Over the weekend my friends and l visited two local restaurants that serve South African Cuisine. We ordered the same dishes from both because we were on a tasting spree.
The first one is called Pata Pata it's located in a Lifestyle area called Maboneng. The place is well known for it's weekend markets, art galleries and nightclubs. It's so popular that it's now considered a tourist attraction and a must go for locals weekend hangouts and Instagram content.
The food is a bit pricey but we were not impressed. We ordered meals that included umleqwa ( hardrock chicken), ezangaphakhathi (cow offals and intestines) , oxtail and beef liver. Vegetables included spinach, butternut, cabbage and chakalaka which is a local favorite. Accompanied by steamed bread, pap and umqutshu( dried corn and beans). The chicken was half cooked and watery .Too much oil .One would swear who ever cooked it was a malevolent person . We left it untouched after one bite..Horrible is the word.
The offals were done but not so tasty just there. We did however enjoy the oxtail it had a rich flavor to it. Overall we gave the restaurant a 3 star. Ooh l did enjoy the cabbage it was spicy.
The second one is called Restaurant Vilikazi located and named after the famous street of Soweto . On the street one will find the late South African President Mandela House.
I will definitely give them a 4 star l had nothing to complain about. The beef liver was amazing. The chicken stew was thick and tasty. The oxtail was well cooked.l only did not approve of the very small tiny pieces of offals they serve ..
Offals have to be a bit bigger in proportion it makes eating it nicer.
Restaurant Vilikazi took the throne on this one and the food is way cheaper than the former. The mqushu was perfect.
I would recommend visiting a vendor's place in Maboneng called Kwa Mai Mai .mostly vendor's sell braaid meat and phutu or pap but believe me they are the best.
After all we are food and food is us ...