Three Johannesburg dining experiences to know now

Johannesburg’s dining scene can be as varied as its city neighbourhoods. Below are three distinct restaurant experiences described by Not Quite Nigella (Lorraine Elliott), with menu highlights, atmosphere notes and published prices where available.

Top picks and what they offer

MAMASAMBA glamour and theatre

According to Not Quite Nigella (Lorraine Elliott), MAMASAMBA is a glamorous playground with projected wall murals and a curved mirrored staircase. The site’s account describes the venue as having disco balls, a jungle theme, green velvet curtains, semi-circular cane booths and a circular bar “the sort of place where people take selfies on the curved staircase and you go there to be seen.”

On food, Not Quite Nigella (Lorraine Elliott) reports the menu is international, spanning Argentine steaks to sushi. Recommended starters include soft tacos such as calamari with pineapple and oxtail with avocado. The sushi moriawase is presented theatrically, arriving in a cloud of dry ice; the site notes the price for the large sushi platter as AU$100.

Rockets VIP bar and big platters

Not Quite Nigella (Lorraine Elliott) describes Rockets as a Vegas-style VIP bar and restaurant located at the Casino in Menlyn in Pretoria. The review highlights large, fried and shareable platters and an international menu that includes tapas and sushi.

The author points out a vegetarian platter featuring deep-fried zucchini fries, spring rolls and onion bhaji, and praises the halloumi fries as “probably the best halloumi fries I’ve ever eaten.” Meat platters listed include hot wings, fried chicken wings, pork ribs and panko prawns.

Gigi New African cuisine in Waterfall Corner

Not Quite Nigella (Lorraine Elliott) reports that Gigi is a restaurant by Chef Moses Moloi that opened in February 2024 in Waterfall Corner. The menu focuses on New African cuisine and includes dishes such as oxtail with local ingredients like morogo spinach and vetkoek.

The write-up emphasises that the entire kitchen and floor staff were trained by Chef Moses Moloi and that none of those staff had worked in hospitality before. Menu prices published in the piece include: Pork Belly R135 (R135 / $11.50 AUD / $7.45 USD), Sea Bass R335 (R335 / $28 AUD / $18 USD) and Gigi Malva Pudding R105 (R105 / $9 AUD / $6 USD).

Atmosphere and presentation

The source highlights contrast between venues: MAMASAMBA’s theatrical, selfie-friendly glamour; Rockets’ casino-linked VIP and platter-led, high-energy environment; and Gigi’s focus on New African flavours paired with an open kitchen staffed by trainees personally instructed by the chef. Presentation details include dry-ice service for the sushi moriawase at MAMASAMBA and described textural elements in Gigi dishes such as a crispy-skinned sea bass and a malva pudding paired with toasted coconut, salted caramel and amansi sorbet.

Practical notes from the reporting

Not Quite Nigella (Lorraine Elliott) disclosed that the writer travelled to South Africa as a guest of South African Tourism. The article includes on-the-record descriptions, dish examples and the specific menu prices noted above.

How to use this guide

This brief guide compiles only the observations and specifics published by Not Quite Nigella (Lorraine Elliott). Use the descriptions above to match a dining style theatrical and glamorous, platter-focused and lively, or New African with chef-led training and to reference the menu examples and prices reported in the source.

“NQN travelled to South Africa as a guest of South African Tourism,” Not Quite Nigella (Lorraine Elliott).