Rabbit in the Moon - Bohemian Cafe in the heart of Sandton

Food: Eclectic Bistro (a bit of everything)

Wine: Very limited, but some good choices. Prices rather on the high end.

Service: Very Good, attentive and enthusiastic.

Ambiance: Smart Casual, relaxed but eclectically elegant.

In a nutshell: Flavorful Food in a Heartwarming setting where the client is king. Prices on the Menu for the starters and Lunch Menu Items are on the affordable side, with the dinner price range significantly higher, yet reasonable. An excellent choice for a romantic dinner or simply the place to chill out with a nice selection of cocktails. Don't Miss: Filet Mignon and Three Milks Dessert.

City: Johannesburg, South Africa

Address: 198 Oxford Road, Illovo. (Same complex as Yamato, next to Thrupps)

Tel: 011 447 6720

I came across Rabbit in the Moon while looking for something else in the internet, I don't even recall what, but probably related to food. In any case, it turned out to be a great surprise. While a bit hidden, it's a nice Jewel with a classically elegant bohemian mix of vintage furniture and famous art replicas, mainly of famous writers. They have set up a nicely-put-together tent right in front of the restaurant (and probably the reason why you can't easily see it off the street), which boasts the same kind of Bohemian decor as the beautiful interior and connects with an improvised, yet astonishingly wild looking garden setting. We wanted to sit down in this garden area initially, but the cold blowing wind quickly chased us away (it is still spring after all).  

To their disadvantage I arrived famished, as I had not had lunch. But, to our delight the food was served speedily and it looked just great. We had the Filet Mignon and the Burger, from which the former proved to be the undisputed winner. The Filet was served with what I take it was a Provencal herbs and brandy creamy sauce with a side of scalloped potatoes with caramelized onions, just delicious! The Burger was good but lacked oomph, with the cherry tomato topping and the balsamic reduction sauce being the highlight. It was served with what were supposed to be Truffle Fries, but the truffle oil could not be tasted. We poured it all down with a Simonsig Pinotage, also a tasteful new discovery.

Then we saved ourselves for dessert, which we don't normally order but fortunately we decided to enquire about the day's selection. We were surprised to hear about the three milks dessert, and I figured that since it seemed to be the traditional three milks dessert I had so often had in Ecuador and they did say it came from Latin America, we had to give it a try... And we did not regret it! The piece we were served was huuuuge and rather costly (R40), but good value, because, despite the size, we ate all. It was certainly one of the nicest three milks desserts we've had, and it can be found just down the road on Oxford Rd, Johannesburg!

We had a great time and felt amazingly attended to by the staff as well as Simon, the owner and manager, who made sure we were thoroughly satisfied at all times. It is such a breeze to find places where one feels warmly hosted and the ambiance, food and drink reflect that care. Visiting Rabbit in the Moon is a must! who knows, I might see you there, because I'll definitely be back.


Love, iSa