Our Top 10 Places to Eat over Christmas
While preparing and hosting a Christmas feast for family and friends can be tremendously rewarding, the thought of all the effort required can be rather overwhelming.
Fortunately, many restaurants in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape offer everything from extravagant buffets to festive family-style banquets for a special Christmas dinner or lunch.
Here are our BEST restaurants open for business over Christmas. Remember, booking is essential.
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1. Parc Fermé, Sandton, Johannesburg
Relish in a set menu for Christmas Eve dinner or Christmas Day lunch that includes an amuse-bouche, starter, entrée, main, and dessert. The dishes include roast beef fillet and stuffed turkey breast, seared tuna, cannelloni with spinach, and orange parfait.
(amuse-bouche - a small appetizer meant to tease the palate before the meal)
Cost:
• Adults: R595 pp
Bookings: +27 (0) 11 245 4846
More Info -
2. The Chefs Table, Umhlanga Rocks
Celebrate Christmas Day in style with a mouth-watering four-course menu complete with a glass of bubbly on arrival and an enviable wine and spirits list.
Cost:
• Adults: R925 pp
• Children (under 12): R395 pp
• (Excluding drinks and gratuity)
Bookings: +27 (0) 31 001 0200
More Info -
3. Tobago's Restaurant, Radisson Blu Hotel, Cape Town
Spoil the family to a three-course Christmas Eve dinner or a Christmas day buffet lunch. The dinner dishes include amuse-bouche, starter, buffet main course, dessert, and live entertainment while the lunch menu includes a salad bar, a carvery, a buffet of mains, and desserts to suit every palate.
Cost:
• Christmas Eve Dinner: R850 pp
• Christmas Day Lunch: R995 pp
• Children (under 5): Free
Bookings: +27 (0) 21 441 3414
More Info -
4. Forti Grill & Bar, Menlyn Maine, Pretoria
For a fine-dining experience, enjoy a Christmas Day lunch that includes a complimentary glass of champagne on arrival, Italian antipasti, starters, mains and desserts. In addition to Chef Fortunato Mazzone's usual menu, guests can also expect to feast in style on several traditional Italian Christmas dishes.
Bookings: +27 (0) 12 003 6180
More Info -
5. The Restaurant at Grande Provence, Franschhoek
Delight in a six-course Christmas Eve dinner or Christmas Day lunch on at one of the country's top restaurants. The menu langoustine and pickled radish tortellini with tom yum bisque espuma, and Karoo lamb croquette with smoked potato, pickled baby beets and masala.
Cost:
• Lunch: R1650 pp
• Dinner: R1650 pp
Bookings: +27 (0) 21 876 8600
More Info -
6. The Farmer's Daughter, Howick
Much-loved restaurant in the Midlands is offering diners a choice of three Christmas lunch menu options. The first main course includes slow roasted pork belly with crispy crackling; the second main contains chicken melanzane; and the last main comprises of a 450g beef sirloin served with skinny fries and vegetables.
Cost:
• R145 - R250 per person
Bookings: +27 (0) 33 330 2958
More Info -
7. Flames Restaurant, Westcliff, Johannesburg
This year, Flames Restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel will be offering a Christmas Eve dinner with starters, main courses, a cheese table, and a selection of festive desserts; as well as a Christmas Day Brunch comprising a fruit selection, bakery basket, cereals and a variety of yoghurts. There will also be a West Coast oysters, vegan salads, and hot main options that include turkey, beef fillet, and salmon.
Cost:
• Christmas Eve Dinner: R1200 pp
• Christmas Day Brunch: R1450 pp
Bookings: +27 (0) 11 481 6000
More Info -
8. Belthazar, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
Celebrate Christmas lunch with a three-course menu and a glass of sparkling wine on arrival. The menu includes three starter options, two main course options served on a platter per table, and three dessert choices - Christmas pudding, berry pavlova or a luxury cheese board. To round off the perfect meal, guests will enjoy tea, coffee and freshly baked mince pies.
Cost:
• R1150 pp
Bookings: +27 (0) 21 421 3753 / 6
More Info -
9. Big Easy Winebar & Grill, Durban
Located inside the Hilton Hotel, visit the Big Easy for Christmas Eve dinner or a Christmas Day family lunch. The scrumptious three-course dinner comes complete with three dessert options, while the Christmas Day feast includes bread service, starter-platters, soup, selection of main courses that include a grilled beef fillet, and dessert.
Cost:
• Christmas Eve Dinner: R495 pp
• Christmas Day Lunch: R785 pp
Bookings: +27 (0) 31 336 8166 (inside the Hilton Hotel)
More Info -
10. The Barn Restaurant, Irene, Pretoria
For Christmas Day lunch guests can expect a buffet including Cape Malay-style pickled fish, home-baked artisanal breads, roasted turkey, braised lamb leg, and dessert options including Christmas pudding with brandy-enhanced custard and dark-chocolate mousse laced with burnt orange.
Cost:
• Adults: R550 pp
• Children (6-12 years): R269.50 pp
• Children (2-5 years): R55 pp
Bookings: +27 (0) 11 282 7463
More Info
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