Embarc Restaurant — Restaurant in Gauteng

Our culinary journey in Johannesburg began at Embarc Restaurant, and it set a high bar for the rest of our trip. Our first night in the city was made memorable by the exceptional dining experience we had here. The highlight was undoubtedly the food - a delightful blend of South African flavors, presented with a modern twist. Each dish was a testament to the chef's creativity and respect for local cuisine.

Being vegetarian, my wife often finds limited options, but Embarc was a pleasant surprise. The menu offered a variety of vegetarian dishes, ensuring that my wife had plenty to choose from. The service was another aspect that stood out. Our waiter was not only knowledgeable about the menu but also thoughtful in his recommendations. He suggested adjusting portion sizes based on our order, which resulted in a perfectly balanced meal - satisfying without being excessive.

But what truly distinguished Embarc was the staff's hospitality. Understanding our apprehension as newcomers to the city, the staff kindly escorted us to the nearest ATM post-dinner. This gesture, though simple, spoke volumes about their commitment to guest safety and comfort. It was a heartwarming end to a...

We decided to try a food and wine pairing at Embarc based on a suggestion from the head chef of another restaurant, and it's easy to understand why a tasting menu was recommended.

Pros: A lot of the dishes were really well thought through and tasty The starter (wontons) and the celeriac dish were phenomenal, well balanced, beautifully plated and delicious The dessert was a really clever play on a cheese course and something novel Really interesting wines with great engagement from the wine maker

Cons: Making a reservation was problematic, I needed to ask a few times before my reservation was confirmed The dinner was meant to be 6 wines, 5 courses but there were only three wines and I felt a little more attention could have been paid to the actual pairings The balance of some dishes felt a little off and the portion sizes were small with no bread course The restaurant was cold, and service was lackluster

Overall, the experience was a little...

This is perhaps one of the best restaurants I’ve visited in Parkhurst without a doubt.

The atmosphere was fantastic, with the Lumineers playing in the background. How great is that? ✨

The service was pretty good, and the waiter was very knowledgeable about the menu which is hard to find in most places.

The food, wow, what isn’t there to say? … just brilliant. My recommendation is that when you go there, order starter portions and try 2 to 3 different dishes. They are all brilliant and you can’t just try one. The dishes I tasted were the line fish of the day and fish curry. My only regret is that I should have ordered double because it was that good. ❤️

By far my favourite part of the meal was the dessert. I tried the pecan pie and almost melted on the spot. By far the best dessert I’ve had in Joburg.

Embarc, please expect me back...