It’s not every day we get to play tourist and up the budget, but a combination of radiant winter weather, Joburg visitors, and a long weekend dedicated to youth and our old men, led us on an outing to Cape Town’s popular V&A Waterfront. And since a tourist outing isn’t complete without plenty of quality local food, we made the obvious choice to try the newest edition of the popular African dining chain, moyo.

The new moyo V&A Waterfront is situated at the Clock Tower square and boasts the first-of-its-kind moyo Souk – an open air marketplace with 20 stalls dotted along the water’s edge where you can indulge in African produce and street food (a clever alternative to restaurant dining). moyo has a reputation for sourcing sustainable products and moyo V&A Waterfront is no different. The aquaponic lettuce growing vertically in the Souk is the freshest you can get and a great demonstration of future urban farming. The restaurant interior offers social-style seating on long wooden tables where the souk theme continues with a butcher, baker, and fishmonger. Unlike the strong essence of African décor that the other moyo venues have, the moyo V&A Waterfront has its own unique vibe, and we enjoyed an incredible view of the harbour and lemony-yellow clock tower from our balcony seating.

Despite the blazing sunshine, there was an icy chill in the wind and we were happy to find thick blankets awaiting us at our table. It’s been 4 and a half years since my last moyo experience in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg; and as we perused the tantalising menu, my excitement surged as my hubby and I gushed about how amazing the oxtail and mash (yes, even a man can gush about mash) had been back then. The fantastic menu of traditional African cuisine proved a tough contest until…Bingo! We discovered the winter warmer special (2-course for R145pp, or 3-course for R165pp) with a choice of 2 starters, 4 mains, and 3 desserts.

Food

As a taste teaser of what lay ahead, our appetites were whet with delicious flat bread smothered in aromatic garlic and coriander. Starters consisted of either butternut soup or a trio of samoosas. The creamy soup was perfect soul food, and the crispy samoosas (1 cheese, 1 potato, and 1 mince) were some of the best I have ever tasted.

For mains we opted for the lamb tagine with couscous and the rump steak with mash. The lamb tagine was fragrant and juicy, and the side of curry paste added a delicious, tear-inducing punch. While the rump may have been slightly overdone (according to my hubby), I found it tender and tasty, and had no complaints at all. After our highly-anticipated reunion with moyo mash, we were a little disappointed to find it dry and lumpy, with no gravy or sauce to give it any life. But as I have learnt in the past, all you need do is ask and it will be given.

The dessert options were too tempting not to try a bit of everything. The dom pedro was delicious, but the cinnamon mousse cake was heavenly – the kind that keeps you coming back, because it could never be store bought. The ample portion of moyo moja (a baked apricot, ginger, and cinnamon pudding) and custard was a perfect winter warmer treat and we couldn’t resist scraping every last morsel up with our fingers.

Activities

A visit to moyo isn’t complete without their trademark face painting and hand washing ceremony with warm, perfumed water. It’s amazing how special a few spots of white paint can make you feel; especially when you walk out knowing that people around you are thinking, “Aah, they’ve been to moyo. Lucky them!”

Impressions

All in all, we enjoyed a wonderful afternoon soaking up the sunshine and eating our fill in the beautiful harbour setting. The staff were friendly and the food was great, and I can only compliment them on excellent service. But I can’t help feel that the famous moyo atmosphere was lacking in some way. I missed the spaces that entice you to explore and the live African entertainment that makes moyo such an icon. I should have checked in advance, but it was surprising that aside from a complimentary glass of brandy, there was no entertainment for Father’s Day. Will I return? Yes. Especially to taste the wares of the street food market! But it may only be after I’ve tried the other fantastic moyo venues around South Africa.

Details

Open: Monday – Friday from 08h00 – 23h00; Saturday & Sunday from 09h00 – 23h00

Contact: +27 (0)87 351 1121 / mariaan@moyo.co.za

Address: Shop G12, The Clock Tower, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town

moyo venues

Zoo Lake, Johannesburg: +27 (0)11 646 0058

Melrose Arch, Johannesburg: +27 (0)11 684 1477

Fountains, Pretoria: +27 (0)12 341 5729

uShaka, Durban: +27 (0)31 332 0606

Blouberg, Cape Town: +27 (0)21 554 9671

Kirstenbosch, Cape Town: +27 (0)21 762 9585

Spier, Stellenbosch: +27 (0)21 809 1133

What’s your favourite moyo venue?