Restaurant Review: The Pudding Shop, Johannesburg

02 August 2015 - 02:00 By Shanthini Naidoo

The Pudding Shop in Johannesburg did not get its name for nothing, writes Shanthini Naidoo The most beautiful things can often be found right under your nose, but if you never look down you will easily miss them. The Pudding Shop is well established, in fact you might have eaten next door at La Cucina di Ciro and noticed their signboard every morning for several years without peeking in. It turns out to be the most delightful venue, a whimsical rabbit hole with its entrance to the left of the bigger restaurant.Inside is almost outside, with living walls covered in creepers, a greenhouse-style roof and a tree poking through a hole in one wall. A fireplace watched over by a smiling Ganesh warms the room, but this venue is probably in its element in warm weather, for mad hatter tea parties. Bright, ethnic-printed table runners and menus add splashes of colour.The puddings are made daily and look enticing piled high on a table. But its name aside, the restaurant is not about the puddings.A diner munching on a stick of young broccoli nearly frightened us away, but the treat table promised it isn't about feeding rabbits. It does cater for vegans and vegetarians, but their less ethically conscious friends are welcome. There are fish options, bacon and eggs for breakfast. Owners Klara Molinaro and Zeus Gusson will have you guessing if the desserts contain eggs and cream. Most don't. He has perfected the use of cashew-nut butter and almond milk, even in vegan ice creams. There are raw dishes and, despite the Buddhist leanings, an ample wine list.full_story_image_hleft1We started with crumbed, deep-fried olives. Delicious bites with a pesto dip, but watch out for the pips. Hummus came with buttery bread sticks. We could have eaten a pile of them. Mildly spiced falafel could have done with more texture (R25 each).The portions are not huge, suitable for the lunching ladies who filled most of the restaurant. We hear it is frequented by local celebs with healthy ideals, too. Hence salads like quinoa with sun-dried tomatoes, parsley and dates, or beetroot carpaccio with rocket and a cashew-nut vinaigrette, both R65. Pumpkin soup with peanut brittle crumble and Thai red lentil soup go for R55.We chose warm mains. The coconut Malay curry of winter vegetables came with flavourful red rice (R95), a petite portion that was quickly demolished. Sloppy risotto (R95) promised scents of saffron and thyme but was sadly overwhelmed by what tasted like store-bought stock. story_article_right1We would have liked lashings of butter and parmesan, but perhaps some prefer the lighter version to the rich option Ciro does next door.Dish of the day was the autumn lasagne (R105) with sweet roast beets, butternut and wilted spinach, swimming in a tomato béchamel. It competed closely with a spicy red bean burger on potato-bread bun plus side salad (R100). For the undecided, there was steaming gnocchi and quiche on a harvest table, or tasting plates from Egypt or India.Pescatarian options were spicy Thai fish cakes, and we got the delicious aroma of what was possibly a buttery lemon sole from the kitchen.Oh, and the pudding. Pineapple and orange cake was fragrant, moist, so light and topped with a creamy orange icing. So good, we ordered it twice.Visit: 43 7th Avenue Parktown North, Johannesburg, 0614443493; thepuddingshop.co.za..

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