This month’s list of essential reservations features a selection of eight new and notable restaurants in Cape Town and Johannesburg. From Neapolitan-style pizza served with rooftop views of the mountain, Japanese omakase, a kid-friendly pottery painting venue, and a newly-opened pan-Mediterranean restaurant, there’s lots to explore this month.
Plus, my December list of must-have reservations would be incomplete without a Christmas lunch or two. So, read on to discover all the must-visit restaurants on Dineplan this festive season.
Cape Town and surrounds
Pizza Shed
(Observatory, Cape Town)
While this is not a new restaurant, it is new to Dineplan. And, with a rooftop seating area that overlooks the mountains as the sun sets, Pizza Shed is a hard-to-beat venue on a long summer evening. Starting with a 48-hour slow-proofed dough, the pizzas are cooked quickly in extremely hot wood-fired ovens, which puffs up the dough, keeping it light, airy, and perfectly charred. The next time you’re craving pizza, give Pizza Shed a go and discover a new favourite.
Best Napoli-style pizza ever! I wouldn’t go anywhere else for pizza.
Cowfish Bree Street
(Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town)
After opening branches in Gauteng and KZN, Cowfish has come to Bree Street! As the name suggests, the menu features a crowd-pleasing mix of sushi, poké bowls and seafood, as well as burgers, steaks and chops straight from the grill. Pay them a visit this summer and soak up all the inner-city vibes while enjoying a tasty meal. Cowfish has branches in Midrand, Randburg, Durban, and at the Silverstar Casino in Krugersdorp.
We had a lovely meal at Cowfish. The service from start to finish, was excellent. Everybody enjoyed their food, and there were lots of options for everyone to choose from.
Tjing Tjing Momiji
(Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town)
From now until the end of December, Tjing Tjing Momiji is offering their exceptional omakase menu at the reduced price of just R595 per person. The tranquil and minimalist Momiji dining room is tucked away, almost hidden, behind the dark Japanese bar on the second floor of Tjing Tjing house. The omakase set menu changes with the seasons and showcases a series of intricate Japanese-inspired dishes. From the bento box starter with fresh sushi and salty pickles, to light and flavourful broths, and their signature mochi and Kitu-Katsu for dessert, you’re in for a treat!
What a gem! We had the seasonal set menu and it was one pleasant surprise after the other. Small, beautifully decorated dishes kept on coming out of the kitchen and it was extremely hard to pick a favorite as they were all just amazing. Absolutely recommendable.
Baccō Estate
(Paarl, Western Cape)
This month’s list of must-have reservations would not be complete without a Christmas Day lunch. Of the many festive feasts on offer across South Africa, the Italian-inspired, family-style lunch at Baccō caught my eye. Upon arrival, guests will be greeted with a cold glass of their estate rosé before enjoying a selection of canapés and starters. Think truffle arancini, trout blinis, mushroom pâté and homemade bread. For mains, the chef has gone all out with whole-roasted salmon, lamb on the spit and all the trimmings. Make sure you leave enough room for dessert, as with a croquembouche tower of profiteroles, trifle, mince pies, cheeses, and much more, you’ll regret it if you can’t sample a bit of everything. The price per head is R950. Browse the full menu here.
The best of Christmas feasting 2023
We’ve put together a list of all the restaurants across South Africa offering delicious Christmas Eve and Christmas Day menus. Whether you’re planning a quiet meal for two or a bring-the-whole-family celebration, we’ve got you covered!
Johannesburg and Pretoria
Akti Mediterranean
(Bedfordview, Johannesburg)
Having just opened its doors two months ago, Akti is an exciting new addition to the Bedfordview restaurant scene. With its beautiful, neutral interior and pan-Meditteranean menu, it’s easy to see why Akti is already raking up the 5-star reviews. With bread and dips, a wide selection of meat, seafood and vegetarian meze, grilled meat and souvla, stuffed pitas, and Italian pizza and pasta dishes, the menu has something for everyone. As for the desserts, I’d be tempted to try all of the exotic options on offer!
Always a treat dining here, the team are always excellent and the food is exemplary. A fantastic experience all round.
The Creatory
(Linden, Johannesberg)
As the school year draws to a close this December, the prospect of keeping the kids entertained during the holidays looms large. If boredom is starting to creep in, why not whisk your little ones away for a creative escape at The Creatory? For a studio fee of R85 per person, plus the cost of your chosen ceramic creation (ranging from R90 to R500), you and your kids can let loose your artistic flair through painting, drawing, and exploring. When making a booking, simply select one of three two-hour time slots: 9h30, 12h30 or 15h00.
Goddess Café
(Multiple locations across Johannesburg and Pretoria)
Every Monday until the 18th of December, you can pop into any of the Goddess Cafés dotted around Gauteng and treat yourself to a pot of tea and a slice of cake for just R75. Prepare to be tempted by a decadent selection of cakes, including carrot and macadamia, gluten-free orange and almond, baked cheesecake, vegan chocolate cake and many more. And if cake isn’t your cup of tea, page through the seemingly endless menu and find what you’re craving. Remember, Goddess Cafés are cashless, so bring your bank card along.
The Goddess Pink G&T is always a fave! Pink pancake with chicken, mushroom, feta and leak is absolutely delicious. The cherry on top is the cake… All of them… We ordered slices of every type to share and it was magic!
Restaurante Parreirinha
(Melrose Arch, Johannesburg)
Restaurante Parreirinha has been an institution for nearly five decades and is known as “the best Portuguese restaurant in Jozi” by its loyal guests. This Christmas, they’re putting together a mouthwatering Portuguese-inspired spread. For R165 per person (excluding the main course), you’ll get a selection of crusty Portuguese rolls, salad and prawn cakes placed on your table, followed by a starter platter with clams, mussels, calamari, chourico, and their famous peri-peri livers. For mains, the decision is yours. Choose from three sharing platters (each serving up to four people), priced from R499 to R2,399. The deluxe platter is overflowing with luxurious seafood, including langoustines, lobsters, and king prawns! Round off your meal with a traditional pastel de nata and a sweet and aromatic tot of Liquor Beirão. Browse the menu here.
We had a wonderful meal and the prawns were to die for!
Looking for more Christmas menus?
We’ve gathered a list of South African restaurants offering deliciously festive menus. No cooking, no cleaning – is there a better way to spend Christmas?
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