil, feta & tomato salad.  Perfect for guilt-free chow!  Address: Kingsway Ave & University Rd, Auckland Park, Johannesburg, 2092 Hours: Monday – Friday 08h00-15h30 Phone: 084 589 1422   My firm favourite in Cape Town, no visit is complete without a stop at this lovely establishment.  A revamped parking lot, kitted with wifi, recycled furniture, and a lovely open-flame kitchen. The owner 'H', helps patrons choose meat options. A special touch which makes me a return customer.  Its self-service style, sees each guest being issued with a card and in order to load their orders from the meat, bar and salad stations.  I personally love the succulent steak cuts and Brisket sandwiches and there’s beer on tap for those interested in such. Address: 112 Loop St, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town, 8000 Hours: Monday –Saturday 07h30 – 23h00 Phone: 076 699 6146  |
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