Every now and again the planets align and you find a restaurant that not only meets, but in fact surpasses, your basic expectations. In Johannesburg, that means you’ve found a winner.

You might be forgiven for thinking an establishment called Crazy Horse is a pub, but should you venture to Parktown North, you’ll find an intimate space with a small, yet carefully considered menu, an owner who is not too busy to manage the front of house, a chef that actually meets his customers, and a single, fiercely capable waitress. Low light and the buzz of a restaurant packed with patrons indulging their food fantasies creates an ambience that is as appropriate for a romantic dinner as it is for a night out with friends.

The food

Crazy Horse’s menu is an eclectic mix of Mediterranean delicacies with a predilection for the Italian. Tempting though it may be to go straight for freshly made and exotic pasta dishes – say seafood imported from Mozambique with a champagne and cream sauce, or ravioli filled with veal porcini – it would be a terrible mistake not indulging in the arancini risotto balls with a mozzarella centre, or passing up on dipping the complimentary freshly baked sourdough bread into the melted gorgonzola oozing from the eggplant and pepper stack.

Take an open mind and an empty stomach.

Chocolate lovers may be tempted to opt for fresh chocolate fondant to end off a great meal, but the warm chocolate and date pudding is a moist and fluffy affair that you don’t want to miss. Slightly lighter than the traditional chocolate fondant, the dessert is accompanied by a scoop of delicate vanilla ice cream and just big enough to share. True to its Italian roots, Crazy Horse also offers a Tiramisu fix for those who prefer to stick to what they know.

Wine

There’s a choice of 2011 Santa Cristina Toscana or Cantina Gabriele Chardonnay, two delicate Italian ladies that go perfectly with the menu. Don’t be afraid to order a second bottle of the Toscana – she’s quite friendly.

Service

Between the waitress, the owner and the chef, you can rest assured that you won’t be neglected. Be careful not to order mains while you’re enjoying tapas. Meals are prepared in a flash, even on a busy night, so give yourself a little time to let the courses settle.

Ambience

This is a small, gorgeous space. Steering clear of the classic green-and-red Italian pitfall, the restaurant is chic and cosy without feeling oppressive. Ornate lamp shades cast a romantic glow over the white chairs and wooden tables, while a hand-written menu on the wall faces off with a blown-up image of a rodeo on the opposite wall. Like the menu, the decor finds a great balance between quirk and class.

By Kristia van Heerden

Have you been to Crazy Horse? Let us know what you thought of it by writing a quick review.