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Finding tasty vegetarian meals in a restaurant is more of a chore than a fun night out. I’m trying out the vegetarian options in Johannesburg so you don’t have to. Whether you’re vegetarian, a fasting Hindu or a meat-free Monday observer, have a look at my reviews. Just because it’s vegetarian doesn’t mean it has to taste bland.

Contessa Tea Connoisseur

I decided to visit a tea garden in the heart of Rivonia this weekend. It’s a cute restaurant with lots of leafy shrubs and flowering plants around the sidewalk tables.  
It was a bit chilly so I decided to have breakfast indoors. Apart from feeling warm and cosy, I was very impressed with the unique look of the restaurant. It had some drawings on one side of the wall, a little bookshelf against another wall, pictures on yet another side and framed mirrors too. All of this décor still blended in well and managed to give the patrons a relaxed vibe.
I am not too much of a tea drinker so I was very surprised to see so many different types of teas for sale behind the counter. There’s loose tea leaves and tea bags that you can buy from different brands and in differing packages. It created a really authentic feel to the store and the waitresses would open the jars on these shelves to scoop out some tea leaves, as per the customers’ orders, to make a brew.
Since I was in a tea shop, I decided to pick a tea with loose tea leaves – Coconut Snow. The tea was served in a rather cute see-through plastic “pot”. It’s easy to see where the tea leaves go as well as the interesting colours of the different teas. Coconut snow had a subtle coconut taste to it whilst still looking like tea. The tea was kept warm throughout my meal.
I also tasted the English Breakfast brew and I must say that Contessa’s house brand is the best English Breakfast tea that I’ve ever tasted.

To accompany the teas, there were tables of mouth-watering cakes but I needed something a bit more substantial for breakfast. The only vegetarian option was Breakfast Toast which comprised of toasted rye topped with mushrooms, slices of avocado and tomato, melty cheese topped with rocket. Despite having a very healthy look to it, it was delicious! At some point I dissected each topping to eat separately to find out what made every full bite so tasty, and I realised that it was just the combination of all the ingredients that made it taste good. Next time, I might see if I can swop out the rye for white bread as I find toasted rye a bit hard. All in all, a very tasty light breakfast to start off my day.
The restaurant is not big enough for me to bring all my girlfriends in for a proper high tea but it’s definitely perfect to go for a cosy little breakfast again….and to maybe stock up on some of that Coconut Snow.
Have you dined at Contessa Tea Connoisseur recently? What has been your experience?

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Posted by Splash

Isabella's Tea Garden and Country Cuisine

Breakfast this morning was spent at the cutest little restaurant in Crowthorne, Isabella’s. The little counter of tasty baked goodies at the entrance of this restaurant is a delicious invitation to come inside.

As we walked through the restaurant to get to the little outside area, I couldn’t help but marvel at the antique-styled décor. The tables and chairs are rustic along with the heart stone decorated wooden boxes which holds the condiments for every table. With summer creeping in, the weather was perfect to sit outdoors. There’s a play area for kids with tables nearby for the parents to keep an eye on their children. Further away, there were tables under a gazebo which was the perfect location for me as I wasn’t too keen to listening to or watching children play. Little spots of greenery, flowers and potted plants made it feel like I was about to have lunch in a pretty garden.


I really liked Isabella’s menu. The vegetarian options were clearly marked in green which didn’t include the dishes with eggs in them. I really do appreciate when a restaurant understands that for Hindus, eggs are meat products and not considered vegetarian.

The only vegetarian dish in the breakfast menu was Muesli Crumpets which didn’t sound too appetising for me so I chose Spring Onion and Mushroom Crepe from the lunch menu which boasted gourmet salads and designer sandwiches. My crepe was well prepared and very light for my late Sunday morning. Inside the crepe, the sautéed mushrooms were smothered in cream cheese all sitting on a bed of various types of lettuce leaves. Although the meal was light and tasty, the lettuce made it feel like it rather healthy and I would have preferred for the filling to have more flavour. The restaurant’s offerings weren’t badly priced. At R65, my food fitted in well with the relaxed ambience.


The service was good as waiters were always present yet didn’t disturb us from our dining experience.
Overall, this restaurant felt like a lovely getaway within Midrand. I’d recommend Isabella’s for a lazy weekend brunch for everyone: people dining alone, couples, friends and family.

Have you dined at Isabella’s Tea Garden and Country Cuisine recently? What has been your experience?

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Walnut Grove

Lunch at Walnut Grove in Sandton City is an excellent way to take a break from the shopping and refuel.
The restaurant was recently revamped and the décor fits in much better with the decadent look of Sandton City. A beautiful walnut tree with gorgeous crystals hanging off its branches makes this chandelier a delight to dine under. The varying wooden feel of the floors, table tops and even serving trays helps the restaurant live up to its name.
In the middle of the restaurant, a table stood with an assortment of yummy cakes. It helps to pick the slice of cake you want to eat when you can actually see it.
The menu had a legend to easily spot the vegetarian meals. As the restaurant has a luxury coffee house feel to it, I settled on a toasted tramezzini with roast vegetables and pesto with a coffee.
The service was good but I was much more impressed with wooden serving board that my tramezzini arrived on and the mini deep fryer basket that held my chips. Even the crockery was hip and interesting enough for me to want sets of these dishes in my own house.
The sandwich was filled with delicious Mediterranean roast vegetables, sundried tomatoes and rocket all smothered in a thick layer of mozzarella cheese with some pesto. The pesto enhances the flavour of the roasted vegetables while the melted cheese adds that winter comfort you look for in a toasted sandwich.
It was a tasty lunch, perfect for when you don’t want to spend too much time at a restaurant, but the tramezzini was not that great for a R65. I would however recommend this quaint restaurant for a first coffee date or for friends who want to meet for coffee and cake.  
Have you dined at Walnut Grove recently? What has been your experience?

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