Kream Restaurant Montecasino — Restaurant in Gauteng

There has been another exciting addition to the Montecasino eateries.

The latest being Kream Restaurant, Montecasino

It's an impressive elegant establishment. Large open spaces, multiple private dining areas and a menu so diverse that you have to give the unusual a try. I am weary of the beautiful staircase and walking down after a few drinks 🤣🍷🍸 but the service is fantastic. I'm sure the waiters will even assist you down safely.

On arrival we were served a choice of bread with 3 different flavoured butters - amazing tastes and all depends on the bread you picked.

Onto the menu. I have always looked out for restaurants that serve scallops, as most places where I've had locally serve these tiny little things that don't really count, so I was surprised to see it as a starter. So we decided to try the Scallops and the Frogs Legs, as they had them in stock.

The Scallops were served with sweetcorn cream, crispy Parmaham, and finished off with Orange Syrup. Unfortunately, they were not cooked properly and were a bit mushy inside. The parmaham gave it a nice taste, but the orange syrup killed it. The Frogs Legs, were crumbed and fried, served with charred leeks, candied Lemons, Citrus and Parsley Salsa. To be honest it tastes like chicken 🤣 the spicing of the crumb was so overpowering that you didn't really taste the "meat" but the Crumb had a lovely flavour to it.

If you are adventurous, there are other starter items like Crocodile, Quail, Pickled Ox Tongue, Roasted Bone marrow etc.

To drink I couldn't resist the Candy Floss Cosmo, it's my favourite, favourite as you know by now.

For mains it was also a toss up, as there were so many good options. Sushi, Soups, Salads, Steaks, Ribs, Pork Belly, Oxtail, Chicken, Seafood and Vegetarian options.

The Sushi had me hooked, Spicy Salmon and Prawn Fashion Sandwich, and the Firecrackers with Crispy Tempura Salmon. The most amazing Sushi I've had in a long while. The Firecracker sauce just made it, and the ingredients you could taste the freshness.

Then, the Smoked Pork Belly with Apple and Sage mashed potatoes, Peanut butter- Butternut Puree, Spring Onions and a Honey Mustard sauce. Although the Pork Belly was tender, the crackling on the side was way too chewy. I struggle to find places that get the crackling right.

Last but not least, dessert. I took a chance with the cake of the day as I was told it was a Caramel and Carrot Cake, (and you know I love a good Carrot cake) and we also took the Cappuccino Panna Cotta. Sadly another miss. My Carrot cake had caramel on the side of the plate and there was so much nuts inside and the candied fruit on top, which i always feel spoils a good carrot cake. It also was a little too moist inside. The Panna Cotta, however, was as stiff as Jelly. And I didn't understand the dessert with the added Orange zest doughnut and Almond shortbread ice cream on the side.

Throughout the evening we had various waiters all assisting us, Wendy, Valentine, Mdue and the Manager Mfana, who listened to all my constructive feedback I gave on the dishes, the good and the bad. I was glad they were more than willing to listen to our suggestions. They have a fantastic menu but the execution needs a little work. Thankfully they know they have some opening teething issues and are making it a priority to resolve to improve everyone's dining experience.

I look forward to going back and trying some other dishes, and maybe sitting by the bar area and it's such a great place to chill. They have really pulled out all the stops with the simple yet effective decor and all the staff are superb.

They are situated in the old Beira Alta spot if you are wondering where they are. Go give them a try and see how bold your tastebuds can...

The start of a fine dining experience starts are the front door and carries itself trough all aspects of excellent service, fine dining food, ambiance and the over all experience one has on an evening out.

This is why Kream Montecasino has my vote for Best of Joburg for this years Reader's Choice Awards and it was not only my experience but evident in the patrons around me.

My evening.

My hostess for the evening was Alexi which escorted me to my table and promptly introduced me to my server, Iryn. Iryn was a ray of sunshine and a true ambassador for Kream. We all had our evenings ruined by bad service due to a waiter not invested in their work et cetera. She definitely knows what the Gold standard in service is, and never did I feel the need to motion for attention.

Iryn was not alone in setting the bar high, the floor was alive with service working as a well oiled machine ensuring patrons are tended to. This I accredit to management involvement and interaction and no shortage of managers ensuring everybody is on point.

Ernest introduced himself as my floor manager and with the perfect balance of friendly chat proceeded to offer me the specialty dishes of the day. A Kudu venison dish, an impressive red snapper fish dish and gnocchi pasta dish with a twist. Far from the "Chicken or Beef" cliche.

The Ambiance Kream seats 348 guests spaciously in a lower and upper section, the large double volume center is enhanced by a large staircase that was the mainstay of many selfies and photo opportunities. Lighting is very well balanced and the same can be said about the background music, tasteful and non intrusive to polite dinner conversation. A must for your next special occasion, booking is advised to avoid disappointment, specially for larger numbers.

My choice. As my starter I had the Mushroom and Biltong Soup. I select for my main course the Fillet Camembert - medium. Rounding off with dessert, a decadent Blueberry Cheesecake.

The food was par excellence. Seasoning was spot on with no need to reach for a salt shaker. The photos do not do the taste justice but an amazing plate presentation do start things off on a high note.

Unfortunately I could not indulge in a wine pairing as I had to drive a hefty distance.

The menu is well balance and worth exploring.

Pro's and Con's Excellent service - patron's talk, so keep the standard high. Bread service - any ordinary place can dump a stale roll on a table and run away, nor here. A choice was offered and accompanying topping spreads was explained. Menu is well laid out and legible. Each table has its own non intrusive sanitizer - felt unnecessary as the place is spotless but a Covid relic. Definitely an event venue, saw three birthday celebrations (no clappy clappy birthday singing - thank heaven), an anniversary celebration and a very special marriage proposal (she said YES) Patron's do dress formal for their occasions and is a huge compliment to Kream as they have no enforced a dress code. Kudos! Active management involvement. Thank you Ernest Kitchen service is spot on even in busy times. I had an in between courses palette cleanser that illustrated the level of thought and refinement of this establishment.

Please revert back to your cloth napkins and look into a more stylish take home (doggy bag) than the white polystyrene container.

Kream is an oasis in the desert of restaurants.

You got my...

I have to unfortunately share what was one of the most shocking & worst experiences I have had at any restaurant ever & what used to be one of my favourite & most recommended restaurants ever. We visited the Monte Casino branch on Saturday, this was my 4th Time here, we chose to spend Chrismas lunch here the last time I visited, by the way as mentioned I'm an avid Kreme supporter and have been to every single one of the restaurants even the flagship store in PTA before it moved to the new location & been there too. I've always held this place in high regard, but after the shocking incident on Saturday & the way me & my elderly mum was treated I will never recommend this restaurant again. We got there just past 16:30 and asked for a table, the restaurant was completely empty but we were told we could only sit outside, I found that a bit odd but never said anything, one of the hosts showed me to the restroom while another showed my mum to the table outside.

After I was done in the restroom I walked through the very empty restaurant and noticed there was not a single reserved sign in sight. I got to the table outside where mum was seated which was just outside the doors on one side, it was awkward and my mum who is elderly was feeling a bit cold, so I asked to be moved inside and who was the apparent manager rattled out some nonsensical bs excuses, I asked why it was an issue since none of the tables had a reserved sign, he responded to say that it was getting close to 5pm so it would be getting busy, uh but we were there now?

I then noticed that another 2 women of colour were seated in the same section as us and there was only a single table occupied by white folk inside. I took extreme offence to this. We told the manager we were leaving, he walked away to the front of the restaurant ignoring us. My mum unbeknown to me while I was in the rest room had ordered a bottle of water and the waiter poured 2 glasses of it which were untouched by us.

We proceeded to leave the restaurant and walked passed the manager and hosts on the way out. While walking toward another restaurant to have dinner 2 security guards rushed towards us asking us where the bottle of water was, I was so confused and asked what they meant, this is in the middle of the pathway near the radio studio, the security gaurd told me the manager at Kreme pressed the panic button because we stole the water. What the actual hell!? My mum who suffers with anxiety and is a heart patient was besides herself. I asked what bottle of water as we didn't have anything with us, the manager had then said we ordered water we didn't pay for. Really? We didn't even consume the water and you saw us leave the restaurant why did you not stop us then? You chose to cause a scene over a R59 bottle water?! Lmao what a joke, we told the security guards what happened and they sided with us, telling the manager to back off as he was upsetting us. They brought the bill and I paid for the water and my mum told them to bring the water bottle to us.

I have never been so shocked and embarrassed by a restaurant ever, nevermind that - I am a black card holder Montecasino but establishments like Kreme and treatment afforded by them make me never want to go back. Shame on you Kreme! That was shocking to say...