Melrose Arch, in Johannesburg, has turned into a proper foodie hot spot. With trendy restaurants all serving up some delicious food, its hard to decide which restaurant to wine and dine at. Not so new to the Melrose Arch foodie scene though is Moyo, one of my ultimate favourite restaurants for a unique African dining experience.
Moyo is definitely something special. Not only is the decor, music and live entertainment reflective of Africa, but the menu definitely showcases some of the very best dishes Africa has to offer. The focus of the varied menu is pan-African, with influences from northern Africa, Cape Malay, Morocco as well as some authentic South African dishes. Think tandoori chicken, lentil bobotie, tagines, ostrich burgers and even oxtail. If you’re more on the daring side, you will also find dishes like fried mopane worms and crocodile tail pies.
Moyo has always been our go-to spot for a dinner with a difference or even a celebration. From a birthday to an anniversary, we have always loved wining and dining here. The food is superb, the live music is entertaining and the ambiance is something different. I personally love the truly African feel to this restaurant!
A few Sundays ago we were treated to a delicious lunch here which was definitely a first for us as we’ve always only ever had dinner at Moyo. It was a cold rainy Sunday and all we wanted was a little bit of comfort food and the dishes we ordered definitely hit the right spots.
What made our Sunday lunch truly remarkable, in addition to the delicious African cuisine, the live African music and decor, was the hospitable service. As we arrived, smiling staff welcomed us to our table. A few moments later we were having our faces painted following a Masaai Mara tradition, with small flowers and dots using a white and black soluble paint.
OUR DISHES
The Moyo Flamed Fillet.
This is the aged fillet with mushroom, spinach and mozzarella, on a herb potato gallet with creamy Madagascan green peppercorn and peppadew sauce. Words won’t do this dish justice, but just know that the meat was cooked to absolute perfection, it was tender and tasty, and it was so flavourful. My first bite (and all the bites after) was definitely a melt-in-your-mouth moment.
Oxtail Amos.
This is Moyo’s famous oxtail braised with butter beans and carrots in a red wine beef jus. It is no wonder why it is famous, it was absolute perfection. The meat fell off the bone, it was succulent and tender. It definitely reminded me of my Granny’s famous oxtail.
When it finally came round to dessert we just couldn’t decide. The options included Cape malva pudding, rooibos tea crème brûlée, amarula ice cream or peppermint crisp cheesecake. We knew we had to share a dessert (we were so full) but we just didn’t know which one. So when we asked our friendly waitress which one she recommends, without any hesitation she said the crème brûlée. She definitely knows her stuff because it was a real treat.
Rooibos Tea Crème BrûléeÂ
Thank you Moyo Melrose Arch for a very memorable Sunday lunch. We have already made a reservation for our next visit!
Moyo Melrose Arch
w: www.moyo.co.zaÂ
t: 011 6841477
a:Â 10 Melrose Boulevard
Melrose Arch
Johannesburg
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