MARKET NEWS

New Sandton restaurant arrives with a roar

A fresh addition to Jozi’s gastronomic scene, ROAR Bistro & Bar, opened its doors on 23 September, promising to deliver a delectable melting pot of global flavours served tapas-style.

Located in the heart of Joburg’s business district – directly opposite the Sandton Convention Centre and at the foot of the Michelangelo Towers – ROAR’s offering was conceptualised based on its proximity to the thousands of residents, tourists, and conference delegates who live, work, stay and play in the area.

Owned by the Legacy Group, ROAR Bistro & Bar is staking its claim as Sandton’s unique dining spot; with its Parisian street-side setup and tapasstyle menu offering an eclectic mix of global cuisines. There is even a deli for a passerby needing to grab something quick and delicious on the go, including a selection of freshly crafted coffees brewed by ROAR’s highly trained barrista and a plethora of home-baked pastries, patisseries, and handcrafted sandwiches, all made on-site and with love by the chef team.

“We wanted to create a dining experience that would be a one-of-its-kind in Sandton. By taking full advantage of our street-side location and creating a small plate menu with a fusion of African, European, Middle Eastern and Mauritian flavours, we have certainly achieved this,” said Robert Hodson, chief operating officer of Legacy Hotels & Resorts.

According to executive chef, Atma Mahadea and restauranteur consultant, Larry Steenkamp, small plates tie into the international trend of being able to taste a little of everything and fits into the Joburg culture of dining to socialise.

“Unlike Capetonians who dine purely for the gastronomic experience, Joburgers go out to spend time with friends and family over good food and drinks. With the restaurant also being in the tourism hub, we decided to create a variety of small dishes representing a host of global cuisines we are inspired by,” says Larry Steenkamp who codesigned the menu with executive chef Atma.

Some of the signature dishes on the menu include curried coconut mussels, deep-fried whole fish, Mauritian chicken curry and the Asador lamb with pomegranate & yoghurt.

The restaurant’s design and layout were dreamed into reality by the creative flair of Varoom Interiors. The designers chose a colour pallet of teal, tomato red and brass, which were inspired by the bistro’s vibrant focal point — a graffitied art piece of a male lion created by Nick Kerr of Dekor1.

With seating for up to 120 guests, the space features a large bar overlooking a comfortable lounge area where guests can sit back, relax and order wines off a bespoke wine list or choose from a selection of cocktails crafted by ROAR’s mixologist extraordinaire.

The conservatory area of the restaurant boasts floor-to-ceiling glass featuring lots of natural light and plants. Guests also have the choice of two outdoor seating areas, both shielded by foliage-filled planter boxes and overlooking the bustling walkway of Maude Street, Sandton.