Fast facts 

Restaurant name: Sebule
Address: African Pride Hotel, Melrose Arch
Phone number: 072 456 1367
Opening times: Tuesday to Sunday, 12.30pm to 9.30pm
Average price of a main course: R320
Corkage fee: N/A
Parking situation: Shopping centre/hotel parking
Food type: Modern African cooking over fire

With a chef like Freddie Dias at the helm, it’s no wonder the food at Sebule walks the careful line between comfort and refinement. Sebule, which means ‘living room’ in Swahili, does a stellar job of inviting diners with a menu comprising familiar flavours, presented in a fresh new way. To kick things off, the bread course set the bar high, with homemade roosterkoek, butter and a zingy chutney. On to starters, choices included chorizo asada and tuna tataki, among others, but our choice of crispy calamari hit all the right notes. While not overtly pickled as described on the menu, the accompanying papaya added a satisfying freshness to the dish, making it a pleasure to eat. For mains, we settled on the West Coast mussels and the lamb rump. The mussels hit a home run – perfectly plump, cooked in a delicate, velvety nasturtium emulsion ideal for mopping up with the crusty bread served alongside it. The lamb rump, topped with a ras-el-hanout crust and served with an aubergine ‘caviar’ dotted with amasi, was expertly cooked and full of flavour. The side of triple-cooked chips is an excellent add-on, as well as the green salad, offering much-needed freshness to an overall rich course. The generosity of mains meant that sadly, we were too full for dessert, but there seems to be a cheeky play on a Peppermint Crisp tart, along with other delicious-sounding sweets.

 

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Drinks

The wine list is a considered selection of some of South Africa’s best wines, on the higher and lower end of the price spectrum. We opted for glasses of Graham Beck Brut Cap Classique, but you can expect to find the best of Babylonstoren, Springfield, Tokara, Almenkerk and Luddite.

 

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Service

As the name suggests, the service at Sebule is warm and inviting, with a team of very well-trained and attentive staff.

Ambience

While the restaurant overlooks the bustle of Melrose Arch, the space itself is laid-back and serene. During our lunch, the restaurant was quiet, but considering its location within the hotel and Melrose itself, Sebule must be quite a buzz at nighttime.

 

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