Fast Facts

Restaurant name: The Blue Crane 

Address: 156 Melk Street, Nieuw Muckleneuk, Pretoria 

Phone number: 012 460 7615 

Opening hours: Sunday to Wednesday 8am to 3pm; Thursday to Saturday 8am to 10pm  

Average price of a main course: R150 

Parking situation: Secure parking on site 

Food type: Bistro, café-fare 

Best for: Family breakfasts or lunches, casual dinner dates, dinner with family and friends.

Food

The Blue Crane Restaurant and Bar has been a longstanding favourite in Pretoria. Recently, it has had a massive, recent revamp. The décor has been designed to pay homage to the exquisite natural surroundings of the bird park, lake and the surrounding nature reserve. This revamp has modernised the appearance of the restaurant. 

The menu has also been revised several times. Some patrons lamented the rapid changes to the menu because they could not find their favourite dishes on the menu on subsequent visits. The restaurant offers one vegetarian/plant based option per menu category. Portion sizes have been scaled down and are realistic, however, the flavour profile can be somewhat bland for adventurous palates.

 

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The overall impression of the food is of basic pub fair. The menu descriptions sound very enticing, but the execution is often without charm.  

Drinks

Local wines predominate. Several wines available by the glass. Waiter had a good basic knowledge of the available wines

 

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Service

This restaurant has a large contingent of staff with various attitudes towards service. Some staff members seemed somewhat jaded. The manager on duty was not very visible. The eventual server was excellent. He was friendly, engaging and knowledgeable.

 

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Ambience

Rustic, game lodge style decor blended well with the setting in the lush, highveld landscape. Lots of bird life and excellent vantage points and observation decks.

 

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Eat Out critics dine unannounced and pay for their meals in full. Read our full editorial policy here.