The Grill House

Grilled to Perfection

This week’s gem was one of Ion’s favourite restaurants, The Grill House in Rosebank. We reserved (reservation is essential, it was 80% full on Monday) a table at the non-smoking section but moved to the quiet smoking section. This is a lot cosier and quieter than the open planned non-smoking section.

Before we ordered our starters, an oven warm bread bun arrived. We added some olive oil and balsamic vinegar mix onto our side plate and dipped the warm bread into it…the best…you should try this combo.

Dimitri went with the manager to the cellar, after 15 minutes he returned with a Goede Hoop Cab 2000 at R200 per bottle not a bad buy. The first bottle was velvet smooth and amazing, the second bottle (we were there for a long time) not as good.

We ordered a blue cheese salad and calamari for our starters. The salad was okay but the calamari was succulent. We then moved onto our second bottle of wine and the crème de la crème, the fillet. Done just like the Greeks like it….”medium re”. The best in town. We both ordered the fillet; Dimitri went with a baked potato and Ion with the vegetable option - the vegetable option is the better option.

After the mains we lit up our Monte Cristos No5, we sat back and enjoyed the wine and talked about good times and friends. We also had a long chat with the manager about why their fillet is perfectly cut for the individual. This is a dream spot for any carnivore looking for a perfectly grilled slice of meat.


Until we eat again,

DimitrION

The Side Plate

Be-Side ourselves

Our traditional post-yoga brunch session on Saturdays led us to a gem that was hidden from us till now. But what a find! The Side Plate in Illovo, Jo’burg (opposite Summer Place – Ciavelli’s old house) is a venue set in serene surroundings of water features and landscaped gardens. The restaurant forms part of the Berloni Interior’s Showroom.

We managed to spend about four hours there, a long-stretch brought on by amazing food recommended by Clint, excellent cappuccinos, a few good bottles of Mulderbosch Chenin Blanc and the best company! Our table of three (with Sasha, Dimitri’s wife) grew as the morning progressed and as our friends Nadia, Dana, Ronel and Greg joined us. They and we fell in love with the place and the food.
We shared the French toast with a twist. It was made with a crispy croissant, not toast and it came with syrup, youngberries and beef sausages. This was the beginning of the beginning of our wonderful exploration. Dimitri finally moved on to eggs Benedict but preferred Sasha’s poached eggs with smoked salmon and capers. Ion had the mozzarella, bacon and cherry tomato filled omelette – not bad. Our super-supple yoga instructor and her sister had the vegetarian options of the Mediterranean sushi (no raw fish in this one) and the couscous and haloumi salad – nice big portion.

Then Greg joined us and we were “forced” to have lunch with him – yummy chicken burgers with haloumi…

Obviously we had to share a couple of deserts. The halva ice cream was pretty good, but nothing like Clint’s recommended favourite – magically filled phylo pastry (check out the photos on www.yourtastebuds.com).

Until we eat again,

Your Taste Buds,

DimitrION