At Choo Choo Junction, Johannesburg’s new eatery and bar themed around locomotives, it’s all about the steam engine, steampunk décor, globally inspired meaty fare and absinthe on tap.

Flatbreads will feature toppings like cider-glazed chorizo or sausage with creamy Balkan cheese, onion and peppers. Photo supplied.

The restaurants of Linden are all very cooperative and interdependent, so when deciding on the selling point of their new eatery, Choo Choo Junction owners Renee Hill and Gisela Krischker first looked to see what they could add to the neighbourhood mix. They figured their venture wasn’t going to be about more coffee, but it could include more steak.

The private dining area. Photo supplied.

Therefore, wood-fired food – slow-cooked where possible – is going to be the focus. Look forward to dishes like lamb rump; glazed beef short-ribs that have been cooked overnight; and flatbreads from four different parts of the world with fillings like cider-glazed chorizo or sausage with creamy Balkan cheese, onion and peppers. Choo Choo Junction will host Sunday roasts, too. Desserts will be playful, like the s’more cone filled with biscuits, melted marshmallow and chocolate.

Decor features a touch of steampunk – and a touch of steam trains. Photo supplied.

The convivial 25-seater bar, lit by quirky industrial lightbulbs, will also offer whiskies, wines and beers as well as a few unusual cocktails and shooters – not to mention the absinthe on tap.

Choo Choo Junction is opening tonight, Thursday 25 August 2016.