Eat A Little, Drink A Little, Talk A Lot
The Mediterranean Basin is known for turning mealtime into a social experience. Ethos is perfectly designed for this. Big, comfortable booths line the centre of the main dining hall, flanked by intimate tables, perfect for housing smaller dinner parties. Right in the centre, one will find an olive tree – the lifeblood of the Mediterranean. And just like the Mediterranean has a beautiful view of the Aegean Sea, Ethos has a beautiful view to the north, thanks to floor to ceiling windows, perfect for enjoying sundowners with friends and compatriots.
The menu is on par with the design and decor of Ethos. With an eye on sustainability and seasonal produce, the menu sings songs that vegans and vegetarians can chime along to for sure! Patrons can expect to spoil their palates with cauliflower steaks, Puy Lentil and Aubergine Ragu, and hearty Vegetable Briam, to name a few.
A welcoming find on the menu would be the specialty meat section. The ageing process is where the natural bacteria in the meat breaks down the proteins by being kept in an ageing cabinet where the temperature and humidity level is controlled over an extended period of time, which will make the meat softer and add extra flavour! By carefully picking only the best suppliers, you can expect Angus and Wagyu beef from Sparta and Woodview in the heart of the Free State, which is known for its abundant clean air and hand selected for its marbling. This ensures that every bite is filled with all the flavour you would expect from Ethos. As for more local cuts, they use Karan beef, which is put through their ageing process to add to the tenderness and flavour.
The Joburg Suggestion: Give the Pork Belly with smoked mash potato and apple and fennel puree a try. This is perfectly paired with a crisp summer cocktail – we recommend the Tea Party – or with a stone fruit style red wine.
Headstrong Wine Selection
Obsessed with wine, owner Chris Tatsakis and head sommelier Duane Hendricks spent countless hours compiling the extremely impressive wine library at Ethos. The library stakes claim to a great selection of rare Cape Winemakers Guild wines. There is a perfect bottle of vino to suit the occasion and your palate.
The Ethos Signature
A special section of the menu is dedicated to the dishes that put Ethos on the culinary map of Johannesburg. One item that grabbed our attention is the Crab Moussaka. It consists of layers of crab and tomato ragu served with slow roasted aubergine, champagne béchamel and parmesan. Another winner is the Orzo Paella, Mediterranean-style pasta, cooked in a tomato and saffron seafood sauce, chorizo, chicken, Namibian crab claws, prawns, squid, garlic and herb butter. To round off the evening, we highly recommend you go for something sweet. By far, we suggest you lay claim to your very own order of Kataifi. Similar to baklava, it’s made of goats milk chèvre, rose and cardamom glaze, lemon and cream cheese ice cream, honey bubbles and a white chocolate shard.
