This is one of northern suburb Johannesburg’s more interesting and culturally diverse streets, at least for dining. It’s a curious mix of working class and ethnic restaurants mixed in with hardware stores, video stores and take-away joints, right next to the upmarket smooth-edged Sandton. A walk down the strip offers Thai, Lebanese, Italian and Indian food (review of Delhi Dharbar coming on Friday); along with modern bistro in the form of the excellent Thomas Maxwell Bistro. Here, eccentric décor meets very robust comfort food cooked at a consistently higher level than most, with a warm, owner-led welcome. 011 784 1575. Beirut offers the panoply of Lebanese cuisine (including great kebabs, kibbeh and fattoush) in a restaurant that is clearly the HQ for the local Lebanese community, often to be found playing backgammon on the street-side tables. 011 884 1015. For Italian food, go just around the corner to Cucina Italiana where the owner has a passion for opera and Ferrari in the time-honoured tradition, the small trattoria serving well-priced favourites. 011 783 4843. And if it is old-school Swiss you are in the mood for, a bit further down the street you’ll find Erwin’s, a comfortably conservative space with very good service and a menu that includes a real schnitzel, trout with almonds and duck à l’orange – even crepes Suzette flambéed at your table. 011 783 5579.
