With the weather cooling down, it’s the perfect time to tuck into a meaty main. Here are some of our favourite spots for a steak in Joburg.

Second Story (Sandton)

This all-day eatery is headed up by Aiden Pienaar, who has worked in some of the best restaurants in the world in Los Angeles, Dubai and all over South Africa. He has worked under some of the best chefs, including Luke Dale Roberts and three-Michelin star chef Jean-George Vongerichten. While there are many other items on the menu, the standout steaks include the 600g Tomahawk – a prime-aged 600g cut of beef served on the bone with your choice of sides, which include potatoes (baked, mashed, sweet or fried), rice, creamed spinach, roasted vegetables and garden salad. The 250g beef fillet is also a stunning option  chargrilled or lightly glazed with signature BBQ basting or served buttered or plain.

 

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The Local Grill (Parktown North)

The Local Grill is all about grain-fed wet- or dry-aged beef. Enjoy the complimentary fresh house bread while you peruse the menu. Star dishes include the venison steak, which is rubbed, grilled and served with a Cape Malay spice and honey jus. You can also try the picanha beef steak served with traditional pap and a homemade red pepper and tomato relish. There are a bunch of interesting sauces on the menu, such as blue cheese and Peppadew or béarnaise. If you can’t decide on a specific sauce, The Local Grill will bring you three sauces to enjoy with your steak. The secret to The Local Grill’s steaks is that they are all slow-roasted and have been marinated to perfection and then cured for a number of hours.  

 

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The Butcher Shop & Grill (Sandton)

With a slogan like “Raising the steaks since 1961”, you’re bound to find one of the best steaks in Joburg. The Butcher Shop & Grill is the essence of a steakhouse, with its traditional dining style, decor and waitrons who have years of experience. They serve only the best aged meat, including superb local beef and lamb, Argentinian ribeye, Kobe-style wagyu and Dutch veal. Their meat hangs in the carcass for three days. Then the rump, sirloin, fillet, ribeye, T-bone and prime rib are aged for 21–40 days. You can also choose from a selection of fine wines to pair with your meal, with two on-site wine cellars: the Pick’s Pick cellar offers outstanding yet affordable wines and the investment cellar exclusive vintages. The restaurant’s sommelier will gladly guide you through either one.

 

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George’s Grill House (Linksfield)

Established in 1972, George’s Grill House is situated at the new Linksfield area shopping centre, The Neighbourhood Square. George’s is all about premium meat cuts aged by the on-site butcher. All the meats are matured for a minimum of 21 days and are real beef, which has been hand-cut by George’s master butcher. Choose to have your cut of choice marinated with traditional BBQ steak basting sauce or George’s basting sauce (olive oil, oregano and herbs) and served with fresh round-cut chips, crispy oven-roasted potatoes, creamy spinach, corn or an Aegean salad. 

 

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Che Argentine Grill (Parkwood)

What started out as a stall at the local market is now a household name in Johannesburg’s food circles. Che is famous for their authentic wood-fired grills and Argentinian flavours. All the meat on the menu is sourced from the Midlands in KwaZulu-Natal and is free-range, gras- fed and ethically raised. Most cuts are cooked on the grill in coarse salt for the authentic Argentinian flavour and served with the famous Che chimichurri sauce. Apart from the asado, all cuts are recommended to be cooked medium to rare. Try the aranita steak (300g) also known as the Butcher’s Signature Steak, served with a side of your choice. This steak is from the inside hip, and is tender and flavourful. Sweet potatoes are recommended as a side. Che is owned by best friends Oscar and Bernado who both share a love and passion for fire food. 

 

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Cesco’s (Paulshof)

You can find good food in the most unusual of places, and this is exactly what Cesco’s is. Tucked away at the German Country Club in Paulshof, this restaurant and pub takes you by surprise. Value-for-money steaks with delicious down-to-earth sides are what you’ll find here. Try the Portuguese sirloin steak, topped with a fried egg and Cesco’s secret trinchado sauce.