Obscura Cocktail Bar & Eatery — Restaurant in Gauteng

I had the pleasure of visiting Obscura Cocktail bar & Eatery on Oxford road, Rosebank. This is my first experience of this picturesque bar and as photos will state. It was absolutely amazing. Firstly, Sifiso our host, greeted us with so much warmth and familiarity that i felt like i was a frequent visitor. The bar aesthetic is so pleasing, i pointed out to my partner that the colours used in the eatery walls & drapes are exactly the same as the decor flowers beside us! Talk about attention to detail. Lets me start with the drinks which are carefully curated to unique palettes and i say this based on what you tell the waiter or bartender. Whether your preference is Gin, Cognac, Blended alcohol etc. or whether you drink according to your travels and want to revive your taste then Italian, Japanese or Creole inspired drinks will take your mind back! My favourite drink was the Old fashioned Bourbon drink, done everywhere but perfected at Obscura cocktail bar! The food, was out of this world. The dishes have beautiful tastes that not only are pleasing to the eye but also taste amazing! Always and i mean always go for the Broccoli starter, slightly charred and cooked in Cape Malay velouté & honey. It gives a curry taste which leaves you wanting more with fresh almonds and chilli oil. My partner had the White Fish and he kept saying there is no need to visit Cape Town so often anymore. The Pork belly and Sirloin are cooked to perfection too! The owner walked in and we could tell that the bar is his well planned baby! He gave attention to all customers, i mean an owner that makes the drinks (he is an award winning mixologist) with a smile. I recommend this bar and fully request that you try it before heading off to the coast so that you can have a taste of perfection! Did i mention that their reconstructed Tiramisu is divine! Prices are reasonable and the bathrooms are clean and well taken off! Art meets, Aesthetic pleasing decor meeting delectable dishes and photo worthy tasty drinks! 10/10! Will be visiting the...

The overall experience was disappointing. While the staff were friendly, they often seemed forgetful and inattentive, which impacted the service. From forgetting basic items like crockery and cutlery to missing our request to split the bill - it wasn’t a train smash, but definitely inconvenient.

I don’t drink, so I can’t comment on the drinks menu, but I did enjoy the board game setup. It added a playful and cozy touch to the space.

Unfortunately, the food fell far short of expectations. We ordered chicken sliders, regular wedges, and a fish dish. The chicken meat itself tasted like it had been microwaved straight from the freezer, the bun was actually over proofed, so instead of making a fresh batch of dough they probably just used an older batch - noticeably, the wedges were oversized and undercooked, and the fish dish was the most disappointing - poorly presented, lacking flavor, unpleasantly chewy, and had a noticeable smell.

We even asked our waitress to taste the food (despite her concern about getting in trouble), and she agreed with our assessment. The manager’s indifference was especially concerning and pointed to a deeper issue with quality control and customer care. There needs to be more emphasis on the food itself, not just the aesthetics.

Sadly, based on this experience, I...

This isn't a cocktail bar and eatery; it is a sensory adventure combined with excellent service that had me feeling like a VIP. The decor is outstanding. The bar is super impressive. The bathrooms are spacious and clearly not an afterthought. The cocktails, where do I start? That's exactly how I felt when I looked at the creative signature cocktail menu! Where to begin? Not to mention the cocktails in the menu! It's a clever ploy Obscura - I need to visit again and again until I've tried them all! The sharing plates are a work of art! Beautiful to behold and divine to eat. We were a group of 5 and between us, we shared brioche (wow!), pork belly (the best ever), duck breast (succulent), broccoli (oh.my.word!), potato terrine with jamon (divine), roast potato chips (delicious), and zucchini fries (yummy). Then we were full to the brim! But there's always room for dessert, right? The bite-sized desserts, dessert cocktails, and coffees are the perfect way to round off the night. The waiting staff were most attentive. The barmen were skilled and entertaining. Chef Thabo takes delight in what he does; it's evident in the presentation and taste of his culinary masterpieces. Devon was a hands-on manager who popped in often to make sure we were happy. Huge congratulations, George Hunter... Obscura...