Note from Liz: Or you can come to Liz at Lancaster for breakfast

This week’s pick:

FiftyTwo:6  This week’s pick: Codfather Village Outdoor Event Genre: Social culinary experience What: On the 27 March an all day social do will take place at the Codfather Village. A morning market will kick-start the event at 10am and from midday the real foodie journey begins. Five course tasting tokens, which you get on arrival, will allow you to sample one of the tasting dishes from each of the standing restaurants. The Codfather offers seafood and sushi, Casa da Galinha serves Mozambican meat cuisine and SISI are the Italian specialists. Dessert and coffee bars (courses 4 and 5) will be stationed in the front shaded courtyard. What a way to spend a day!  
FiftyTwo review: I ♥ JHB (the event brand) sums it up: “Joburg has no ocean nor does it have a mountain, but who needs that when you have a city world famous for its people! And there is simply no better way to celebrate a natural resource so rich in value than an event that brings them all together.”
Tip: Restaurant hop but be sure to linger with new mates met, on the gastronomic offerings and within the comforts of each restaurant before moving onto the next. Let your day take a mellow course, filled with chat and good music – DJ Ben Kay, The Rocketeers and Goodluck will take to stage and 8 different bars will serve icy cool thirst quenchers. For the rugby lovers – stay on – the Super 14 will be screened.                                            
Interesting fact: As you browse through the courtyard, picture yourself once roaming the wide open spaces of the bygone Edenburg estate. The operating dairy farm presented a very different atmosphere to the now busy suburb, Rivonia.
Where: Codfather Village, corner of 1st Ave and Rivonia Rd next to 90 Degrees Shopping centre Book: Tickets are R300pp and it’s recommended that you purchase beforehand – there are only 500 tickets on sale. Book through the reservation line: 011 803 2077 – to see full event details head to www.iluvsa.co.za

In the neighbouring suburb of  Parkhurst , 4^th Ave has become a favourite foodie haunt, but some of the best are not listed on the link above:

Probably the best is The Attic The menu changes seasonally and there is consistent feedback from guests at Liz at Lancaster of excellent food and service; Cnr 10^th St and 4^th Ave; 011 880-6102 

Bottega Very good bistro fare – pastas, salads, open sandwiches as well as more substantial meals  011 447-4448 open every night so good on Mondays when so many other places are closed.

Espresso café and bistro ; Always a safe bet but do not accept credit cards. Closed Mondays 011 447-8700

The Jolly Rodger As its name suggests – a typical English pub. Great place to watch any sporting events. Linked to Jolly Cool opposite which is open till late for things more substantial than beer and chips . Cr 4th Ave and 6th St  

Al-Makka Fantastic food and full of local families. Open daily for lunch and dinner 011 838-2548 52 Central Rd  

Bismillah’s  North Indian and Pakistani ; Where the Indian cricket team eat when they are in Joburg; Wonderful chicken korma;  011 838 8051 76 Mint Rd Cnr Bree

Shayona  Run by followers of the 7^th Century Hindu guru Swarmi Narayan so all vegetarian. The paneer cheese is excellent. Expect to pay about R50 for 2 course.   74 Church St 011 837 2407 Closed Mondays

Shunarga  Tandoori chicken wonderful bryani and as with other eateries in Fordsburg – great prices 79 Mint Road 011 838-5533

Somali restaurant  Amal Shopping Centre  Cr Somerset and Central Rd Mayfair No Phone If you thought Shayona was cheap here 2 course will set you back about R30. Lots of side dishes brought; the TV blares with Al Jazeera news; helpful quick service

Chinese cuisine

The Chinese community traditionally lived in the south west of Joburg’s CBD area in Ferreirastown and more recently moved to Cyrildene with restaurants clustered around  Derrick Ave near Bruma Lake.

Chinatown  Szechwan Chinese ; Lots of hot and spicy with an abundance of garlic and chillies  Open daily 10 to 10; BYO no corkage  16 Derrick Ave  Cyrildene 072 989 3788

Fisherman’s Plate  Taiwanese – crab curry; whole steamed fish with ginger Open Tues-Sun lunch and dinner; Box wine by the glass, Chinese beers, BYO at R20 corkage 18 Derrick Ave 011- 622 0480

Fong Mei Cantonese cuisine ; Open Tues- Sun lunch and dinner Licensed and wine ‘by the cup’  no BYO ; 18c Derrick Ave 011 615-1384

Long Mon Beijing cuisine; Peking Duck needs to be ordered the day before; open daily lunch and dinner  open Tues-Sun lunch and dinner Licensed, No BYO  41 Derrick Ave 011 622-6861

Sai Thai  Sai Thai means connected to Thailand and it lives up to its name as this restaurant serves some of the most authentic Thai food to be found around. Casual Thai lots of lemon grass; home made chili relish Try the thod mun pla fishcakes or the nam tok mhu pork ; lots of vegetarian offerings; Tues-Sun lunch and dinner Licensed no BYO  Shop 1, Cyrildene Centre cr Marcia & Derrick Ave 011 615-1339  

 The remnants of Johannesburg’s original Chinatown in Ferreirastown in Jhb South west CBD still has a few remaining restaurants. There are moves afoot to revitalize this Chinatown area of town … watch this space  The  Swallow Inn Serves great chow mein and is still at 6 Commissioner St 011 838 2946

 Closer to ‘home’  in the Hyde Park Mall is the Red Chamber specializing in a Mandarin style cooking with lots of ginger and chili. Vegetarians are well catered for. 011 325 6048

The Green Truffle 26 Gleneagle Road Greenside is a mix of classic elegance meets contemporary cool. The menu includes dishes Yannan duck breast and lamb bordelaise  and if you enjoy truffles (the chocolate or mushroom varieties) then this would definitely be the place to go.  011 486 1645

Le Soufflé Shop 9 & 10, Pineslopes Centre Cnr Witkoppen Road & The Straight Four Ways   Marc Guebert is one of Johannesburg’s longest serving chefs (of Ille de France fame)  All dishes are outstanding and his souffles are legendary 011 465 4116

The Westcliff. Stunning position overlooking the Zoo on Jan Smuts and view to the north- east. Very expensive, very upmarket but have a drink on the terrace or a Sunday afternoon tea (R90 pp at the last check; booking essential) and you can hear the lions roar. 011 646-2400; 67 Jan Smuts Ave (part of the Orient Express chain of international hotels)

Linger Longer  Originally started in the CBD in 1961, the restaurant has changed ownership but has kept its consistently high reputation for sophisticated good food and wine.  Try the salmon and scampi ceviche on rocket or the ostrich khibi with roasted peppers or guinea fowl in red wine with juniper berry sauce. Also rock cod and fresh chilean Salmon, burned lemon cream or wild berries mousse.    Mouth-watering. 58 Wierda Rd East Wierda Valley Sandton 011 884-0465

Le Canard  Judged by American Express as one of the Top Ten Deluxe Restaurants, annual inclusion in the Top 100 in South Africa, and numerous Diners Club Wine List Awards. The cooking is French in style with the signature dish being free-range duck breast crisped with honey and pepper www.lecanard.co.za  163 Rivonia Road  Sandton 011 884-4597

WangThai,  Sandton has been the recipient of numerous awards including “top 100 restaurants” and “Diners Club wine list”. The food is beautifully presented and tastes as good as it looks. The Thai chefs were apparently specially recruited from some of Bangkok’s finest 5-star hotels. The food is out of this world.  Mandela Square 011 784 8484

Yamoto, Illovo one of Jozi’s  first and best sushi restaurants  198 Oxford Rd 011 268 0511/2 www.yamato.co.za

Ruby Grapefruit, Parkhurst  Not much English spoken but can communicate via the menu; 24c 4^th Ave 011 880-3673

Willougby’s, Hyde Park  Mall  Excellent fish served in skillets and always very  fresh Sushi; very much in the Mall so can people watch as you eat 011 325 5107  

Yo Sushi, Parktown North 6, Third Ave ; Take off the moving conveyer belt, prices charged by the colour of the plate 011 442 0246

Fishmonger, Illovo Consistently good fish as well as sushi; Thrupps Centre Oxford Rd 011 268-0068/7

Bite, Greenside  Part of the Greenside neighbourhood cluster of restaurants; always good for sushi 137 Greenway 011 486-0449

Tsunami, The Rosebank Mall  A large restaurant with not a lot of character but wide range of choice for Sushi and Sashimi 011 880 -8409

Service Station, Melville  Trendy place for the arty and intellectual set for brunches and light lunches; wonderful quiches and salads which get charged by weight .   011 726-1701 53 Rustenberg Road (corner 9th Street)  

Gingko, Parkview  Also buffet style breakfasts and lunch charged by weight – great selection; there is a playground for kids so Mums can chill;   61 Dundalk Ave 011 486-3361  

Moemas, Parktown Quarter  The brainchild of Daniell Postma who trained as a chef in London. Very pricey but oh so good. Wonderful quiches and salads – try the chickpea and chard ; and pastries, brioches and tartlets to die for. Grab a place outside in the sun on a warm winter’s day. 011 788 7725  Cr 7^th and 3^rd Avenues Parktown North  (Joburg has to be the only big city where you can have an address corner 3^rd Ave and 7^th Ave ..  go figure??) Sadly only open for breakfast and lunch

Woolworths stores  Always have good buffet style meals with loads of vegetarian options . The Hyde Park café is particularly good.

If you wanting dinner then you will have excellent vegetarian food at The Attic, Parkhurst  The menu changes seasonally and there is consistent feedback from Liz at Lancaster guests of excellent food and service. Lots of vegetarion options  cnr 10^th St and 4^th Ave; 011 880-6102

See also the blog post on Indian restaurants

For a guide to indigenous cuisine see http://www.joburg.org.za/content/view/223/9/  Also see Anna Trapido’s article ’Your gourmet guide to African eating’   http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/Content.aspx?id=74840

Amsale Kensington Corner Langerman and Queen streets, Kensington, Johannesburg, 072 918 8824      Chef-patronne Amsale Debela is a political refugee who literally walked to SA from Ethiopia. Her first restaurant was the now legendary Amsale’s at Little Addis in Jeppe Street where she garnered a 2008 Dine Top 100 Restaurant award.  …  Berbere spice-laden doro wat chicken stews with injera sour dough pancakes are the specialty of the house.  

Gramadoelas, in the Market Theatre Precinct has been run by the original owners since 1967 – in itself very unusual in terms of Johannesburg restaurants.    Serving  African cuisine, they do an excellent buffet with dishes like morogo (spinach), Mopani worms, bobotie, crocodile and snoek pie. Very good fare and  great place to eat before going to a show at the Market 011 838-6960 or visit www.gramadoelas.co.za – very informative website.  Closed Monday evenings and all day Sundays.

Moyo’s Melrose Arch 011 -684-1477 www.moyo.co.za Well-done Afro-fusion restaurant with great atmosphere. Face painting and rosewater hand washes are just some of the rituals, plus live music and amazing décor – make sure you look around at all the floors. Well worth making a booking. Or during the day have a chilled meal outdoors at Moyo’s Zoo Lake 011 646-0058 and if you have children take some bread to feed the ducks.  

Afrodisiac and Voodoo Lounge  Linksfield Nursery Cnr Club St and Linksfield Drive 011 443 990 www.afrodisiac.co.za Website does give the menu but otherwise not an updated site.  Like many restaurants that market themselves as serving African food, the menu lists quite standard fare which seems Africanized in name only eg Sowetan oxtail. But there is South African fare like a game platter which includes crocodile, ostrich, springbok and quail. Sophisticated ambience and the Voodoo Lounge is a fashionable cocktail bar where there is often excellent live music.

Lekgotla which means ‘meeting place’ in Tswana, is located on the very European space (á la Italian piazza) of Mandela Square in Sandton.  The cuisine is eclectic to put it mildly, with the website noting that it ‘draws inspiration from the 4 corners of Africa’ … Arabic, French, Dutch and Malay.  Check the website www.lekgotla.co.za for the menu 011 884 9555

The Whiteboy Shebeen in the heart of Sandton in the City Lodge Hotel cr Katherine and Grayston Drive Sandown 011 444 8850  Their website www.whiteboy-shebeen.co.za tells us that ‘whilst the name Shebeen has been accepted in the South African vocabulary, it is in reality derived from Gaelic and means “Little Mug”. A shebeen was a venue usually in a private home where friends gathered to share a “dram” of whiskey together on which no excise had been paid and it evolved into a warm and friendly venue, where the hosts offered food and drink to guests.’  Offers a range of South African cuisine with dishes like warthog carpaccio, springbok sirloin, etc as well as Halaal dishes.

In the Inner City is The Darkie Cafe  located in the very hip Ashanti Hotel. Owned by Chralotte Monakasi it is the first in a franchise chain owned by interior designer Potlako Gasenelwe, Nick Kokkoris who founded the Nino’s Chain and Carel Nolte ex Hollard insurance. The stylish white interior plays humorously with the restaurant’s name. There are tables outside on a deck looking onto Ferreira St. While there is more traditional fare like Mozambiquan chicken curry, cheesey pap, and Dagwoods served with chakalaka, the  menu also offers steak, hamburgers, risotto.  10 Anderson St  011 492-1555

Carnivore  011 950-6061 Out at Muldersdrift this is a long way to drive back at night so if you want to go, make it a lunch. Open daily.In the centre of the restaurant is a large circular open fire with 52 converted Masaai tribal spears holding a variety of 10 different types of meat such as pork, lamb, beef, chicken, ribs and sausages and including such game meats as crocodile, zebra, giraffe, impala, ostrich, etc,  Several vegetarian dishes are also on the menu. 

Places in Soweto

The most well-known is Wandies so expect busloads of tourists should you choose to eat here. Wandi Ndaba started operating an illegal shebeen from his house in 1981 so he has really grown the business. Buffet fare serves excellent local food with great stews and traditional starches like pap, dumplings, ting (soft porridge) and umqushu (samp). The walls are papered with business cards of visitors. 011 982 2796 www.wandiesplace.co.za

Nambitha’s in Vilikazi St – the same street as the Hector Pieterson Museum and Mandela House museum. Serves both mainstream food like burgers and tramezzinis as well as more traditional stews, including mogudu (tripe). Great atmosphere and excellent food – nambitha means tasty in isiXhosa  011 936 9128. 

Sakhumzi’s also in Vilikazi St (no 6980 next to Bishop Tutu’s house) 011 315 1534 Another favourite meeting place for locals and tourists alike, the shebeen atmosphere really gets going in the evenings.

Kwa-thabeng 9138 Nonqawe, Pimville Soweto 011 938 3337  Open daily from early until late.  There is a laid back Soweto vibe in this shebeen (tavern) come restaurant.  You will join locals sitting at long tables. A great restaurant. 

As yet I haven’t been to B’s Restaurant but hope to go soon.  http://www.soweto.co.za/html/sh_beatrice.htm  gives this write-up:    ‘From the moment you set foot into B’s Place, Beatrice the owner and hostess will make you feel at home with her warm hospitality and friendliness. B’s is a family run restaurant located in one of Soweto’s oldest areas (Orlando East) and was built as an extension to the original 1930’s home. Previously run as a tavern & meeting place, Beatrice has now extended her talents to provide delicious home cooked meals for tourists, corporate groups and locals alike. Beatrice and her family will chat to guests about life in Orlando and share some secrets about their famous cooking. Enjoy a buffet of stews, grilled chicken, salads accompanied by traditional township specialties such as samp, pap, mogodu (tripe) and morogo (spinach) with chakalaka. B’s home-made bread and ginger beer have become legendry and if there is any space left, you can enjoy a delicious cream cake or vetkoek for dessert! Sipping from a calabash of local sorghum beer is also a tradition at B’s not to be missed’ . 5541 Shuenyane St Orlando East 011 935-1766