Coobs

The refined dining bistro lives up to its name with a variety of beautifully-plated dishes which provide warm comfort, with a lighter feel. Expect Jerusalem artichoke soups, a Caesar salad with a warm poached egg and crispy wild boar bacon, roasted quail and braised pork belly with leeks and sultanas. Finish your meal with white chocolate mousse tart served with pistachio crust and berries or spiced poached pear served with a nut brittle and a honeycomb ice cream.

Details: https://www.facebook.com/CoobsParkhurst/

Credit: the Joburg Foodie

Il Contadino

The neighbourhood eatery has elevated French and Italian country-style dishes. Look out for the last of the season’s zucchini blossoms which are stuffed with ricotta and then deep-fried, roast duck with Jerusalem artichoke puree and a range of warm deserts.

Details: https://www.facebook.com/IlContadinojhb/

Credit: the Joburg Foodie

Douglas + Hale

Whether you choose a nibble, small plate or something all for yourself, the menu provides an incredible assortment of comforting foods to accompany a cocktail or one of the 66 boutique local and international wines sold by the glass. Autumn options include smoked pork cracking, pork and leek pot stickers, roasted beetroot salad or confit duck leg with cranberry jus.

Details: https://www.facebook.com/douglasandhale/

Credit: the Joburg Foodie

La Stalla

Hearty stews and home-cooked meals are a hit with the local Melville crowd. The menu is simple and satisfying – sweet corn fritters with chorizo, spicy chicken livers, oven-roasted chicken with salad and a peperoni pizza with leeks. Desserts include homemade gelato and a lemon tart.

Details: https://www.facebook.com/lastallajhb/

moyo

Tradition forms the corner stone upon which moyo has built its house. And with tradition comes repetition. Last year it was creamy red pepper soup, hearty stews and hot desserts. This year our favourite African-inspired dishes include dukkah lamb chop thins on a bed of sweetcorn puree and sheba, served with grilled mealies and pap. Patrons can also expect a seafood samp potjie, and West African chicken schnitzel or a beautiful helping of traditional beef dombolo (dumplings) stewed with carrots, mushroom and onions. For pud? Dig into the Moyo Mess – a brown sugar caramel pavlova topped with spicy muscadel poached pears, whipped cream and gooseberries or red velvet cheesecake served with a berry compote.

Details: http://www.moyo.co.za/

Winter Menus 2018

By Shawn Greyling

Easter Lunches At Emperors Palace

Gather your loved ones and hop your way to Emperors Palace for some scrumptious Easter lunch festivities. Over the long Easter weekend, they'll have TWO festive options for you to choose from:

Easter Saturday High Tea

Join Emperors Palace for a whimsical afternoon complete with decadent treats to match. To find out more about this magical afternoon, email [email protected].

Sunday Easter Lunch at Rosetta’s

Make your way over to Rosetta’s Bistro for a lovely Easter Buffet Lunch perfect for the whole family. And to delight the little ones, they'll get a special Easter treat! To book, contact Rosetta's on [email protected] or call 011 928 1367.

The Fairway Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort

Looking to treat the family to something special in celebration of Easter? Be sure to book your spot at the Fairway's Easter Sunday Lunch. At R495 per person (enquire for children's rates), you'll get  a stunning buffet lunch offering only the best in Easter delights, live music for your entertainment, as well as something fun for the kids to keep them busy. Click here to take a look at what's on the menu. To book, call 011 478 8000 or email [email protected].

Easter Sunday Lunch

Easter At The Maslow's Lacuna Bistro

On Easter Sunday, guests can enjoy quality family time over a mouthwatering seafood spread at The Maslow Sandton, while the little ones can run around with the Easter Bunny to search for chocolate eggs hidden all around the hotel’s magical, lush garden. Guests can expect many delicious items on their festive menu, including half shell New Zealand mussels poached in white wine and herbs with fresh garlic; smoked paprika Norwegian salmon flaked on garden peas and sweet baby corn, cinnamon roasted pumpkin and blue cheese, and a deconstructed Greek salad, just to name a few. To make a reservation, call 010 226 4815 or 010 226 4786 or email [email protected] or [email protected].

Meadow Green Restaurant In Irene

If you're in Pretoria this Easter Sunday, be sure to book your Easter Sunday Lunch at the oh-so stunning countryside setting of Meadow Green Restaurant at African Pride Irene Country Lodge, Autograph Collection®. They will be putting on a spectacular Easter Sunday feast complete with a buffet lunch, a welcome drink on arrival as well as a special Easter egg hunt for the little ones. To book, call 012 667 6464 or email [email protected].

Easter Sunday Lunch

Easter High Tea at The Michelangelo

To celebrate Easter in decadence and style, be sure to make your way to The Michelangelo in Sandton for a stunning Easter High Tea that's sure to delight your sense. For enquiries regarding the menu and bookings, you can contact Ellen Kunene on 011 282 7463 or email [email protected]. But hurry, space is limited. Booking is essential.

Easter at The Hilton Sandton

Celebrate Easter at The Hilton Sandton! Spoil the whole family with a delicious Easter Sunday lunch buffet filled with an array of culinary flavours, as well as some fun activities to keep the kids entertained, including an Easter egg hunt! For more information and bookings, email [email protected] or call 011 322 1888. Booking is essential.

Easter Sunday Lunch

Easter Sunday Lunch at Casalinga

How about enjoying an Easter Sunday lunch out in the country? Sounds rather peaceful, doesn't it? Tuck into a delicious treat at Casalinga, which will include loads of Easter favourites such as homemade, oven-baked bread; traditional Italian parma ham; potato dumplings in a creamy truffle sauce; prime beef fillet and a mouthwatering selection of delectable desserts. And, to delight the children, there will be an Easter egg adventure hunt and a jumping castle for their enjoyment. Booking is essential, so contact them on 011 957 2612 or [email protected].

Easter at The Black Eagle Boutique Hotel

Spend your Easter Sunday at the Black Eagle Boutique Hotel. They'll be hosting a delicious Easter Sunday Lunch feast situated in their lush gardens, which will be followed by lovely festivities and fun for the children. They'll enjoy an Easter egg hunt, a colouring competition, a jumping castle and, of course, a special guest appearance by the Easter Bunny! To check out their menu, click here. Also, booking is essential, contact them on 011 958 5225 or [email protected].

Easter Sunday Lunch

Easter Weekend Specials at Stonehaven On Vaal

If you're looking to get out of the city this Eater, we know just the place. Stonehaven on Vaal are going all-out with the Easter celebration this year! All weekend long, they have awesome Easter Weekend Specials that you and your family don't want to miss. For the kids, there will be Easter egg hunts, all-day complimentary children's activities, a colouring competition and a dedicated kiddies menu. And for the whole family, there's a wide selection of feasts to choose from, whether you would like to stay on land or upon the Vaal River with their cruising buffets. Booking is essential, you can contact them on 016 982 2951/2 or [email protected].

Easter Sunday Lunch at Carnivore

Easter Sunday lunches are all about spending quality time with your loved ones and of course, feasting! And if you're in search of a beast of a feast, then be sure to book your table at the Carnivore. This lunch has everything you could possibly imagine, from all different types of meat (including venison, crocodile and chicken livers) to salads galore and a decadent selection of desserts to round off your afternoon on a sweet note. Booking is essential, so be sure to contact them on 011 950 6000 or 0861 732 237.

Know of other great places for Easter lunch not mentioned above? Let us know below!

Love Me So

Bringing a pinch of flair, loads of flavour and a helping of heat to Love Me So's winter menu, crispy pork pancakes, jaga bata (butter potato salad) and miso eggplant have been added to the mix by chef Alex. And that's just to start. Patrons can also choose from a curated ramen menu, as opposed to building their own noodle bowl. Speaking of slurping... some signature soups, such as a chicken wanton and vegan miso noodle, will be available until winter puts its stuffy head to bed in September.

Details: https://www.facebook.com/lovemesojozi/

Carnivore (Misty Hills)

Joburg's favourite carnivorous hangout, the Carnivore at Misty Hills in Muldersdrift, serves top-notch soup of the day in little potjie pots accompanied by in-house baked honey bread. If that doesn't get your mouth watering, there's also chicken livers, venison sausages or samoosas to get you warmed up for the main course: all-you-can-eat zebra, alligator, pork, chicken, beef, lamb... Hey, it's called the Carnivore for a reason. Patrons can also expect fireplaces, song and dance and excellent service.

Details: http://carnivore.co.za/

Perron (Melville)

With churros being served at every second restaurant in the north these days, it's clear that Mexican food is the new Italian, and no one seems to do it quite like Perron in Melville. Why that specific branch? It's got a cool-kid vibe about it without having a bunch of hipsters lurking in the corner, and the food is always great. Jump right in with some Holy Moly Chicken – grilled chicken supreme with a red achiote mole, served with Mexican potatoes, roasted tomato salsa and créma. Or there's the burnt corn croquetas with smokey honey and chipotle salsa. While you're at it, you might as well indulge in a White Chocolate Fool with white chocolate, raspberry and passion fruit double-cream yoghurt (fool being a folded fruit dessert).

Details: http://perron.co.za/

Clico Boutique Hotel

Chef Marnus’ top winter picks off his menu include the Salmon Gravalax, which includes a beautiful array of winter vegetables as a light, fresh way to start the meal, followed by an order of braised lamb shoulder that is marinated for three days then slow-roasted and served with a beetroot jus. Other entries include butternut gnocchi served with roasted mushroom, spinach, and parmesan. Give it a try and let us know what you think of this adorable establishment.

Details: http://clico.co.za/

Moyo

Tradition forms the corner stone upon which Moyo has built its house. And with tradition comes repetition. Last year it was creamy red pepper soup, hearty stews and hot desserts. This year our favourite African-inspired dishes include dukkah lamb chop thins on a bed of sweetcorn puree and sheba, served with grilled mealies and pap. Patrons can also expect a seafood samp potjie, and West African chicken schnitzel. For pud? Dig into the Moyo Mess – a brown sugar caramel pavlova topped with spicy muscadel poached pears, whipped cream, and gooseberries, or red velvet cheesecake served with a berry compote. A 2-course meal will set you back R189, and a 3-Course R229, which is inclusive of a R5 donation to StreetSmart - an NGO that takes care of street kids.

Details: http://www.moyo.co.za/

Winter Menus 2018

The National

According to Wayne Dietrich, Head Chef of The National eatery and speakeasy in Parktown North, smoky undertones and light, zesty dishes are the flavours for winter 2018. Some of the standout seasonal ingredients featured on his winter menu are beetroot and pumpkin, both of which are featured across a variety of dishes. Must-try delicacies on the menu are the steam buns – a starter served with crispy, sriracha fried chicken; the duck curry – a main of confit with pulled duck legs cooked in a homemade Thai red curry paste; and the Mississippi Mud Pie dessert, which boasts chocolate upon chocolate, but is still light enough to polish off.

Details: https://www.facebook.com/TheNationalJHB/

By Shawn Greyling

Are you looking for game meat restaurants in and around the city of Johannesburg? You're in luck! We've eaten our way through the good, the bad and the ugly to bring you the best of the best. Without further ado, let's introduce you to our favourites.

Carnivore — Muldersdrift 

Carnivore in Muldersdrift is a meat lover’s paradise! They offer a wide variety to choose from (depending on availability) with everything from traditional meats like pork, beef, and chicken to game meats like crocodile, zebra, and giraffe. If you’re taking some herbivores along then you will be thrilled to hear that there is something for everyone as vegetarian dishes are also available. Fun fact: Carnivore is Arnold Schwarzenegger's favourite game meat restaurants in South Africa.

For more info, click here.

Tribes African Grill Steak House — Emperors Palace 

The Out of Africa section of Tribes African Grill Steak House menu offers a seasonal variety of African game. From their ostrich burger (filled with a 180g ostrich patty, lettuce, and tomato) and their kudu and impala steaks and ostrich medallions to the Game Platter served with a selection of game that is basted and grilled to perfection, there is a great selection for you to choose from if you are looking to try something new. Visit them at Emperors Palace.

For more info, click here.

The Butcher Shop and Grill — Sandton 

The Butcher Shop and Grill in Sandton is known for their wide selection of meats. They offer succulent steaks, oxtail, wagyu, Karoo lamb, and pork. Their options when it comes to the tastes of Africa aren’t extensive, but they do offer ostrich fillet pan-fried and served with a pepper or cranberry sauce and a Game of the Day option. Just inquire as to what game they have on offer.

For more info, click here.

Moyo — Melrose Arch and Zoo Lake 

A family favourite when it comes to game meat restaurants in Johannesburg, I have always loved Moyo for their African vibe and welcoming atmosphere. I’ve had the pleasure of visiting the Zoo Lake restaurant on a number of occasions and have always had a great experience! Along with African singing, dancing, music and face painting, they also offer African dishes that include kudu, springbok and ostrich.

For more info, click here.

Wombles — Bryanston 

Wombles offer tasty meaty dishes to satisfy your carnivorous craving, from beef, pork, duck and chicken to succulent lamb. But, for something different, try their springbok shank – oven-roasted springbok shanks in a savoury green peppercorn sauce served with stewed fruit on the side. Sounds rather delicious, doesn't it?

For more info, click here.

The Local Grill — Parktown North 

The Local Grill is a popular meat spot in Parktown North if you are looking to grab a juicy steak. They offer everything from grain-fed to free-range, grass-fed beef, Karoo Persian lamb sausage and venison wors, to an indulgent pork belly roll and lamb cutlets. Not only do they serve the usual tasty meats, but they also offer venison steak rubbed and grilled to perfection served with a cranberry and port jus, and ostrich medallions. So far, which of these game meat restaurants is your favourite? Let us know in the comments below!

For more info, click here.

Chaplin's Grill — Hurlingham 

I am always talking about Chaplin’s Grill, but that's because I absolutely LOVE this spot! They have the best steaks in Joburg and I have never passed up a chance to indulge in their crème brûlée or Red Velvet Cheesecake. In terms of game, you can either order the Chef’s Special Venison, grilled or pan-fried as medallions or the fan fillet ostrich in a Cumberland sauce.

For more info, click here.

The Bull Run — Sandton 

Are you looking for meat game restaurants in Sandton? We've got you! The Bull Run is a great spot if you are looking to indulge in some delicious meat dishes. And, if it is game meat that you seek, they offer springbok carpaccio, venison, and ostrich fillet. The game meat options are seasonal, so be sure to inquire as to whether they are available.

For more info, click here.

Trumps Grill — Nelson Mandela Square 

The only reason I head to Trumps Grill is because of their large portions of finger-licking-good sticky BBQ ribs! They have a big selection of meaty treats but have a very limited option of game meats. And, when I say limited, I mean it is literally limited to one dish. You can enjoy a 440g ostrich fillet served with a starch of your choice and vegetables (usually spinach and pumpkin).

For more info, click here.

By Kim Brown

If we haven't included your favourite spot in our list, please share below!

Remember that our “Top Picks” are not paid for and are compiled at the discretion of the journalist. We only write about what we love.