March Restaurant inside the African Pride Melrose Arch hotel is not the only game in the arch — it has lots of competition, such as the famous Moyo restaurant across the square.
But people rave about the food at March, and one of the reasons why is kudu Wellington, a dish that won Executive Chef Hanroe Erasmus the Taste of Joburg 2012.
Modern cuisine with a touch of Africa is how the hotel office manager described March to me.
I had the breakfast buffet at March, and it lived up to its online reputation as one of the best breakfast buffets in Johannesburg.
The buffet included seared tuna wrapped with dijon mustard rolled in sesame seeds; caviar and cold smoked oysters. There were breads such as seared butter loaf, pumpkin seed bread, walnut bread and diabetic and low GI jams.
All types of teas were included in the 210-rand buffet ($18) and were served in silver tea pots.
The baked goods and confections were to write home about. Mini melkterts with strawberries and baby apples were more beautiful than they sound, and tasted as good as they looked. There were savory muffins, a variety of quiches, and my absolute favorite because there’s no such thing as too much sugar — coconut ice.
But more on the baked goods. We’re talking plain vanilla muffins, fresh scones and home-made oreos — South Africans are crazy about oreos. This buffet had two oreo types.
Cody Flanagan, a first-year trainee who works in the March kitchen, tried to describe the difference between the restaurant’s home-made oreo varieties, but couldn’t quite find the words. “One’s more chewy,” he said. “You have to taste it to understand.”
The buffet’s fresh juices included Harrismith apple and guava.
For me, the best item in this breakfast buffet turned out to be a whole, mini peeled pear that was out of this world in its juicy, drip-down-your-fingers simplicity.
By the end of the meal, I was dying for more coffee but couldn’t find my waitress and the dining room wasn’t busy.
I watched some Indian businessmen doing a deal at the table next door, feeling spoiled, blessed and lucky to have had such a fabulous meal.
Expert Review
March Restaurant inside the African Pride Melrose Arch hotel is not the only game in the arch -- it has lots...
March Restaurant inside the African Pride Melrose Arch hotel is not the only game in the arch — it has lots of competition, such as the famous Moyo restaurant across the square.
But people rave about the food at March, and one of the reasons why is kudu Wellington, a dish that won Executive Chef Hanroe Erasmus the Taste of Joburg 2012.
Modern cuisine with a touch of Africa is how the hotel office manager described March to me.
I had the breakfast buffet at March, and it lived up to its online reputation as one of the best breakfast buffets in Johannesburg.
The buffet included seared tuna wrapped with dijon mustard rolled in sesame seeds; caviar and cold smoked oysters. There were breads such as seared butter loaf, pumpkin seed bread, walnut bread and diabetic and low GI jams.
All types of teas were included in the 210-rand buffet ($18) and were served in silver tea pots.
The baked goods and confections were to write home about. Mini melkterts with strawberries and baby apples were more beautiful than they sound, and tasted as good as they looked. There were savory muffins, a variety of quiches, and my absolute favorite because there’s no such thing as too much sugar — coconut ice.
But more on the baked goods. We’re talking plain vanilla muffins, fresh scones and home-made oreos — South Africans are crazy about oreos. This buffet had two oreo types.
Cody Flanagan, a first-year trainee who works in the March kitchen, tried to describe the difference between the restaurant’s home-made oreo varieties, but couldn’t quite find the words. “One’s more chewy,” he said. “You have to taste it to understand.”
The buffet’s fresh juices included Harrismith apple and guava.
For me, the best item in this breakfast buffet turned out to be a whole, mini peeled pear that was out of this world in its juicy, drip-down-your-fingers simplicity.
By the end of the meal, I was dying for more coffee but couldn’t find my waitress and the dining room wasn’t busy.
I watched some Indian businessmen doing a deal at the table next door, feeling spoiled, blessed and lucky to have had such a fabulous meal.