Proud Mary is Rosebank’s enticing new restaurant, serving up vibrant food in an equally vibrant setting. The innovative duo that brought us La Boqueria in Parktown North has worked their magic on this new venue – this time with even more glitz and glam. 

Proud Mary is situated on the ground floor of The Bank: a 13-storey mixed-use marvel containing penthouse offices, the five-star Voco Hotel, co-working spaces and, of course, Proud Mary. 

You’re lucky if you can get a table and the moment you walk into the space you’ll see why: black brick walls and art deco doors frame an extraordinary and decadently dressed interior that all centres around a sexy champagne and wine bar that begs to be visited.

Owner Garry Hollywood says: “Our outdoor terrace sits directly adjacent to Rosebank Square and is enhanced by a beautiful garden and the buzz of the busy pedestrianised streets and walkways lined with cafés, high-street retail, art galleries, entertainment venues and tourist landmarks such as the Johannesburg craft market.”

Every element, from the glassware to the chairs, has been carefully selected to make dining at Proud Mary feel like an experience.

Chef Christo Nortier is at the helm, returning to SA a few years ago after travelling the world and working in the UK with Jamie Oliver. He’s all about fresh and vibrant dishes that utilise only the best in locally sourced ingredients. “The menu is a flavour explosion. From Middle Eastern and Italian to Peruvian and Thai, we’re always playing with flavours. I have a talented team in the kitchen with me and we try to keep it fun and simple. I have a saying ‘MOFMOF’, which means Maximum Of Flavour, Minimum Of Fuss, and we try to stick to it. It’s refined rather than fine dining.”

Patrons can look forward to tucking in to tantalising sweet and savoury breakfasts, handsome brunches (the salmon gravalax and avocado rosti paired with a Mionetto Prosecco bellini will have your head spinning), eclectic small plates, robust and hearty café plates, fire-grilled steaks, and even a fully fledged seafood raw bar. Yes, you heard right! Stroll over to the bar to choose from their selection of fresh whole fish, Namibian oysters and sashimi…

Restaurants always run the risk of trying to offer too much and, in so doing, do nothing well, but every dish on Proud Mary’s menu has been considered, tried, tested and refined – and you can taste it. Vegans and vegetarians, so often an afterthought, can look forward to an array of gorgeous veggie offerings. The vegan coconut red curry with coal-roasted veg, crispy ginger, nut gremolata and fresh basil is sensational, and the vegetarian small plates, including the roasted aubergine with pickled onions and baba ganoush, are guaranteed to please.  

Going to Proud Mary really does feel like a celebration and we think it’s just what the doctor ordered.