The hottest dining spot in Jozi right now is the R350 million rand Montecasino Piazza which opened off William Nicol Drive in Fourways last month – a serious rival to other dedicated Joburg ‘al fresco’ dining areas like Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton, Melrose Arch and the uber-chic Design Quarter just up the road.

The Highveld has some of the finest weather in the country and even winter days can be relatively balmy. In the past Joburgers got used to pavement dining overlooking the ubiquitous car park but the times they are a-changing and now they’d rather have a meal with a view.

Montecasino Piazza is modelled on an Italian piazza and features both a bell tower as a focal point and a musical fountain which plays on the hour from 7.30pm to 10.30pm weather permitting.

Café-style dining
There are six gorgeous looking restaurants around the square with huge spaces for outdoor eating as well as interiors which overlook the piazza and fountain. Ciao Baby (011 511-0210) is a new branch from the larger-than-life Theo Holiasmenos who has been successfully feeding South Africans for the past 40 years. He’s regarded as something of an innovator in the food industry having launched classics like Shaft 58, the MacRib chain and Uncle Basils.

Ciao Baby has been so successful in this country that there’s now a branch in Basingstoke in the UK which is staffed by South Africans who are flown out regularly to gain international experience. Italian mama Rosanna Quinto divides her time between the Gauteng establishments, devising specials and ensuring that the pasta is served al dente.

A major draw card at the restaurant is the antipasti table. If you are ordering off the menu try the Vongole in Bianco, fresh clams tossed with olive oil, white wine, garlic and parsley and served with home-made al dente linguine.

@Monte Wine Bar
You can also get wine-on-tap (a relatively new concept for South African diners) at @Monte Wine Bar (011 510-7471) which offers 48 top quality wines at any one time thanks to state-of-the-art imported equipment. The yummy menu offers two distinct options – the innovative ‘Tasters’ menu for light meals and heartier meals with some fabulous steaks to be washed down by premium red by the glass. The décor here is a delight. The outside is fabulous but make sure you visit the interior – a feeling of Casablanca meets Opium Den is created in the boudoir-like treatment of the lounge area and washroom lobby.

Myriad of choices…
The other four restaurants around the Monte Piazza are Mugg & Bean, The Met, Mondovino and John Dory’s. With The Lion King set to open at the end of the month at South Africa’s newest and largest theatre Teatro at Montecasino – which borders the Piazza – business looks set to roar under African skies.

Jozi hot spots
At the moment Jozi diners are spoilt for choice of where and what to eat. Two well-known Jozi restaurateurs are going great guns in their new establishments.

Jaco Welgemoed – of Circle and The Singing Fig fame – is now heading up Cité in the Dunkeld West Shopping Centre (011 341-0663). The décor is modern with one candy-striped wall while the menu offers soul food given an urban twist. On a wintry evening the impala loin in a red wine and port reduction on a bed of mash is a real treat.

Born in Burundi and raised in the Congo and Belgium, Coco Reinharz came to the attention of foodies thanks to his first venture Ma Passion in Greenside. It may have closed but Coco is still keeping his culinary passion flowing at Coco’s Sel et Poivre at Quartermain Inn in Morningside (011 884-9037). This establishment also boasts a ‘comfort food’ menu with melt-in-the-mouth lamb shanks and luscious cheesecake on offer.

Auberge Michel is Jozi’s only establishment to win all last year’s major culinary awards and is the only Top 10 Johannesburg restaurant in the annual Eat Out guide. This has inspired owner Michel Morand and Chef Frederic Leloup to work even harder. A recent visit showed that they are still on top of their game, experimenting with new dishes and flavours. They now serve guests fruit flavoured ‘caviar’ (Leloup’s been playing cleverly with agar agar) as well as the must-have starter – a trio of foie gras.

It comes served in a shot glass in a delicious broth, mixed with dark chocolate (the texture of the liver and the chocolate is exactly the same and is a culinary revelation) and as a foie gras brulee complete with sugar crust. What can one say but bravo! Auberge Michel can be found in Pretoria Avenue in Sandown (011 883-7013).

Foie gras was also on the menu at Melville’s gorgeous Sabayon Brasserie & Vodka Bar (011 482-4309) which also provides a real culinary adventure. It came served with marrow bones in a must-have starter. If that’s too daring for your taste buds the prawn lollipops are fun as is the deboned lamb shank wrapped in cabbage. Also worth trying are the vodka’s from around the world – although if you get through more than three countries you may need a cab to get you home!

If you haven’t yet been there, take your tastebuds on an outing to The Green Truffle (011 486-1645) which is where the popular Yum used to be in Gleneagles Road in Greenside. Good choices on the menu are the vanilla and chorizo risotto and chicken and prawn laksa. Be warned though, prices are on the steep side.

For something completely different head for Ninjing in the Lonehill Shopping Centre (011 467-7668). Chef James Lee, who has worked in top restaurants around the world including Australia, makes excellent sushi and top quality Japanese fare like pot soups, donburi and Japanese style pizza’s called okonomiyaki.

However, the restaurant also specialises in Korean cuisine. Try the spicy relish called kimchi (voted one of the world’s healthiest foods last year by Health magazine) which is made from fermented cabbage and gives a real kick. You can have it as a starter with fried tofu too.

Tuck in!

Words Janine Walker