It’s been just over one year since COVID-19 arrived on our shores and the country we were all forced to stay home and distance ourselves from one another. Surviving lockdown has been like sweeping leaves through a tornado and unfortunately our small local businesses have suffered intensely and sadly a few have not survived the pandemic.
Here is our list of the five Joburg restaurants that have closed due to COVID-19 that we will miss the most and why they will never be forgotten.
JB's Corner Sandton City
Farewell to our all-time everyday favourite café. What we loved most about this restaurant was the consistency. On any day at any time you could grab a beef burger or a garden-fresh wholesome sticky chicken salad, and it would always taste the same, jam-packed with tang and flavour. So long J.B’s.
Bloom Coffee Parkhurst
Everyone’s favourite local coffice has shut down its doors, just recently. Full of potential and promise this serene café served some of the best almond cuppas in town. It was a truly great addition to the streets of 4th Avenue.
Craft Parkhurst
Love them or hate them this corner spot was always overflowing with patrons and craft beer. With their remarkable crafty menu and positively delicious milkshakes and waffles, we bid them farewell.
Urbanologi - Joburg CBD
This popular cosmopolitan style eatery was exceedingly prosperous and we have a good idea why. This restaurant was a firm favourite, especially with internationals. Firstly their gastronomy was in a league of its own, inventive and innovative and secondly the brewery space added to the allure and design aesthetic.
Douglas + Hale
It is no secret that Chef James Diack is one of our faves and his food ethos is admirable. So we were deeply saddened to hear the closing of one of his eateries.
It is understandable why the locals loved this space, it just made the perfect date night spoil and was a trendy hangout for after-work drinks.
Sadly we have a few more COVID-19 casualties to share with you:
- Thief Restaurant - Parkmore
- Casa Marani - Parkhurst (good news is that they will be opening again soon, next to Espresso in Parkhurst)
- The Countess - Melville
- Epicure by Chef Coco - Sandton
- Farro - Illovo
- Calexico - 44 on Stanley
- Reuben's Restaurant and Bar - Sandton
- La Petite Maison - Melville
- Pablo Eggs Go Bar - Melville (don't frett as they have relaunched in Sandton)
- Coobs - Parkhurst (well they have actually recently reopened in Parktown North)
- Casalinga - Muldersdrift (there is a new establishment in their place, called Casalinga Organic Farm)
- Belles Patisserie (orders now only available online)
New superstars will arrise from the ashes...
Check out our list of the Top 5 New Restaurants in Joburg for March 2021.
