Johannesburg

Safari

Carnivore Johannesburg, Muldersdrift Estate, Drift Boulevard (T:+27 11 957 2099). This is the South African Chapter of the great Kenyan restaurant. The basic menu is anything that exists on a Safari Trip! Don't be tempted by the bread and soup, keep your stomach ready for the main courses which can include Zebra, Giraffe or even crocodile.

Theme

Lekgotla, The Dining Room at the Nelson Mandela Square (T: +27 11 884 9555). Lekgotla translates to 'meeting room' and is designed along the lines of a village hut. The ambiance, and the food, are very locally themed and excellent. We did find the service a little lacking on the Friday night as it was so busy. (last upd: 28/6/2008)
Greensleves Medieval Kingdom, (T:+27 11 956 6300). If you are looking to have a quiet night in then this is not the place for you. It is also not the place to go with one or two people, you need to be a group to really enjoy this medieval reproduction evening of debauchery! I recommend taking at least 5-6 people with you. The basic idea of the restaurant is to dress you up in medieval English clothes and then take you back to the time of kings, queens, knights, ladies, serfs, wenches and lackeys with no cutlery and old fashioned food narrated by a somewhat enthusiastic mâitre'd! Good fun.

International

Maggie's Farm, (T: 011 659 1800, e: info@maggiesfarm.co.za). OK, this is currently by far, my most favourite spot to go to in Jo'bo. Its an open restaurant with a wonderful shop linked to it that serves Home Made foods... and more importantly, the *best* chicken pie in the world (well.. at least on a par with Harry's Pie Shop in Wallamaloo Wharf in Sydney). The home made jams are also a treat and should not be missed. This is a definate stop over if you visit the lion park or Sun City. #1(last upd: 3/8/2009)
The Butcher Shop & Grill, Shop 30 Nelson Mandela Square, Under the Michaelangelo Hotel (T:+27 11 784 8676/7; e: thebutchershop@mweb.co.za). This is really a butchers shop and you can still buy a pound of meat here but its greatest attraction is the fact that this shop also hosts a very sizeable restaurant with similarly sized portions to go with it. You can gorge on a 1Kilo T-Bone steak or an 800g Fillet Steak or even a rack of ribs that, in the old days, needed needed a finger bowl the size of a bucket (sadly no more). While this is a staple restaurant of the visitor scene, I feel its become a little too commercialised and teh overall quality has dropped over the years. Well sworth visiting if you are in Sandton though. (last upd: 3/8/2009)
Browns, 21 Wessels Rd, Rivonia (T:+27 11 803 7605 or 083 456 8303). Very nice and pleasant Portuguese style restaurant. Good fun and great prices.
Fishmonger, 204 Oxford Road, Thrupps Centre, Illovo (T: +27 11 268 0067/8). This is a wonderful fish restaurant run along a greek-influenced mediterranean theme. The fish is always good here and the ambiance always relaxed and very busy so do book. (last upd: 3/8/2009)
Harrisson's on 12th Avenue, Corner of 12th Avenue & WEssel Road, Rivonia, 2128 Johannesburg (T: +27 11 807 0825). This is another outstanding restaurant near Sandton. Excellent steaks and seafood. (last upd: 3/8/2009)
Thunder Gun, Shop 5 PAlala Centre, Corder of BeyePArs Naude & Lewisham, Blackheath (T/F: +27 11 678 7224). One word for this place: RIBS. This place serves up a proper decent rack of ribs in a saloon-style setting. The area its in is less than savoury being very indsrtialised but it is well worth the trek. Generally will not disappoint. (last upd: 3/8/2009)
Wombles Restaurant, 17 3rd Ave, Parktown North, 2193 Johannesburg (T: +27 11 880 2470; F: +27 11 880 8338). This is a lovely Steakhouse Restaurant tucked away in Parktown. They serve delicious game as well as regular fare and is very well worth the visit. Duncan & Yvette Barker run the place beautifully and its definately worth locating this gem of a restaurant. (last upd: 3/8/2009)

Hotels

The Sandton Sun, Fifth and Alice Street, Sandton, 2196. (T: +27 11 780 5000). Really convenient hotel in Sandton. Really good beds but overall the hotel is starting to show its age. Nonetheless, it seems to be one of the more reasonably priced business hoels in the area and for that alone, well recommended. (last upd: 28/6/2008)
Michaelangelo Towers Hotel, 8 Maude Street, Sandton Central, 2146. (T: +27 11 245 4000). Again a very convenient hotel in Sandton. We took a 2-bed suite as a family at a better rate than 2 rooms in any of the Sandton hotels. Very impressed with the overall quality of the place. (last upd: 3/8/2009)