Maazari courtyard (via website)
If you’re expecting for the first time, there’s a couple of things you can be sure to hear:
- “Enjoy your sleep while you can” (It’s already not that enjoyable, thanks)
- “Go out as much as possible while you still can” (Ja, ‘cos money grows on trees, hey)
- “Make sure you go all natural for birth/breast is best… ” (& all other forms of unsolicited advice)
Anyway, I decided to listen to point 2 because a woman has got to eat either way.
Wikideals had a special on at the newly established, fully halaal, Mazaari Restaurant. I’d never heard of it before but thought we could give it a try.
Wikideals special at Mazaari
We bought the voucher and made a booking for the Friday night. I enquired about parking because I was not prepared to walk very far. The person I spoke to on the phone was friendly and explained that the restaurant was very close to the Fire & Ice Hotel in Church Street.
At that point, I realised that the place was previously called Jiah. I was never there so cannot comment on whether it has improved or not.
Date night
I poured myself (no exaggeration) into one of my dresses that still sort of fit and we headed to Mazaari with the promise of good food and strictly NO TALK OF BABY TO-DO LISTS. We found parking in that weird cul-de-sac near Fire & Ice and I wobbled/waddled to the opening in Buitengracht Street.
We were warmly greeted and directed to our seats. The place was fairly busy but emptied out as time went by. I found it a bit odd that there was no background music playing – it made the place lack ambience.
Anyway, we ordered and our food came really quickly. I went for the lamb curry – it was nice and spicy. My partner went for the ribs which he really enjoyed.
Mazaari, Cape Town
For dessert, I chose the chocolate brownie which was on the small side (all desserts are on the small side when you are 8 months pregnant). My partner had the Ferrero milkshake as his dessert option. I thought it sounded boring but I was genuinely shocked by the size of it! I mean, it was like a litre of milkshake – no jokes. He even looked a bit milk-drunk after finishing it. I was kicking myself for not getting one too.
Drinks and dessert, Mazaari
In conclusion,
The problem with using vouchers is that you may feel like it was good value for money but the person who paid full price for the same thing may not have had their expectations met. I peeked at the rest of the menu to check if the place was reasonably priced and whether I would go there again sans voucher. I was pleasantly surprised, they had burgers starting from around R60 which isn’t bad. I’d go back there as overall, I had a good time.
Have you been there? What did you think?
-Rif
Mazaari Restuarant
We went to Mazaari for the first time this past Heritage Day weekend. I was pleasantly surprised at the speed of service after I had read some previous reviews which complained about a slow team.
I made a reservation over the phone the previous day but it seemed as if the person taking it didn’t record it properly. However this didn’t stop the team from quickly organizing a table for 7.
Service was good. Waiters even indulged my son’s request to charge his dying phone!!
Food came quickly and was really good. Prices were reasonable and we will go back again.