THE LATEST NEW RESTAURANTS IN JOBURG AND CT

A GOLDEN NUGGET IN STORE FOR JOZI’S FOODIES

Joburg’s food scene is heating up as another culinary masterpiece joins its ranks.

AURUM Restaurant, meaning ‘gold’ in Latin, is due to open its doors in late 2019 and will overlook Sandton from the 7 th floor of South Africa and Africa’s tallest new building, The Leonardo.

The restaurant is the brainchild of esteemed chef and culinary consultant, Paulo Santo, in collaboration with the Legacy Group and its chairman Bart Dorrestein.

True to its name, AURUM will deliver understated prestige with an excellent return on investment. “AURUM represents luxury, but not in an intimidating, pretentious or ostentatious manner. Just as gold is timeless in its appeal, we too wish to exist beyond time as a successful, renowned business serving a cosmopolitan African city: the City of Gold,” says Santo, MD and Senior Partner of AURUM. AURUM’s kitchen will be headed up by Santo’s former chef colleagues at Cube Tasting Kitchen – Darren O’Donovan as Head Chef and Lisa de Beer as Sous Chef and Sommelier.

Darren and Lisa join AURUM off the back of a four-month long gastronomic tour around Europe where they explored cuisines from Russia to Poland, Spain to Finland and beyond. The menu has been inspired by their travels and is both a reflection of the type of food they like to eat, as well as a portrait of sustainable modern-day dining.

“A meal at AURUM will aim to engage our patrons on an emotional level. We want to create experiences, share memories, build strong relationships and gain the trust of our patrons through our product and service offering. AURUM stands to take an oldworld approach to service with a modern, new-world approach to cuisine,” says Paulo. www.aurumrestaurant.co.za

LAIDBACK LUXE BEACH DINER SURFSHACK OPENS IN CAMPS BAY

Surfshack is the latest hotspot to open on the ever busy and ultra glamorous Camps Bay beachfront. This latest addition by The Kove Collection, Surfshack – sibling restaurant to la Belle Bistro & Patisserie and Chinchilla – is an easy-going and contemporary eatery overlooking the ocean. Situated above Paranga and adjacent to la Belle, Surfshack oozes a sense of laidback cool and adds a little extra flavour to the Camps Bay golden mile. Panoramic ocean vistas set the scene for dining, drinks and socialising with a view, while the stunning sunset views ensure guests will certainly be lingering longer over cocktails. The combination of luxe diner classics, a vibey buzz and rustic yet stylish decor makes Surfshack a certain summer place to be. What’s more, an expansive terrace at the foot of the eatery gives those on the hunt for a trendy sundowner spot a new and exciting option.

The menu is brimming with tasty global fare – from jalapeño dressed Salt and Pepper Squid and spicy Seared Ahi Tuna on the extensive Shareables menu, to a plethora of classic salads – all with a Surfshack twist, while the unique Buns menu couldn’t be more suited to a beach environment. The likes of grilled prawns with avocado and aioli on the Poor Man’s Lobster Roll and the umami-laced Pastrami on the already-popular Pretzel Roll take centre stage. There’s also a grilled meat and seafood section to the menu for diners wanting something more substantial.

It’s an ideal option for visitors who are looking forward to a beach break and a suitably sexy seaside spot to hang out and soak up the summertime buzz in. And for locals looking for something new that reflects Cape Town’s cosmopolitanism at its best, Surfshack certainly has everything going for it – a great view, good vibes and a menu filled with fresh and new easy eating options to try. www.surfshackdiner.co.za