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Linden, a formerly quiet neighbourhood in Joburg North, has become home to a number of trendy new restaurants, bars and cafés. Here’s our selection of six must-try spots at this hot restaurant district.

This selection comprises all the Linden restaurants that made the cut for the 2019 Eat Out 500, the list of best restaurants in the country as rated and reviewed by our panel of critics for the 2019 edition of Eat Out magazine (on sale now). But we know there are many more great spots in the area. Please tell us about your favourites in the comments at the end!

Brian Lara Rum Eatery

Brian Lara Rum Eatery has a casual tropical island vibe complete with hanging plants, a living indoor wall, neon palm trees, pineapple lights, and vintage surfboards mounted on walls. Tuck into the complimentary snack of deep-fried crackers served with a spicy pineapple-and-tomato salsa, before ordering the spicy lentil-and-coconut curry bursting with veggies and served with warm Trinidadian flatbread and pineapple slaw. The menu also includes the highly recommended 800g of rum-basted barbecue pork ribs; a fiery flame-grilled jerk chicken; a crispy beer-battered fish fillet; and sides of sweetcorn fritters, coleslaw and spiced chips.

A dish and cocktails from Brian Lara Rum Eatery. Photo supplied.

Cheese Gourmet

This coffee shop is adjacent to one of the best cheese shops in the city. The all-day breakfast features dishes like the cheese duo frittata topped with Gruyère and mozzarella, and the trout scramble with a dollop of crème fraîche and capers on top of scrambled eggs. Quick meals include the Cheeza Treat (chorizo, artichokes and olives on rye, covered in cheese sauce); the Fungi Trio (a panini with mushrooms and a trio of cheese); or grilled baby camembert topped with a fig-and-onion compote. Otherwise, choose from the sandwich bar, burger options or platters of South African cheeses served with bread, pickles and home-made chilli jam. Finish the meal off with a fat slice of cheesecake.

PRON Restaurant (People’s Republic of Noodles)

PRON whips up tastebud-tingling Asian tapas of generous portions (for both meat-lovers and vegetarians) at affordable prices. The tapas range from shaved beef with plum chilli sauce to the unusual but delightful pig’s ear salad with tofu cubes in a spicy sauce. Other options include bean paste beef noodles; dandan noodles with pork mince; zha cai (a pickled mustard vegetable) with pork soup noodles; and Szechuan chilli chicken soup. The drinks menu features MAO’s favourite cocktails, Asian beers and a small selection of South African wines.

Tonic ? 

The food section at Tonic makes up a very small part of the extensive gin-and-cocktail-focused menu. Expect nibbles like flatbread with hummus; warm vegan gin-and-citrus olives; zucchini fries and deep-fried pickles with sriracha. From the small plates section, order barbecue pork belly and crispy slaw or beetroot and gin-cured salmon. Desserts overlap with the cocktails, such as with the Ginologist citrus-and-chocolate martini or the gin-poached pear with mascarpone and honeycomb. Tonic’s drinks are flirty, fun and even a little crazy – try the Mother Fluffer with marshmallow-infused gin, toasted marshmallows and candy floss. There are over 15 tonics and the gin range is encyclopaedic, with over 40 South African gins and 17 others from around the world available.

? Available for online bookings on the Eat Out app.

 

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For your nibbling needs: our nibbles menu perfectly designed for sharing or to have all to yourself! Order a few for the table. Corn Ribs with Squid Ink Aioli, Flatbread and Hummus, Gin and Citrus Warm Olives, The Best Damn Crispy Korean Chicken Wings and Deep Fried Pickles (hello!) #toniclinden #tonicjoburg #IamJustAGirlStandingInFrontOfABarAskingForAGandT #theoriginallindenginbar #acuratedginexperience #nibbles #cornribs #flatbread #hummus #olives #korean #chickenwings #pickles #sriracha

A post shared by Tonic (@tonic.joburg) on Jan 26, 2019 at 5:08am PST

Van Der Linde Restaurant ? 

At Van Der Linde you can stop in at the restaurant, bakery and deli, gin and juice bar, or the wine shop. If you’re dining at the restaurant, expect a ‘classics’ menu featuring dishes like charcoal-grilled rib-eye steak and salmon pappardelle with seared Norwegian salmon, pappardelle pasta, rocket, chilli, pecorino and sour cream. Leave space for a slice of freshly baked cake, crème brûlée or poached stone fruit with olive-oil sabayon. There’s also a relatively small vegan menu featuring breakfast dishes like falafel shakshuka; a sweet-potato and walnut salad with a pomegranate and mint dressing; and a VDL burger made with a chickpea and black-bean patty.

? Available for online bookings on the Eat Out app.

 

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One of the breakfasts ordered by a very happy customer today – Eggs Benedict (with crispy bacon instead of ham), and a marrow bone on the side. Delish! #breakfast #eggsbenedict #bacon #marrowbone #foodporn #breakfastporn #brunch

A post shared by Van Der Linde Restaurant (@vdlrestaurant) on Apr 5, 2019 at 3:14am PDT

The Whippet

This stylish café and bar serves simple homemade dishes, speciality teas and coffees, and craft beers. Expect a selection of reasonably priced breakfasts like the French omelette; mango berry smoothie bowl; pork belly bao Benedict; and the signature three-tier Linden breakfast sandwich featuring a smashed burger patty, fried egg, Whippet tomato relish, aged cheddar cheese, mushroom sauce, and crispy maple-glazed bacon on toasted ciabatta. The lunch menu includes thyme-roasted bone marrow, citrus-marinated halloumi and a churrasco chicken burger served on a soft roll with mint, red onion and mango aïoli.
All of these can be enjoyed with sides like zucchini fries, sweet potato fries, skinny fries or a herb garden salad. There’s also an extensive drinks list featuring a variety of teas and coffees, smoothies and shakes, as well as juices, cocktails and sparkling wines.

 

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Pork bau Benedict……breakfasts and Fridays.

A post shared by The Whippet Coffee Company (@thewhippetcoffee) on Mar 28, 2019 at 9:39pm PDT

This selection comprises all the Linden restaurants that made the cut for the 2019 Eat Out 500, the list of best restaurants in the country as rated and reviewed by our panel of critics for the 2019 edition of Eat Out magazine (on sale now). But we know there are many more great spots in the area. Please tell us about your favourites in the comments at the end!

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