Review: Proud Mary

Thursday, December 7th, 2023

Food
Proud Mary is a casual, stylish venue with an excellent wine bar offering a huge range of local and international wines and cocktails, as well as a modern menu of bar nibbles, small plates and larger options that deliver on flavour and technique, catering for a diverse range of tastes and budgets. It’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Daytime and evening dining kick off with the likes of olives, a charcuterie or cheese board, bread and butter, or white anchovies with apple, pear, celery and fennel salsa. There are also oysters with a nam jim dressing or a mignonette. Move onto small plates, such as BBQ octopus with gochujang, salsa macha, Kewpie mayo, pickled leek and bonito flakes, which is perfectly cooked. Jamon croquettes are deliciously crispy and served with a creamy aioli. There are several vegetarian options, including miso broccoli with olive grissini pangrattato, and baked lemon-and-olive-oil artichoke hearts with a beautifully fresh fennel, grapefruit and mint salad. Coal-fired vegetables are cooked on the open fire, giving them a smoky flavour, and served with a couscous salad and yoghurt dressing, which pulls all the flavours together – a delicious and filling dish. Larger plates include the likes of a grilled Cubano sandwich with Emmenthal, mustard and pickles, served with waffle chips; linguine Caprese; or West Coast mussels. If you need something to satisfy a larger appetite, you’re well covered. Lamb chops, oven-roasted whole fish, pelepele chicken and dukkah-and-saffron prawns will hit the spot. There are also specialty meat cuts, such as local Wagyu, tomahawk, rump picanha and a 650g, 21-day, dry-aged T-bone. You won’t go hungry here! Desserts are equally good. Choose from the likes of strawberry mess (poached strawberries, gin jellies, blancmange, coconut sorbet and torched lime meringues) or chocolate caramel fondant with chocolate soil, caramel popcorn and salted caramel gelato. Opt for tropical sorbet, gelato, or the cheese plate if you fancy something lighter.

Drinks
It’s impossible not to find something you like here. The impressive wine list celebrates local, small-batch and independent producers, showcasing many unusual wines. There are also Champagnes, international wines, and innovative and classic cocktails that will please all palates.

Service
Service here matches the atmosphere: fun and friendly. Waiters are well-versed on the menu and are able to make good recommendations.

Ambience
Décor is very stylish: mid-century modern meets Jozi glitz in the best possible way. A well-curated playlist adds to the upbeat atmosphere. It’s hard not to have a good time.