Besides the waking up early part, I love Monday’s! I always manage to psych myself up into an enthusiastic hysteria, starting with “I’m going to get it right this week”, and irrespective of the last week’s outcomes I go in strong.
The aim is always to go big, win and drain my energy supply by the weekend. At the end of a great Monday I’m a mishmash of tired and ebullient so, truthfully, I don’t feel like standing over a hot stove; I’d rather have a good meal and spend the time that I would have spent cooking getting more work done.
Here is where the problem comes… most places are closed on a Monday. The human and the humanist in me are at constant odds on a Monday because I really want to eat out but I understand that a lot of restaurants aren’t open on a Monday because they spent the weekend slaving away. And, I respect the restaurant owners who give their staff, and themselves, some time off.
But, for those of you who, like myself – still want to eat out on a Monday here’s a list of places across Joburg that’ll have you for a bite to eat.
Glory
Glory is one of the newer additions to Melville’s 7th strip and it came with a heck of a lot of chicken. Think of it as a picture-perfect hideout if you will, the sum of a quirky mix of fin-Asian-something-with-a-hint-of-tropical. Each of my visits there have been anchored by a sameness christened by something new. Does that make sense? Each time I’ve been I’ve shared and feasted, on The Full Box Fried Chicken, like royalty at a big fat Greek wedding but it never gets old.
They’re like the capital of chicken serving farm fresh chicks that go straight from the farm, owner Nick Scott’s farm, and into your belly. Plus they also make mean cocktails which is ideal for a Monday evening kick start don’t you think?
Topio Gigio
I love Topio Gigio, it’s like the perfect black dress that always comes to your rescue whether you’re looking to dress up or down. At the most desperate of times when every restaurant that I’ve turned to and all of Joburg has been down, like during the festive season, Topio Gigio’s doors have always welcomed me in – during business hours of course. It feels like home and the cozy ambience along with their hearty food keep pulling me back. Whether you opt to take a seat outside, with the perfect view of the Greenside strip laid out before you, or you get comfy inside, amidst everyone else who wasn’t excited by the thought of having to cook, you’re in good hands. They’ll serve you something deliciously Italian any given Monday and on every other day.
Vuyo’s
Let’s shift the focus towards Soweto shall we because the Monday shut down isn’t solely a Joburg issue. I love the fact that Vilakazi Street has managed to establish itself as a tourist hotspot and by virtue of you hanging around there, and depending on your social skills, you open yourself to meeting people from all different walks of life which is absolutely amazing! The idea to start Vuyo’s restaurant started off as a beeg beeg dream, following owner Miles Kubheka watching the Hansa Pilsner ad, has translated wonderfully into what I know to be a delightful experience. It’s a fun time, the food goes down well and it carries a lovely aesthetic. With a mix of modern African cuisine you can easily start your week off with a hearty plate of pap and meat, for those who of course feel somewhat stronger after a plate of pap irrespective of how silly that may sound. So, hey why not open yourself up to perhaps spontaneously making a new friend next Monday at Vuyo’s?
Jo’Anna’s Melt Bar
Okay I’ll admit that a toastie isn’t everyone’s ideal choice for dinner but if you’re like me and you’re an anytime-sammie kinda girl then you’ll love this one. Plus, it’s not like Jo’Anna’s is in the in the business of making mundane sarmies – their sarmies are rolyalty. They’re all about assembling mouthwatering wonders with a variety of ingredients dressed with a layer of melted cheese and hugged in between two slices of bread. There’s something for the vegetarians, the meat lovers, the extremely hungry and the light eaters – it’s like a rainbow with a shade that matches everyone’s palate. And they’ve got a duke box so you can throw in a few coins and dance your Monday blues away.
ALSO READ: 8 of the best places in Joburg to grab a toasted cheese sammie
Craft
The interior is a warm manifestation of an old fashion pizza hut with a stylish contemporary twist. It’s one of those places that seems to be on everyone’s lips, constantly on your Instagram feed and bound to linger at the back of your mind at some point or another if you’ve been there once before. The hype is most likely a result of the fact that the craft of making food is at the core of everything, it’s not just about cooking tasty meals; they’re about recipes that are passed down from one generation to the next and garnishing it with a pinch of something that’ll have you feeling nostalgic. Be it a man-sized burger or a pizza that’ll put a few Italian chiefs to shame you’ll be pretty pleased with whatever you order. But, they’re probably best known for their milkshakes which are elaborate works of art and will hit the spot on any given Monday.
The Smokehouse and Grill
Good luck trying to get a table there on a Saturday, if you don’t have a reservation, after 12:00. From its inception it’s managed to religiously fill up on Saturdays, when Braam becomes the Capital of Cool and the hipsters give it life. And it’s because the food is so darn good.
Any other places in Joburg that stay open on a Monday? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us @Food24 !