Best celebratory restaurants
Words by Emma Odendaal and Jean-Pierre Rossouw
While wine lovers don’t always need to find reason to celebrate – very often a spectacular glass of wine in hand is reason enough – but there are a few occasions that call for something a little bit special. At times you may simply be looking for a Italian pizzeria that will happily accommodate a noisy family gathering, at other times you may want to impress a special someone with an opulent dining experience. From the quaint and cosy to the over-the-top and exotic, these are a few of the restaurants bound to create a mood of revelry.
BRIO 1893
An entrancing location, live music, plus delicious comfort food – what more could you want for a celebratory dinner? Brio 1893 is housed in a restored, centuryold bank (the ex home to Riboville) and the décor refl ects the elegance of the era in which it was built. Plush couches and glistening chandeliers are framed by high ceilings, creating an atmosphere of vintage glamour. The old bank manager’s office has been converted into a cigar lounge and the vault is soon to become an intimate dining space; both perfect locations for private parties. The menu features classics such as oxtail stew, peppered fillet and lobster thermidor. But the highlight of the experience is the live music every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday night – soulful swing and jazz to get your toes tapping. If you’re lucky, owner Skippy will get up on stage to serenade a newly engaged couple or the birthday girl. The wine list is expensive, but offers a good selection for a special occasion, including Dom Perignon Épernay at R3 960 a bottle! If you’re celebrating on a smaller scale, a glass of Kaapse Vonkel at R37 may be a better option. EO
130 Adderley Street, tel 021 422 0654
Bardelli’s
Located in an old house in Kenilworth, Bardelli’s has been serving pizzas for almost two decades. Red and white checked table clothes and wine-bottle candleholders contribute to a quaint charm. Various rooms in the house lend themselves to anything from a quiet celebration for two to a boisterous birthday bash. The enclosed courtyard with fairy lights and a burning fire can be booked for larger groups for a relaxed party. The menu is not gourmet, but relaxed, hearty and geared towards families. Share a range of pizzas and pastas among the table and be sure to try the insalata di carciofi, a salad of artichoke, pesto, sundried tomatoes, olives and mozzarella. If you are planning to make a toast to a special someone, the wine list includes the likes of Moët and even Bollinger. EO
51 Kenilworth Road, Kenilworth, 021 683 1423
Salt
There aren’t many views that beat that of Salt at the Ambassador Hotel in Bantry Bay. And this is no casual beach shack. The décor is modern and glamorous and floor-to-ceiling windows take advantage of the ocean vista. What could be better than celebrating a special occasion while watching the sun dip into the Atlantic? Start with a cocktail at the Vodka bar where you can also share platters of oysters and sushi, then move on to your table and feast on a menu that draws on modern South African styles with French influences and changes bi-monthly. All wines and bubblies (including Taittinger Brut Reserve and Colin Grand Cru Millésime 2003) are available by the glass. EO
34 Victoria Road, Bantry Bay, tel 021 439 7258
Browns
Describing itself as “the Cape winelands in the heart of Johannesburg”, and with a cellar that holds 30 000-plus bottles of wine, Browns is where a wine lover can celebrate pretty much anything – even such a choice of wine! Of the bubblies, they stock over 35 Champagnes, along with a Champagne lounge to enjoy them in. MCC is also well represented with Steenberg, Pierre Jourdan and High Constantia Clos André. My pick of seating would have to be in the wine cellar itself, though the garden area is great for daytime revelry. From the menu, recommendations are the grilled prawns in a Naçionale sauce and the lamb shank that’s braised in Pinotage, lavender and thyme. And to finish, the superlative fromagerie is a must. JP
21 Wessels Road, Rivonia, tel 011 803 7533
The Grillhouse
While bubbly is the perfect celebration tipple, a fine cocktail is a superb way to start – and a good whisky is a great way to end the party. Rosebank’s Grillhouse has all this, plus some of the finest steaks in the country. This ever-popular steakhouse is immensely comforting in its 1920s prohibition-style décor, with the Katzy’s cigar and whisky bar alongside. Penumbral lighting, wood floors, booths in green leather and private rooms for intimate celebrations – and polished, snappy waiters dressed in waistcoats and white aprons to complete the quality feel. The food menu may be concise, but the wine and spirits menu, on the other hand, is lengthy, including Cristal at nearly R7 000... for the more level-headed, a small selection of Cap Classiques, including Môreson Brut and Pierre Jourdan Belle Rose. The food is extremely good for the price, and not surprisingly the excellent grills are your best bet. JP
The Firs, Oxford Road, Rosebank, tel 011 880 3945
La Pentola
Welcome to the wild side. From the wishing well to the OTT interior with its kitsch
Afro art, this place is full-bore – you’ll feel like it’s a party even before the typically booze-laden food arrives! Appropriately named chef Shane Sauvage’s madly eclectic ‘Afro-Parisienne bistro’ is highly individualistic, and so is the cuisine; which is true fusion, pushed to extremes. Multiple specials are explained by welltrained, caring staff and basic ingredients are well cooked, while the flavours are rich and unusual – no boredom here. You’d be hard pressed to find this level of entertainment in any restaurant, and the wine list is reasonably good, though stronger in the sparkling wine category (five choices) than in the Cap Classiques, where there are only two (at least interesting) options: Avondale Bio-logic Brut and Graham Beck Bliss. JP
Corner of Soutpansberg and Well Streets, Riviera, Pretoria, tel 012 329 4028
Bel Punto
For a bespoke Italian celebration with fabulous views, this is the place. An upmarket Italian restaurant that’s familyowned and operated, it occupies a fresh and contemporary, though unadorned, space that spills onto a long outside deck that flaunts lovely sea views, and is purpose-built for languid daytime dining and the next bottle from the good wine list that includes seven MCCs, among which are Simonsig Cuvée Royale and Boschendal, a good Champagne choice, and also a commendable choice of bubbly by the half bottle. The service is very confident and the menu is based on classics, including pizzas from the wood-fired oven. In the Italian tradition, the dishes are hardly dressed-up but cooked with assurance and, importantly, fresh ingredients. Plus the ‘mamma’ is often to be spotted overlooking kitchen operations, ensuring that quality remains very good. JP
Umdloti Centre, 1 South Beach Road, Umdloti, tel 031 568 2407
Havana Grill
This upmarket steakhouse has warm, wood-clad spaces and a cosy ‘clubby’ feel with perfect private rooms upstairs for any celebration (these with great palm-fronted sea views). The service is sure and professional and very well managed. There’s a central, glassed wine chamber with Champagne picks like Bollinger and Dom Perignon; while JC le Roux gets a look in, also Villiera and Weltevrede – and a visible meat locker points to the primal heart of the matter here. Perfectly aged steak is naturally recommended, and there are grass-fed beef options. But it does not end with meat, with surprisingly great variety on the menu, including Asian, Hispanic and daily-changing bistro touches, as well as a decently diverse vegetarian selection. Hearty plates, by no means fiddly food, and quality is very good across the board. JP
Suncoast Casino, North Beach, tel 031 337 1305
Harvey’s
This is an elegant space, with a stylish twist. Tastefully lit, with a warm welcome, it flows from the outside (with views of the park) to the inside. It’s romantic, it’s trendy, it’s baroque in its textures and rich colours – it manages to capture a sense of extravagance and sensuality. Perfect for a party. Service is very good, waiting staff elegantly dressed, specials explained. Good, modern wine list with vintages and descriptions, decent by-the-glass options and on the bubbly side choices like Klein Constantia and Simonsig Brut as well as a number of Champagnes. The menu lists ‘tidbits’ alongside the wine list for quick eating while chatting and the rest of the menu races around the world with colourful flavours, unusual combinations and rich mains in case you need some ballast. JP
465 Innes Road, Morningside, tel 031 312 5706
The Grand, Plettenberg Bay
This ‘hacienda’ has the ambience of a Cuban daydream. Set high on the hill, the patio has wonderful sea and lagoon views, and inside an eclectic collection of furniture sets the most fabulously decadent ‘shabby-chic’ scene, enhanced by soothing ambient music. Throw in some personable service and a menu that lists classics like Waldorf salad, fillet béarnaise and fishcakes – easy-eating food – and everyone is sure to be happy. The wine list is small but functional, with fizzies like Villiera, Billecart Salmon and Dom Perignon (if you must) – plus they make good cocktails. A relaxing, fun option that sets the perfect tone for long, lazy festivities.
27 Main Road, Plettenberg Bay, tel 044 533 3301
Emily’s at Emily Moon
This whimsical and deeply romantic Moroccan dream-scape is set on the brow of a hill overlooking a bend in the river with a deck to view it all from. An eclectic, artistic and colourful dining area presents the perfect celebratory tone. While concrete sculptures and vibrant fabrics create the backdrop, the menu tends to comfort classics: steak, a seafood pasta, a lasagne or a Thai chicken and prawn curry, also a sushi and a tapas menu. The portions are generous and flavours hearty, plus the wine list features five bubblies including Krone Borealis and Simonsig Kaapse Vonkel. Service is friendly and welcoming, and there are lovely rooms available – should your party drift into the later hours.
Emily Moon River Lodge, off N2 at Rietvlei Road, just outside Plettenberg Bay, tel 044 533 2982
