The Setting
Big day for me: I found a restaurant in Jo’burg with a view that wasn’t a row of parked cars. Say hello to Higher Ground.
Lounge on comfy couches, (don’t put your feet on the table, they don’t like that) or have a seat at the beautifully laid tables and feast your eyes on St Stithians school below and the surrounding suburbs. Then say something profound like ‘Did you know that Jo’burg is the biggest man-made forest in the world?’ People generally don’t know this and it will make you look knowledgeable and oracle-like. Don’t tell the same people twice like I did, because they’ll tell you to shut-up making you look pretty stupid.
The Food
While their Mediterranean menu is extensive, the food tends to be slightly hit and miss in the quality department. Phrases like ‘lies on a bed of chips’ is more like a pillow and if you order the finger snack platters… you better hope there aren’t too many fingers wanting to share your platter.
That being said, their gourmet sandwiches are banging-the-table tasty as are the prego steak rolls but their chicken dishes will leave you lunging for your wine to compensate for the parchment on the plate.
If you’re an only child and demand attention, you’re at the wrong establishment. I can only conclude that the waiters are as enamoured with the view as the patrons. Getting their attention is tough and when you do, they have a deer-in-headlights face and look around for backup. If you manage to make eye contact, ask your waiter to sit with you. It’s the only way I got a second bottle of wine.
Price Range
You’re looking at R80 for starters, mains range from R80 to R180 and you’re looking at about R45 for desserts.
Added extras
Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Kid friendly judging from the menu but have yet to see a kid. The matrics on the other hand are very easy on the eye…
My mother always told me to judge an establishment on their bathrooms. If that’s the case, Higher Ground is top notch. If they’re missing a bottle of their vanilla handwash, I have no idea what happened to it.
Perfect for
Lazy Sunday afternoon brunches, a drink and a snack after work or if you just want to remind yourself why you live in Jo’burg.
Higher Ground was reviewed by Baglett. Read her tea-snortingly funny blog here.