Review: Temptation for the Tastebuds at Tempo Luxury Restaurant
On a cool winter’s eve, we stepped into our fancies for a night out on the town. This time, at Tempo Luxury Restaurant in Paulshof, Sunninghill for their Thursday Temptation menu, which ran until 25 July, hopefully preceding another similar offering this spring.
Perhaps not everyone’s scene, Tempo is the place where Joburgers gather for a pre-dinner tipple, which evidently spills over to dinner, which evidently spills over to a night of dancing with what they call ‘evening entertainment.’ Yes, come 20:00, the mysterious curtains to the one side of the restaurant are opened and a DJ starts turning up the music for what promises to be a night of celebration.
At Tempo, you quite literally get the green light to dine to the beat. The name says it all: It’s all about the beat, the luxurious city life and of course, food and drink. On the night of our visit, green lights illuminated the space to create a vibey atmosphere for the younger crowd to chillax in lounge-type booth seats or at restaurant tables scattered all around an impressive bar with mirror roof detail that mimics the bar counters and floors. It’s here where the barmen make magic with cocktails and mocktails, which keep coming past on round trays as the night transpires.
As guests strolled in on the red carpet after being checked at the doors, a glittery photobooth invited fashionistas to pose for a pic before being chaperoned to a seat. Groups of friends made themselves comfortable in the lounge area, sharing hubbly bubblies while sipping on expensive whisky.
In our hand was the Temptation Menu – specially curated with Neo Nontso – tempting our tastebuds. Soon after ordering, three Prawn Croquettes, neatly plated with a green salad, a tangy Tuscan sauce and Parmesan custard were served as our appetizer, dampening our hunger. We ordered two mains to have the best of both worlds: Lamb Cutlets and Pork Belly. The Lamb Cutlets were served with a White Aubergine Purée, Cabbage Frikkadels, Kimchi Pickled Beetroot and Black Tuille, while the Pork Belly was accompanied by Carrot Orange Purée, Spicy Apple Salsa, Crackling, Beetroot Purée and Broccoli. What followed was Pineapple Rice Pudding, served with a Pineapple Purée, Toasted Almonds and Pineapple Cubes, and Lemon Tart with Swiss Meringue, Citrus Garnish and Dehydrated Lemon. Perhaps not the most innovative where the menu and its various puréed accompaniments were concerned, the dishes were all flavourful and elegantly plated. For us, Tempo’s overall theme leans more toward hearty dining than fine dining and we can affirm that you definitely won’t go home hungry.
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We would have appreciated a more knowledgeable approach where the wine service was concerned. Still, the drinks menu is quite extensive, with cocktails and liquor seemingly being the name of the game. The Tempo Sunrise was a surprisingly refreshing drink to kick the evening off with.
Tempo was awarded Best Supper Club Restaurant at the Luxe Restaurant Awards this year, and they received the Best Restaurant in Sandton and the Best Restaurant in Johannesburg award at the South Africa Restaurant Awards.
Between champagne flutes filled with Moët & Chandon, Whisky tumblers on the tables and DJs setting the scene with your favourite beats, Tempo stands tall in the small lifestyle centre it is located in. It might have been awarded as a daytime culinary experience to be had, but nighttime brings a whole other experience for those keen on exploring new culinary offerings in the City of Gold.
