By BRUCE DENNILL
The Greenhouse, Sandton, Johannesburg.
Carte: This is a menu that goes very long on drink options – there are 11 types of tequila alone – which is in keeping with the venue’s general dining-meets-nightlife atmosphere (though they’re now open for lunch, too), with a feeling that the food is as useful to mop up alcohol as it is to enjoy in its own right.
Smart: Lush and luxurious, with plant decor everywhere (including hanging from the roof) and a digital screen of a panther that – unexpectedly – blinks at you. Comfortable booths, free-standing tables and outdoor lounge areas where you can recline as you relax.
Heart: The friendly staff are knowledgeable enough about the minutia of the menu to make good recommendations about cocktails and light meals when diners start off a little uncertain.
Flavour: The signature cocktails are lovely – very easy to put away quickly, so perhaps book a ride service or make friends with a teetotaller. Best option if you like a bit of sweetness? The Henny Pot. The G-Spot, meanwhile, is surprisingly easy to find (it’s bright blue). Pulled beef tacos and chicken or shrimp popcorn pops are two of the easy-to-eat accompaniments.
Savour: A great place to go to feel a little sophisticated as you sip a cocktail, stretch out a catch-up chat or a flirty date and enjoy the beautiful people swanning about around you.
Go/No: Go