Review: Sejour

Monday, December 11th, 2023

Food
“Séjour” means “to stay” in French, which is a fitting name for this stylish restaurant located in the Houghton Hotel in Johannesburg, where you’ll want to linger over an impressively well-executed menu of classics by chef Freddie Dias. Starters include an artisanal bread board of wholewheat sourdough and corn-and-chive loaf, accompanied by delicious spreads including baba ganoush, beetroot pesto and home-made butter. Other options include a Waldorf salad with smoked grapes, and a salad of carrot hummus, shaved baby marrow, pickled carrot, celery, almonds, Parmesan and fresh herbs. For something richer, opt for mushrooms on toast, which brings brioche toast, eryngii mushrooms, porcini marmalade and truffle hollandaise – definitely not your average brunch! For mains, confit duck leg with smoked mash, orange-and-sultana jus and seasonal vegetables is deliciously flavourful, with the sweet flavours from the jus complementing the duck and the smoky mash very well. Hanger steak is served with dhey, a Cape Malay yoghurt-based sauce with coriander, garlic and chillies – a refreshingly different take on the usual sauces on offer. Vegetarians will love the “ten-a-day” risotto made with seasonal vegetables, as well as the honey-roasted pumpkin gnocchi with pumpkin seeds and kale. Other meaty items include rack of lamb with herbed bulgur wheat, harissa yoghurt and caramelised-onion purée; salmon with burnt-aubergine purée and Shirazi salad; sirloin with hasselback potatoes, confit tomato and beef-fat onions; or linefish fillet with acorda (a Portuguese side dish of thinly sliced bread with garlic, white pepper and poached eggs). Sides such as grilled broccoli with chilli, garlic, olive oil and blue-cheese sauce; or Korean spiced spinach and fries with a tomato emulsion, tomato powder and deep-fried basil can also be ordered. Dessert options include a tangy, zesty dish of lime pearls and lime tequila sorbet.

Drinks
The wine list is well curated with an excellent variety of wines and cocktails to cater to every budget and taste. Waiters are able to recommend wine to pair with your meal. Cocktails include interesting tipples such as a tonka bean martini with pineapple purée and lime, as well as the almond-and-ginger sun, made with gin, pineapple, ginger and almond. Spirits, beers and non-alcoholic beverages are also on offer.

Service
Service is excellent, with waiters going above and beyond to make guests feel comfortable. They understand the menu and cooking techniques, and are able to make good recommendations for food as well as drinks.

Ambience
Séjour is a stylish hotel restaurant that is accessible and relaxed. The décor is light and elegant, with marble-topped tables and plush velvet-upholstered chairs. There are sweeping views of the lawns and golf course, making this an excellent choice for anything from a business meeting to a celebratory dinner. It exceeds the expectations you may have of a hotel restaurant.