Chef Coco at work. Photo supplied.

After moving all over the continent in recent months, chef Chef Coco Reinarhz is back in South Africa, set to open a brand new restaurant in Johannesburg, called Épicure by Chef Coco. (He is no longer involved at any of his former restaurants.)

Thanks to his Burundian royal maman, Coco divides his time between Belgium, Côte d’Ivoire, South Africa and the African islands. His latest venture is a modern African-themed restaurant in Morningside Central Square. He describes the décor as African chic and the fare, Pan-African.

Patrons can look forward to many spaces at Épicure by Chef Coco and even more ways to explore his extraordinary talents, including à la carte dining, a degustation menu, Afri-tapas, a rum bar featuring drinks from the African diaspora, a cigar space with humidor, alfresco eating, and even fresh and healthy dishes to start the day, because he’ll be opening from 8am. There are also plans for Sunday picnics.

The restaurant is ready to open, but – like many new restaurants – they’re just waiting for their liquor license. As the concept hinges on food and wine, and food and cocktail pairings, he’d like to wait for that before opening.

As for us, we can’t wait!