Review – Crafters Rooftop Bar @ The Factory on Grant

Beverages – Crafters Bar

Ok so I went M.I.A again,  I have been somewhat crazy busy baking and cooking and visiting new things and places however no great pics came of it so no blog post.

It’s really strange or even difficult to hold off a group of people or hungry family when you’re trying to take a pic of dinner. So some of the things I made this past week includes:

• Brownies
• Chocolate Fudge Cake
• Doughnuts
• Sundried Tomato Stuffed steak and…
• Dorito Enchilda Casserole

to name some of the more exciting dinners and treats. I also managed a pleasant brunch at Dobbs at the Val Bonne Country Estate in the Modderfontein Nature Reserve. Which is actually an amazing little oasis of nature in the midst of Johannesburg. It’s super popular with cyclists, I didn’t even know about it but I think I’ll definately be going back at some point. Alas no pics of brunch either I was too involved with friends and food and the beauty.

Bar

Crafters Rooftop Bar View

I did however manage to chronicle a great rooftop bar in my neighbourhood of Norwood. It’s called Crafter’s and sits at the very top of the Factory on Grant. It’s a very simple, unpretentious bar with great views across the Northern suburbs, it’s also a good place to catch a chilled drink with friends on a Sunday afternoon.

Rooftop Bar

Crafters has a small bar with a variety of cocktails, drinks and craft beer draughts on offer. The Vovo Telo caters you all your food, meal or snack needs, although since there’s multiple levels in between it does mean a bit of a wait and there’s no quick orders.

Burger with sweet potato fries – Vovo Telo

None the less, I am really happy to have an easy, relaxed place to go right around the corner. The great view is a total bonus!

A Taste of Turkey

The Turkish Kebab House is a small out of the way, not fancy place that serves up a wonderful array of turkish foods, mainly in the form of grilled meats.

Store Front – Turkish Kebab House

It’s one of those places that isn’t well known and is not in a popular location but the food, quality and experience is well worth the effort of a visit. Another bonus is the prices are really decent for what you get. They have a take away order menu and a sit down restaurant. They also offer a fully fledged turkish butchery and mini grocer with various items such as cheese’s, labneh and spiced kebabs.

Turkish Kebab House Menu

The food itself is actually really healthy which is one of the reasons I feel I will be investing time at this place.

The grilled meats are well spiced and flavourful and you’re served with freshly baked turkish roti/breads and a colorful variety of salads and vegetables. For me personally my favourite would be the yoghurt and cucumber side dressing and the tomato salsa that also comes with every meal. The grills come in the form of chicken, beef kebab, donner kebab and even lamb chops. Needless to say that serving sizes are more than adequate for a hearty meal.

Mixed Grill and Salad

Beyti Kebab Turkish Kebab House

On my last visit we tried a pide which is basically a cheesy pizza, turkish style. They come with a variety of toppings including chicken, mince, cheese and spinach to name a few and I have to say it was absolutely delicious! They use a thicker, creamier cheese (which they sell in the adjoining grocer/butcher) which makes it a perfect combination of rich and tasty.

Pide

The Turkish Kebab house is for me a wonderful little hidden gem, it’s not in the best neighbourhood and they don’t serve alcohol but it is totally worth the trip!! Its a great new experience and highly recommended!

The Turkish Kebab House:

Address: 79 Church street, Mayfair

Tel: (011) 025 1123

Sunset @ Katy’s Palace

Katy’s Palace Bar – Classy ride

It has been ridiculously hot in Johannesburg the last few days which is uncomfortable during the day but makes for wonderfully warm evenings, perfect for spending time at an eclectic quirky rooftop bar like Katy’s Palace Bar.

Exotic Entrance to Katy’s Palace Bar

I had heard about Katy’s Palace but hadn’t really been mainly since it isn’t open to trade everyday. In fact it’s main function is as an event venue, however they do a Sunday lunch buffet that has received rave reviews. I eventually made it to Katy’s Palace for an event (a work event…not my work event…I didn’t crash I was a plus 1) and I have to say from the moment we arrived I was blown away by the space and the decor to the extent that I didn’t really notice that it wasn’t really my event.

Katy’s Palace is situated in Kramerville Johannesburg, which has in the last few years really become a spot for trendy lifestyle spots and furnishings. Katy’s palace is located in a large warehouse space above a charming an exotic furniture and artefacts store which only adds to the charm. From the moment you approach the building and as you make your way up to the venue you are enticed with a variety of quirky and interesting art and objet d’art.

Quirky Art and Deco at the entrance

Interesting Art

Once you enter the space you find yourself in a voluminous palatial open area, decorated in a rustic and eclectic array of furnishings and artifacts.

 

When we entered the sun was just on the horizon and streamed through the space highlighting and illuminating all the deco. The bar is a well placed an attraction on it’s own and the space flows out onto a veranda with the most spectacular view of the Sandton skyline.

Sandton Skyline view at Sunset

The veranda was the perfect spot for the warm summer night and as drinks came and the band started playing, it really made for a beautiful evening. Since it was an event appetisers were served and ranged from sushi to haloumi, before single servings of chicken curry and rice and pasta came around. The food was delicious and the staff were friendly.

Katy’s Palace Indoor Venue with Upper terrace

Indoor Decor – Fireplace

Overall, Katy’s Palace Bar is definately a distinct venue and one that shouldn’t be missed. I think a Sunday lunch will be on my agenda soon.

Beefcakes Bachelor

XOXO

Coming up very soon, is the nuptials of a very good friend. As a pre-wedding/Bachelor party we celebrated at Beefcakes in Illovo this past weekend.

 

Beefcakes – Illovo Johannesburg

Beefcakes is a restaurant and entertainment venue synonymous with a retro 50’s Miami beach vibe enhanced by the madness of a glamorous drag show, sexy male waiters and delicious burgers. It’s camp chic at it’s best.

Pink and White Flamingo’s

Think flamingo’s, glitter, pink drinks and boy’s! As an entertainment venue it’s popular with bachelorette parties; however birthdays, baby showers, divorce parties and like us a Bachelor’s & Bachelor’s (which we later found out was the first at the venue) worked wonderfully. They have other themed nights through the week such as “Bitchy Bingo” on Tuesday’s and “The Dreemz Drag” on Thursday.

Lights, Sequins…Show!!!

The vibe and layout of the venue is very fun and friendly, everyone from the waiters to the vamp’s are absolutely fantastic. One of the clear highlights of the evening was the drag show put on by “The Vamps” who did a varied, current and entertaining music montage, accentuated with hair, makeup, sequins and extravagant costumes.

 

 

Beefcakes Burger

They are pretty famed for the beefcakes burgers, which are actually extremely tasty and are accompanied with fries and a selection of burger additions, such as guacamole, salsa and cheese’s. They do offer an a la carte menu with a more detailed offering. The Cocktails are pretty pink and yummy!

Pink Drinks

 

Topless Waiter’s anyone?

Finally, the evening end’s off with all the waiters stripping off their top’s revealing buffed, toned bodies that are up for body shot’s. A particularly popular offering especially for the brides-to-be.

Overall, beefcakes is a good, fun night out! It provides an evening of food, laughs, drinks and fancy entertainment!

Beefcakes is located in Illovo next to the Thrupp’s centre and they have an alternate branch in Bedfordview.

 

Level 4 @ 54 on Bath

My Husband and I just celebrated our 8th Wedding Anniversary!

To celebrate the event we booked for dinner at the level 4 restaurant at the Tsogo sun’s 54 on bath hotel in Rosebank. I was super excited as I hadn’t been yet and I’d heard great things about it.

The Outdoor Terrace seating area

The restaurant is stylish and contemporary, it’s located on the terrace level, and has seating both indoors and outdoors on the terrace. We chose to be seated outside with the hope that the warm weather would hold out and we’d avoid a summer thunder shower.

Before I proceed I must admit that I played a rookie move and was armed with nothing but my Iphone camera, and the combination of romantic outdoor lighting, whilst wonderful for us did nothing for my photo’s. I ode to do better next time.

Complimentary Champagne to celebrate 8!

We decided to go all out and get a full 3 course dinner. Since we were celebrating the restaurant kindly provided a complimentary glass of champagne, which was a wonderful touch.

Coal fired peri-peri prawn , avocado, coriander and lime dressing

Starter – Calamari variations (Ceviche, grilled and fried) with corn salad and kimchi

For starters my husband went with the Coal fired Peri-Peri prawns, avocado, coriander and lime dressing and I went with the Calamari variations (Ceviche, grilled and fried) with the corn salad and kimchi. The Calamari was tasty and the kimchi added a wonderful dynamic. The prawns were absolutely delicious the flavour combination of the peri-peri prawns with the avocado were on point.

Sustainable farmed sea-bass, artichokes, smoked olive salsa and dill cream

For mains we ordered the Sea bass with artichokes, smoked olive salsa with dill cream and the Afrikaner cattle rib-eye, with baby vegetables (as per Andre, our server’s suggestion) . The fish was perfectly prepared and the olive salsa really  made the dish. I ordered the rib-eye medium rare and it was prepared to perfection. It was served with a bechamel sauce, and although it was a simple dish it was rich and wholesome.

Afrikaner cattle Rib – eye with baby vegetables and bechamel sauce

Pistachio Molten Cake dessert

Cheesecake dessert

Finally for dessert…(yes we went all out)… between us we ordered the Pistachio Molten cake which is Grand Cru 64% Manjari chocolate & pistachio molten cake with fig, rose pearls &
pistachio ice cream  and the cheesecake. The cheesecake was a vanilla cheesecake with stone fruit carpaccio, plum sorbet & grapefruit meringue. The cheesecake was a deconstructed cheesecake with a plum sorbet and peach slices, so it wasn’t a heavy or overly rich dish but was appropriately sweet. My husband devoured the Pistachio molten cake, I just about barely got a picture so I infer that he enjoyed it a whole lot.

Overall, I would say level 4 does a wonderful job of providing good food, great friendly service and comfortable surroundings. I would definately make my way back for brunch or even afternoon drinks with friends (a la the Veuve Cliquot champagne bar). The terrace itself is relaxed and the little garden fit for a game of croquet would be an interesting afternoon activity.

View from terrace

The stand out meal for the evening was the Coal fired peri- peri prawns and Andre who was stellar.