Though Bull Run has a reputation as a top business restaurant, it’s a warm, inviting place for any kind of visitor – provided you like meat.

Part of Sandton’s Protea Hotel Balalaika, the restaurant’s location opposite the Johannesburg Stock Exchange no doubt has something to do with its appeal to the upscale corporate set. It even has a clever spreadsheet-style, stock market-themed menu that groups items into “Commodities,” “Futures,” “Organics,” etc., and lists all prices in rand, dollars, euros, and pounds sterling.

Steak is the flagship item here, and you can get dozens of different cuts, sizes, and types of meat, including beef, lamb, pork, venison, and ostrich. Aside from steak, other meat choices include classics such as chicken cordon bleu, prawn and chicken curry, and peri-peri chicken livers. Meat is also sprinkled liberally throughout other dishes, such as the superb biltong and avocado salad, the delectable garlic snails, and the tender springbok carpaccio appetizer.

If you’re not a meat eater, you can still dine well at Bull Run: fish and other types of seafood – notably oysters and Falklands calamari, a house specialty — are well-represented on the menu, and there are numerous vegetarian items. The jalapeño and feta fillet is a popular veggie choice, as is the divine halloumi cheese and avocado salad, which I highly recommend.

The crisp white linens and smartly-dressed staff lend the restaurant a formal appearance, but the vibe is quite relaxed and friendly. The two-tier dining room has an inviting atmosphere replete with rich wood paneling, exposed brick, and ambient lighting. There is a separate bar area, and outside seating for warm nights.

Happily, the service is very efficient and friendly, with wait times for meals running about 15 minutes and drinks regularly freshened. Bull Run is obviously a tightly run ship.