By moving from a theme restaurant to a theme park, Moyo has made a logical transition with its joyful opening at Zoo Lake in Parkview. In this ideal environment, drums are everywhere. There are enough kids around for them to keep them occupied, and young women offer to paint your face. Many waiters attend birthday celebrations instead of just one or two, donning enormous feathered hats and singing Happy Birthday, Shoshaloza, and countless encores. There are many different places to eat, including inside, outside, on a deck, by a lake, under a tree, or in a thatched-roofed space that can accommodate up to 60 people. The restaurant is one of the best restaurants in Johannesburg.
Moyo at Zoo Lake advertises itself as kid- and pet-friendly and that description is true. The venue is also known as Moyo in the Making. Workshops are held at the restaurant on the weekends and during the summer. They refer to it as “an African experience,” and some of it is in fact African, such as a drumming circle or the opportunity to practice gumboot dance. However, in addition to participating in theatre activities and games, the kids can also learn to cook and paint enamelware. Throughout the year, there are performers who provide entertainment on the weekends, which begin here on Friday: mbira players, henna artists, occasionally a storyteller, mime artists, or iscathamia singers.
Given the size of the dining area and its distance from the kitchen, it seems likely that those who eat at Moyo at Zoo Lake are not in a rush. Even the best wait staff in the world would struggle to provide lunch (a) piping hot and (b) on time. They attempt, nonetheless. This Moyo’s serves a variety of foods, ranging from salmon trout and saffron eggs to healthy options like cereal and yoghurt, starting with breakfast at 8 a.m. The Rand Lord Breakfast includes Cap Classique sparkling wine with strawberries, meringues, brownies, and other delectable treats if you’re feeling particularly decadent.
For lunch, choose from a variety of salads—including couscous salads named after notables like George Bizos and Frantz Fanon—or sandwiches, such as the rabbit chow and Vrystaat burger, tagines, line fish, or platters (vegetarian, mixed, sweet or cheese). Additionally, there is a children’s menu, “bone appetite” handcrafted dog biscuits priced at R7.95, and free bread for the ducks. Weekend brunch buffets are available from 9 am to 4 pm for R 115 for adults and R 46 for kids.
Breakfast prices range from R18 to R60, with the Rand Lord Breakfast costing an additional R115. Salads range in price from the low R30s to the mid R40s, entrées cost between R50 and R85, and desserts cost between R19 and R28.
Location
Address: Zoo Lake, Lower Park Drive, Parkview
Contact Details
Tel: 011 646 0058
Website: moyo.co.za