Escondido Tapas, Illovo
If you’re looking for a vibey restaurant with delicious food, then look no further. Escondido’s never disappoints! They offer a wide variety of tapas – look for their signature chalkboard menu posted weekly on their facebook page. With interesting dishes like pulled pork samosas with Asian glaze and halloumi and tomato mac n cheese to firm favourite pumpkin fritters with cinnamon and sugar, the choices are endless! Be sure to book at least two weeks in advance to avoid disappointment.
Exclusive Books Social Kitchen & Bar, Hyde Park
I have to make a conscious effort to leave this place. The eye-catching décor is industrial chic with scatterings of deliciousness coming out of the kitchen run by executive chef Russell Armstrong, who’s worked in three-Michelin-starred restaurants in both the UK and France. The menu ranges from ‘very small plates and jars’ – if you’re in the market for a quick snack, such as goose liver parfait with brioche and sweet cherry foam (from R40 to R80 per plate) to the more substantial ‘plates to share’ and ‘from our josper oven’ like the mouth-watering slow roasted pork shoulder (from R95 to R170 per plate). Don’t forget to squeeze in a sweet small plate like the tangy lemon tart (all R95 per plate)
Parea Taverna, Illovo
A little piece of Greece tucked away on the streets of Illovo. Traditional Greek food with entertainment to match! If you’re going out for dinner on Friday or Saturday night, expect a festive atmosphere with traditional Greek dancing and breaking of plates. They serve a range of traditional main meals and a wide selection of meze, including a good selection of vegetarian dishes like domathes, falafel and of course hummus and tzatziki, be sure to order pita with the dips. The meaty meze to look out for are souvlaki (beef, chicken and lamb) and the chicken livers. All in all – a comfy, well-priced spot to grab a meal.
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