Fusion restaurants in Africa
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Fusion
Possibly the most self-consciously fashionable dining option in Grand Baie, Fusion looks just as it sounds - flash, minimalist, sleek and a little intimidating. You'll see the smart set out for dinner here, sampling fusion-flavoured Mauritian-Asian cooking.
reviewed
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Edladleni
This self-proclaimed ‘Queen of Swazi food fit for a King’ almost lives up to its name; it’s got the best vegetarian options around. It’s about 6km from Mbabane, off the main highway. Opening hours are unreliable, however.
reviewed
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Spice
At the time of research, Spice was moving to this new location, but wasn’t yet open. We’ve included it because, in short, those in the cuisine scene simply rave about it. Whether it’s because the likes of Bill Clinton have dined at the establishment’s former premises, or because the imaginative menu – South African and Indian fusion dishes – is so damned good, we’ll have to leave it up to you to decide.
reviewed
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L'Atelier de Ben
A true alchemist, the French chef here fuses French with Asian to create a cuisine that stuns and seduces. The filet de bœuf poêlé, pain perdu aux truffes, wok de légumes et noisettes torréfiées (beef fillet served with a special truffle-scented bread, wok-fried vegetables and roasted hazelnuts) is even more delicious than its poetic name suggests. The décor? Best described as 'contemporary plain'.
reviewed
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Le Mystic Garden
Giant glass walls swathe this sleek, two-storey restaurant-cum-bar in light. Downstairs leads onto a garden; upstairs overlooks the ocean. It’s an ultra-cool hang-out for Casa’s well-heeled youth but the Mediterranean menu is well worth sampling. Dinner is accompanied by low-key sounds that morph into a full-on disco beat later in the evening, and for once on this strip the beer isn’t astronomically priced.
reviewed
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Gramadoela’s
This 40-year-old restaurant is in its third incantation at Market Theatre, after stints in Hillbrow and Joubert Park. The restaurant’s dining room brims with curios and character, and has been graced by politicians, film stars and musicians, from the Clintons and Elton John to Morgan Freeman. The vibrant cuisine is a mixture of authentic African and Cape Malay.
reviewed
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La Récréa
Toamasina waterfront's latest arrival is a fantastically conceived thatched edifice combining restaurant, cocktail bar and souvenir shop, with stylish all-bamboo furniture and fixtures, pool tables, seating spilling out towards the beach and even an old light aircraft outside. The menu covers Malagasy, Italian, French fusion and even fondue.
reviewed
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Madame Zingara & Cara Lazuli
Every night is party night at this bohemian, crowd-pleasing restaurant with two sections. Unless you're a committed carnivore we'd advise against its infamous whopper stack of beef fillets doused in chilli-chocolate sauce. Magic tricks, tarot-card readings, belly dancing and dressing up in silly hats is all part of the fun.
reviewed
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Yum
A small restaurant with a big reputation. One of the city's most celebrated dining rooms - it has even published its own cookbook - Yum specialises in innovative fusion cooking, with an emphasis on top-notch ingredients and lashings of culinary flair. It closes for most of the month of January.
reviewed
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Riad Sheherazade
A pretty conservatory by the pool serves as a dining room, or you can dine in the large courtyard or Moroccan salon. A speciality of the house is couscous with quails and chicken, studded with fruit. Wine is available. If the owner's in town, he might serenade you with his oud.
reviewed
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Cafe 1999
This buzzing restaurant serves modern Mediterranean fusion food which comes in ‘bitparts’ – ‘titbit’ and ‘bigbit’. The sweetest part is their desserts – try the triple chocolate brownie with poppy-seed ice cream.
reviewed
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One.Waterfront
Bruce Robertson is an accomplished chef and although it's the daring combinations of ingredients that catch the eye on the menu, the best dishes are those that keep it simple, such as the lovely fishcakes. The inventive vegetarian options are welcome, too.
reviewed
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Restaurante La Toja
A quality establishment blending the best of cuisines from France and Galicia. Try the veal in Marsala wine or troubling-sounding elephant's ear with chips (actually a thin fillet of steak). The prices are reasonable given the fancy atmosphere and food.
reviewed
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Kalinka
This stylish, upmarket restaurant is a long-standing favourite that serves imaginative dishes featuring game meat with an Asian flair. The menu changes regularly, but is always excellent.
reviewed
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Oriental
Considered by some connoisseurs to be the best restaurant in town, with excellent sushi and Asian fusion cuisine, and an ambience that’s as optimal for business lunches as it is for a romantic evening out.
reviewed
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Tidye Restaurant
This is suitably stylish with exquisite dishes to match - it's all roast salmon and spiced guinea fowl here with not a chambo (a popular, bream-like variety of fish) or chip to be seen.
reviewed
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Cranks
Still going after almost 20 years, Cranks was one of the first Thai-Vietnamese places in Jo'burg. Among the tried-and-tested favourites is fish fillet with lemongrass (R45).
reviewed
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Bean Bag Bohemia
The food and flavours are as creative as the mosaics, chandeliers and gothic decor of the artistically hip and elegant restaurant (upstairs) and downstairs cafe-bar.
reviewed
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Le Ness
Spice up your day or night at this refreshing fusion place. Le Ness serves lush menus of French fare with a tropical twist such as grilled duck in a fruit sauce.
reviewed
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Els Amics
The city's fine-dining option is in a cosy Victorian house with a series of rooms and a classy Spanish-influenced menu. Bookings essential.
reviewed
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Le P'tit Bambou
Serves hearty fare with a zesty Chinese twist in rustic surrounds.
reviewed
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A Table
This slick loungey place features parquet floors and wood furnishings and doubles as a teashop in the afternoon. Its forte? Métro fare with a sophisticated twist, such as filet mignon au thé rouge (tenderloin of beef flavoured with red tea). One minus: there's no view from the terrace.
reviewed
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Reuben’s
The flagship restaurant for this local celebrity chef has a deli-style eatery as well as a courtyard for breakfast and lunch. Dinner is served in the restaurant.
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Haute Cabrière Cellar
As well as the delectable à la carte option offering imaginative dishes, there is a six-course set menu with accompanying wines (R750). Tastings are also available at the cellar and on Saturdays the proprietor’s performs the sabrage: slicing open a bottle of bubbly with a sabre.
reviewed
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Rust en Vrede
Chef John Shuttleworth prepares a four-course à la carte menu (R480) as well as a six-course tasting menu (with/without wines R880/585) with a contemporary take on the classics. Also a winery, it’s at the end of Annandale Rd.
reviewed