Moyo Melrose Arch

Last weekend I went for lunch at Moyo in Melrose Arch. The restaurant is well situated in an open square area; a lovely little spot. Moyo is an African style restaurant serving traditional cuisine. The staff are also dressed in traditional wear giving it an authentic feel.

What to Order at Moyo, Melrose Arch

I was seated at a table and the waitress began my Moyo experience by giving me a traditional Swahili hand wash. My hands were rinsed by pouring warm water from a jug over them into a large bowl – I really loved this special touch. I ordered the calamari dovi to start. This was seared calamari caramelised in molasses, mint and harissa sauce, sprinkled with groundnut. This was a sweet and tasty calamari dish. For my main I ordered the Moyo flamed fillet. It was aged fillet stuffed with mushrooms, spinach and mozzarella served with herb potato gallet and a creamy Madagascan green peppercorn and peppadew sauce. This was really delicious; my fillet was tender and juicy. I also tried some of the berbere venison loin; a real winner with my benedict. It was grilled kudu cubes rubbed with an Ethiopian spice mix (berbere) presented on a hanging skewer served with seared mealies, hand cut chips and a Madagascan green peppercorn sauce. This is definitely the best Kudu I have ever eaten! Another really great dish. For dessert I had the crème brûlée; this was Moyo’s twist on a traditional dessert to give it a uniquely African style. It was rooibos tea infused baked custard, served with pineapple, orange and chilli salsa. Absolutely loved this. The rooibos was subtle and really tasty giving it a proudly South African taste.

The Verdict: Moyo Melrose Arch, Johannesburg

I really enjoyed my experience at Moyo. The Melrose Arch restaurant also has a lovely and large private function room too; perfect for year-end functions or large celebrations. Personally I loved the outside seating area. It was a relaxing setting on a warm autumn afternoon with some gorgeous South African sunshine. The service at Moyo was really great. I even received my very own face painting – African, pretty and stylish ;-) Moyo really does a great job with the authentic African theme and feel along with some traditional music. Loved all these little special touches. I highly recommend the experience to anyone who has yet to visit them; not only to tourists but South Africans too.