Some places we have been checking out....

So of course we have gone to some places again....some new...some old...but i think worth mentioning them...i mean an old place can get worse or better....and a new place can be a distaster....so i might as well discuss them all....and if you are not interested....tough luck.....so lets start....

Pomodoro (Morningside Shopping Centre):

An old favourite...always go back..and i always find something..but then again that is because i love my carpaccio and i love my carprese....and yes...i love the fact that one can have a half portion pasta for mains....so...this time...nothing fails me having the carprese....and my mom decided on the prawns and we would go half half...dad and kim...fried calamari...apparently it was excellent...kim didnt even give me time to try....was all finito by the time i could think about trying....prawns were excellento....and of course carprese as always good....for mains kim and my dad had the veal milanese...last time kim was jealous cause he thought my dad's veal milanese and chips were just excellento....my mom and i decided to go for pizza.....one regina and one blue cheese, butternut and caramelized onion....base was crispy...but for me it was strange to place the cheese on top of the ingredients....for me it should be tomato base, cheese and toppings....i would prefer it that way actually....yes...i do have some pics...and NOT just food....(funny to have cheese as your top ingredient)

Pizza at Pomodoro

Mom and me at Pomodoro

Kim and me at Pomodoro

Patisserie (Illovo):

Kim and i tried out this place cause i have heard from many the cakes and sweets are divine...so off we went and decided try their cappuccino and a small cake....just note this place is closed on a Sunday....man...the cake counter looked divine...so many choices...we ended up with the nut brownie...and it was damn delicious...would we go again...yes...how was the cappuccino....also excellento....thickish foam...strong...definitely nothing to complain about....

Patisserie brownie and cappuccino

BCC (Bryanston Country Club):

So...we ended up going to the Phoenix Restaurant which has been refurbished....reason for going...because my mom got a birthday voucher and so did two friends...so a whole bunch of us ended up going there....well...refurbishment...in my opinion it is still very stuffy, stiff and a little bit like an old age home....menu looked promising...actually quite a few starters jumped at me...i ended up going with the scallops...and those were perfectly cooked...and nicely presented....have a look....

Scallops

For mains...also a few things jumped out...salmon, prawns...but i ended up with the beef fillet...it was perfectly cooked...but there was too many potatoes....mashed potato....boiled potatoes and fried potatoes and some veggies...in my opinion just mash or just boiled would have been more than adequate...so yes...food was actually quite nice...but the atmosphere....no way...so yes...if there is a voucher...i would consider....but not just because it is a nice place...

Grillhouse (Atholl):

Yes...the two i know of are Rosebank and Atholl...but for us...Atholl is just more convenient...and after attending the RMB Winex...Atholl was definitely the better choice...my mom's step-brother and wife were with us...the Winex was fab...but definitely a wise choice to go around 17:30 and to head off around 19:00...cause it starts getting full and you have to wait everywhere....found some new nice bubblies which we now have to source....Goodfellows should have them...Webersberg...excellento....and then off to some good filet...so off to Atholl Grillhouse...and yes...menu is good...wine list extensive...starters not too many choices, but we ended up with the grilled haloumi and mains...of course filet with monkeygland sauce and potato....the monkeygland was so that our overseas guests could taste a typical ZA sauce...and guess what they loved it...the grillhouse i always enjoy...food always fab...the starters in all honesty im not the biggest fanatic...but then again i dont mind NOT having a starter at a meat place or sharing...other starters at the table were black mushrooms, green salad and oysters.....mains...all went for filet except my dad, sirloin...and i have to admit...the sirloin really is a tasty cut of meat...it is just a tough choice.....filet or sirloin....do you want more taste or more tender.....But all in all the meat is fab...perfectly cooked...so yes...definitely a place to go....dessert...way too full to even attempt...what is also nice at both Rosebank and Atholl they have cigar bars....and Rosebank even has a type of lounge/ club called Katzy for pre or post-dinner drinks...so yes...definitely worth a visit.....(sorry no pics)

Koi (Sandton):

I love this spot....i love the food, vibe...just the whole atmosphere....and guess what..it definitely was not a disappointment going there again....went with my folks and my friend, Nasreen.....all of us ordered dim sums for starters....nasreen had the spinach and cream cheese, my parents shared a mixture and i had the chicken and ginger...fab as always...love how they come in a little basket and the two sauces they serve with it...divine...here is a pic...

Chicken and ginger dim sums

Mains...nasreen had the pad thai (vegetarian), my dad had the beef stirfry (egg noodles) and my mom and i shared a apple and ginger salmon sashimi and a tuna tartar....really divine...especially the apple and ginger salmon sashimi....dessert...nasreen saw the ginger and saki tiramisu...yes...you heard correct...ginger and saki...so she ordered...and we ended up sharing it...it was nice...very different...but i actually enjoyed it...yes...given the choice between the real one and this one...i would go for the espresso one...but in all honesty the ginger and saki one was good...even my dad approved (and that is quite difficult as he is not aginger fan and he LOVES espresso)....espresso at Koi always good...as they use Illy...so yes...i would def go back there....