The Setting
There have been many positives about the World Cup: the chance for me to repeatedly say ‘I love it when you speak foreign’ and for me to flirt outrageously with other men knowing that when I embarrass myself, the chances of me seeing them again are slim to none. But what I have noticed other than the faster moving highways, the improvement in general manners and camaraderie of people, is that restaurants are really pulling out all the stops. Moyo Zoo Lake is no exception, in fact, they’ve gone all out.
I’ve visited Moyo numerous times, and each time the service was slow, the food slightly above average and the atmosphere, while obviously African, slightly lacking something – patrons mostly. Not this time. The staff were more than capable of dealing with the foreign crowd with ease, agility and confidence.
I haven’t had so much fun at a restaurant since I hid in the wine cellar at The Local Grill and the chef found me hours later. I was so busy having my face painted that I almost didn’t notice the dancers weaving their way through the tables, banging their drums and singing. I was so proud of my heritage I wanted to wrap myself in a South African flag to prove it. Instead I went with one of the incredibly warm and soft blankets that don every chair in the restaurant.
The Food
Hello delicious bread! Three different kinds of breads served with three different types of seasoning. Unfortunately I ate all the bread which made a starter impossible. I did however taste one of their ridiculously fresh samoosas from my dining partner’s plate while he was in the bathroom. Highly recommend those triangle-shaped bundles of joy. Our waitress recommended Moyo’s favourite dishes and I went for a berbere potjie. My dining partner ordered the flamed fillet steak and I had serious food envy. While my potjie was delicious (too many bones for my overexcited hands) it wasn’t a touch on the flamed fillet steak.
Price range
I don’t want to say that they put their prices up for the World Cup but I’ll hint at it. I don’t remember what the prices were pre soccer invasion, but let’s not dwell on it – it’s done now!
You can feast on the buffet for R195 per person and while you’re freaking out at the price – remember – we’re talking African mountains of food so you’re getting your money’s worth. But if, like me, you prefer to be served controlled portion sizes, you are going to be paying between R29 and R120 for starters and for main courses, between R50 and R200.
Sounds pricy but throw in the amazing atmosphere they’ve got going there at the moment and service that has an injection of brilliance, all in all, worth every African penny.
Perfect for
Impressing the people who talk foreign. And if they’re paying, even better.
Moyo Zoo Lake was reviewed by Baglett. Read her tea-snortingly funny blog here.