When Nelson Mandela square first opened – when it was still known as Sandton Square – it was THE place to be seen, eating or socializing in Jo’burg. As the years passed on however, the area became somewhat cluttered with mediocre restaurants, serving average, over-priced food to foreigners. Most of them probably thinking: gosh, food in Jo’burg is soooo bad!
So it is with big relief that we tell you: The Square is hotting up once more! There are a host of new and trendy restaurants opening their doors; Tasha’s will finally grace Sandton with their presence (we are placing bets as to what the theme will be), while “The Big Mouth” has been delighting people with their stunning décor (marble and copper lamps) and –apparently – delectable sushi. The third exciting entrant to the square is Remo’s (of Durban and Waterfall Corner fame) which focuses on serving home-style Italian favourites.
The launch, which took place last week Wednesday, was a complete delight. While it was labelled the ‘media launch’, the vibe of the evening felt much more relaxed than that, with many friends and family guests included in the crowd creating a very warm, welcoming and vibey atmosphere. We were greeted with a glass of Prosecco, and quickly found ourselves snapping away photos of the stunning interior.
Renzo Scribante, the passionate owner behind the Remo’s name says the inspiration of the new store was drawn from the name of the location – Nelson Mandela, with liberta meaning freedom. The concept has been so cleverly pulled together that the mural of Mandela in his boxing days is complimented by hundreds of black and white photos across the walls, creating a unique and very authentic feel. The restaurant is filled with booths and tables, spread out across a beautiful blue and white tiled floor (obsessed with this), while the large bar area dominates the front of the store.
Obviously, being an Italian joint meant the food did not stop pouring out the kitchen that night. From tasty caprese sticks and piping-hot pizzas to divine meatballs, we got a taste for what has made the Remo’s franchise of restaurants so successful. The show stopper, however, had to be the mini cronuts that found their way onto a table: a delicious hybrid between a donut and croissant filled with sweet custard flavours (like peanut butter – O.M.G).
First Cronut Ever
We also have to give a special mention to the service given by the waiters, barmen and general manager Jake – they made every effort to make their guests feel special the entire evening.
Remo’s Liberta officially opens next week and after such a delicious taster of things to come, we can whole-heartedly give it the #spruceapproved badge! (We will update this post with contact details as soon as we know about them 🙂