It’s been a while since I last visited Braamfontein. It was probably sometime in the eighties when I lived next door, in Hillbrow. But last week I got the perfect 360 degree panoramic view of it from high up at the exclusive roof-top bar at Randlords, in the heart of Braamfontein. The area’s hub of emerging restaurants, hotels and coffee shops – a result of its urban renewal – really inspired me.

In particular, the terraced piazza at The Grove, which is a funky and vibey little square in which boutique hotel Lamunu is situated. It has a great alfresco cocktail bar looking out onto Velo, a small and casual spot that serves a great affagato (a single shot of espresso poured over a ball of homemade vanilla ice cream). Asian restaurant Ramen is next door and a new restaurant will be opening up there very soon.

Across the road is Double Shot, a roastery and very slick coffee shop, and around the corner is Narina Trogon, where I had a great sirloin with a béarnaise sauce and hand-cut chips.

Apparently the Neighbourhood Goods Market is thriving there just as it is in Cape Town, and even the suburb’s oldest pub has had a facelift.

On the other hand, I also spent sometime in the country. Well, it felt like the country, although it really is a suburb in Pretoria, called Irene. The Irene Country Lodge is situated on a working dairy farm, which is a great place to take the kids for a picnic and to wander around the historic buildings, which are national monuments.

I also did a bit of wandering around the buffet on Saturday evening, which offered a superb selection of seafood, delicious sushi, and sizzling prawns smothered in chilli and garlic, cooked in front of you.

It’s more of a dining room than a restaurant, as it has that wonderful old-world charm that you don’t often see anymore. (You know, when someone is softy singing and playing the piano in the background?) The name is Meadow Green Restaurant and there I was treated to the most genuine service that I’ve had in a while.

And I must admit that I went back for seconds, as I just couldn’t resist a slice of prime roast beef and the puffiest of Yorkshire puddings.

Nothing wrong with a buffet offering, if you ask me!

Enjoy.
Abigail

PS) I am a bit chuffed this morning to see that my prediction of the winner of MasterChef SA, Deena, is coming in pretty close. Good luck to both Sue-Ann and Deena!
 

Photographs: Randlords, La Menu, Narina Trogon, Neighbourgoods (Flickr/Saaleelah Bamjee)