Let me first offer a word of caution: once you’re hooked on Glenda’s amazing food & baked goodies you won’t even be able to think or talk about it without salivating! As I’m typing this, I cannot stop thinking about when I can get to Glenda’s next.
Last week marked my third visit to Glenda’s & it will certainly not be the last! I’ve been with a friend for tea & had a (delicious) breakfast meeting. I can truthfully say though that the dinner*, for which my dear friend Christa joined me, tops all previous experiences.
You might remember renowned patissier Glenda Lederle from the Patisserie in Illovo. She created & nurtured this delightful little spot for 10 years before selling to open a restaurant outside Plett. She then travelled the world for training & inspiration from chefs & award winning restaurants in New York & Europe. Following months of planning & scouting for the perfect spot, this café-style seasonal restaurant opened early in 2016 & has not disappointed the discerning palates of Jozi foodies since.
On arrival at Glenda’s I always notice the attention to detail; the tasteful interior, unique crockery right through to the garnish & plating.
The space is feminine but in the most positive sense. Naturally, men are very welcome & they evidently also love Glenda’s. But, for me, it is the ideal spot for sipping gorgeous cocktails from crystal glasses, devouring decadent slices of cake or having a meal with the ladies in your life.
Christa was particularly intrigued by the gorgeous wallpaper. We found out later that it was sourced all the way from the UK & is called ‘Kiss The Frog‘.
I also discovered that the painted walls are full of glitter. Plus the dark navy bathroom walls are covered with little stars. Magical!
The staff are friendly & effective. And prices are reasonable for an upmarket Joburg spot – especially compared to other similar style eateries in the area.
I’ve recently become a fan of food gardening, so I love that Glenda’s grow fresh salad leaves & herbs in the courtyard.
Back to our evening at Glenda’s: on arrival, got right into the concise but delicious cocktail menu. We opted for the French Cocktail (Fynbos gin, rooibos syrup, lime, sparkling wine) & the Porn Star (gin, granadilla & sparkling wine). Amazing.
My recommendation is that you use an Uber or at least make sure you have a responsible designated driver because the cocktails & the variety of gin on offer is way too good to resist.
The weekly specials of skinny lamb chops or duck cottage pie sounded amazing, but I simply could not resist the Salmon Fish Cake. Beautifully presented, a really generous fish cake with rocket mayo, spinach & fries (R185).
My friend Christa ordered one of the most interesting & surprisingly delightful dishes ever! Sunflower Seed Risotto (R140) which contains no rice! Believe it.I was sceptical when she first ordered, but after one bite I was sold. The sauce is very rich, but the unusual taste combo with parsnip chips, parmesan crisp & green apple balances the dish really well.
When it was time to choose dessert, we had actually outdone ourselves, so Christa chose a petit four & I had a Dotty Choux! Small, but exquisite.
I was not going to have something to drink, but Augustine, the barman, convinced me to have a Cortado. It is like the little brother of the Latte of about 90ml – the perfect size for after dinner.
Oh yes, you can also order an entire sensational cake to enjoy at home!
Glenda’s is situated in Hyde Square Shopping Centre. 285 Jan Smuts Ave Corner Jan Smuts Avenue and, North Rd, Hyde Park, Sandton. Contact them on 011 268 6369.
They are open from Mondays to Saturday 7 am – 10 pm; Sundays 8 am to 3 pm.
I can totally do with a little something from the ‘Dotty Choux’ take away patisserie counter… mmm…
Thanx for reading.
Yolandi ♥
*Our dinner was courtesy of Glenda’s, but all opinions are honest & my own.