Melville has received an injection of upmarket glamour in the form of Melon, a fabulously elegant restaurant. Owners Johann Strauss and Emil Faber took over the old Mezza Luna space and have transformed it into a sophisticated fine-dining venue. ‘During the World Cup we saw a great opportunity to start a new business with a guaranteed busy period of at least a month. Melville use to be a popular place but as a result of crime, the trendy crowds abandoned it for Sandton and Parkhurst. The crime problem has been resolved and Melon is here to make a statement and tell people that it is again trendy and safe to hang out in Melville,’ says Faber.
Jozi people are raving about the fantastic menu, which offers a multitude of tastes prepared by executive chef Thomas Grove. ‘Our menu changes according to what is popular with our clientele. We want to make sure that there is something for every taste on the menu without it becoming too vast,’ Faber explains. Try spectacular starters such as duck pâté with blueberry chutney, baby leaf salad and toasted brioche, and an eclectic selection of soups including the popular zucchini and mint soup topped with goats’ cheese. Mains offer unique flavours such as stir-fried calamari tubes with snow peas, chilli, carrots, bean sprouts and rice noodles. Melon also has a great light lunch menu, which includes a fabulous selection of gourmet sarmies like gorgonzola panini with pears and red-onion marmalade.