Parktown Quarter, 3rd Avenue, Parktown North, Johannesburg, South Africa
Cuisine:
Contemporary
Good for:
Breakfast/Brunch, Late Night
The Foundry
2 Visitor Photos +
REVIEWS
2 Reviews
Expert Review
This gastro pub in trendy Parktown definitely has a shiny gloss to it. From the retro brick-and-steel décor, to the...
This gastro pub in trendy Parktown definitely has a shiny gloss to it. From the retro brick-and-steel décor, to the well-dressed hipsters who hang out at the bar quaffing craft beers, to the inventive-yet-casual cuisine, it’s looks like a little gem compared to the cookie-cutter corporate restaurants that tend to dominate Johannesburg’s restaurant scene.
Too bad I didn’t like it that much. I can’t decide if I ordered the wrong dishes, or if it was just an off night, but I was not as impressed as the critics predicted I would be. I went with a group, and we ordered a series of appetizers: a tasting board with bitterballen, squid heads, mussels, chimi mealies and chicken wings; a plate of grilled calamari; baby back pork ribs; and roast bone marrow.
The bitterballen (sort of like Dutch meatballs) were tasty but unremarkable, the squid and mussels were a bit lacking, the chicken was ordinary, and the bone marrow was inedible. The bright spots were the calamari, which was tender and delicious, and the ribs, which were smothered in a satisfying plum and oyster mushroom sauce and were thick and juicy. We also ordered a butter chicken pizza later, which was too heavy on the coriander and definitely not to my liking. I now wish I had ordered the pork belly or mushroom ravioli, both signature dishes that regularly get rave reviews.
The service was a bit slow considering that the restaurant was not busy (it was a Tuesday night shortly after Christmas), but perhaps they were understaffed that day. I would go back, but only just to sit at the expansive bar and work my way through the massive list of micro-brews, craft beers and imports. The drinks menu (which also includes cocktails, coolers, wines, Champagne and cider) is twice as long as the food menu, which tells you what The Foundry’s focus is. The atmosphere is pleasant too, with a spacious, buzzy dining room that opens onto 3rd Avenue.
Expert Review
Cape Town bars and Western Cape micro-breweries have led the craft beer trend in South Africa, but now Joburg is...
Cape Town bars and Western Cape micro-breweries have led the craft beer trend in South Africa, but now Joburg is catching up. The Foundry is one of the first craft beer bars in the city, and has attracted a loyal following ever since it opened. Everything about this place says craft, from the stylish urban-chic interior – exposed bricks, ceilings panelled with reclaimed wood, hand-blown glass lights and black-paned glass windows – to the beers and food.
Hop fans won’t be disappointed with the selection: choose from 25 bottled beers and 10 draft beers from local breweries as well as from neighbouring Mozambique – and further afield Mexico and the UK. For the non-beer drinkers there are Swedish ciders, a small wine list, a few classic cocktails and a decent selection of crafted whiskey blends – including a few from Japan. While there are delicious nibbles such as marinated olives and charcuterie and cheese boards made for sharing while you drink beer in the buzzing bar the Foundry also offers lunch and dinner in a large restaurant section that spills out onto the sidewalk.
The sourdough pizzas are popular – not many pizza restaurants in the city have come up with as unusual (and tasty) gourmet topping such as Empire butter chicken – a take on Indian curry with masala pineapple, cracked poppadum, raita and coriander – and braised fennel and chorizo. Meat features heavily on the rest of the menu (not surprising, given the beery connection) with dishes inspired by UK gastro-pubs such as sirloin steak, fried egg and fat chips, roast pork belly on bean mash and lamb, pork and beef sausages with potato gnocchi and onion gravy. For the vegetarians there’s the tasty field-mushroom-stuffed ravioli in a butter and sage sauce. Beer even makes its way into the food – like the twist on traditional South African pumpkin fritters, made with Van Hunks Pumpkin Ale.
Desserts are pure comfort food and seem designed for warming up on chilly winter evenings – think sticky toffee date pudding with butterscotch sauce and whipped cream and warm chocolate fondant with vanilla ice cream. After your meal don’t forget to have a coffee – the Foundry prides itself on its high quality beans, sources from around the world.
The bar attracts a young, trendy crowd, while the restaurant sees more of a mix of ages, with family groups and big tables of friends (there’s also a children’s menu). Whether or not you’re into craft beer, this is spot is not to be missed.