Prawns, lobster, calamari, oysters, and salmon. The list of tasty seafood is endless, and Joburgers are always on the hunt for the best places serving delicious sea-based dishes. With that, we’ve compiled the definitive guide to the best seafood restaurants in Johannesburg.
The Prawnery
Perfectly situated in Rosebank’s culturally vibrant Keyes Art Mile, The Prawnery is a premier seafood destination offering bold flavours, open-fire Robata grills, and elegant ambience.
For those seeking an exceptional oceanic dining experience, the restaurant provides plenty of options, including the Spicy Seafood Pomodoro (or Seafood Arrabbiata), the Chilli, Coconut & Lemongrass Prawns, and the Seafood Platter packed with king prawns, mussels, and calamari.
With the combination of premium ingredients, exquisite decor and incredible service, a night out quickly becomes an exclusive celebration of great seafood.
When: Monday to Saturday, 9am to 10pm, and Sunday, 12pm to 8pm
Where: The Prawnery, 21 Keyes Ave, Rosebank, Johannesburg
Website: prawnery.co.za | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 010 110 0696
Pigalle By Villamoura
Pigalle by Villamoura’s sophisticated, fully halal-certified menu features Mediterranean-inspired dishes with a twist, as the classic seafood dishes are bursting with bold flavours.
Diners are treated to vibrant dishes like the chilli lemon prawn curry, the teriyaki salmon, and the tender Falklands calamari, each crafted with high-quality sourced ingredients and ready to be enjoyed in the restaurant’s sophisticated, old-world luxury ambience.
When: Monday to Thursday, 12pm to 10.30pm. Friday to Saturday, 12pm to 12am. Sunday,12pm to 10.30pm.
Where: Pigalle By Villamoura, UO9, Michelangelo Towers, Maude St, Sandton
Website: www.pigalle.co.za | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 011 884 8899/ 084 556 7786 (Whatsapp)
Bellagio
Under the direction of chef-owner Louise Castle, the Bellagio restaurant offers diners a stellar selection of seafood dishes that celebrate fresh, seasonal ingredients and robust, authentic flavour.
The entire menu is a celebration of Mediterranean cuisine, from start to finish, with starters like fresh oysters and hearty mains like Thai-style kingklip – all of which reflect the kitchen’s commitment to taste, palate versatility and peak freshness.
When: Monday to Saturday, 11am to 10pm, and Sunday, 12pm to 5pm
Where: Bellagio, Block 2, 257 Oxford Rd, Illovo, Johannesburg
Website: www.bellagiorestaurant.co.za | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 011 268 0869/011 268 0422
Cowfish
With its name implying a culinary collaboration between gourmet beef-based and oceanic dishes, Cowfish is a premium restaurant offering a vibrant and versatile menu that caters to every palate.
The restaurant is dedicated to ocean-fresh flavours, and this is obvious with the impressive array of seafood on the menu, ranging from the wasabi tuna steak and lobster roll to delicate hake, kingklip, and perfectly grilled prawns.
Whether diners prefer their seafood simple or incorporated into complex, experimental dishes like the prawn Thai red curry, they can rest assured that each offering is consistently top-tier.
When: Monday to Friday, 12pm to 10pm, Saturday, 11am to 10pm, Sunday, 11am to 8pm. Some branches may open an hour earlier.
Where: Cowfish Sandhurst, LXX Sandhurst, 70 Rivonia Rd, Sandhurst, Sandton; Cowfish Waterfall, Shop 31, cnr Woodmead &, Waterfall Corner, Waterfall Dr, Midrand; Cowfish Lynwood, Shop 13, Lynnwood Bridge, Daventry St, Lynnwood Manor, Pretoria; Cowfish Silverstar Casino, Shop 5, Silverstar Casino, Muldersdrift
Website: cow-fish.co.za | Email: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] | Tel: 010 157 2782 (Sandhurst); 010 157 1290 (Waterfall); 012 786 0869 (Lynwood); 063 545 4196 (Silverstar)
The Big Mouth
Thanks to its commitment to quality, taste, aesthetics and freshness, The Big Mouth is a great place to dive into some seafood.
Not only is every dish carefully prepared using fresh ingredients, but the restaurant’s use of the unique Josper grill provides dishes with an authentic, robust chargrilled or “braai’d” flavour, blending the oceanic flavours with a deep, smoky finish.
The classic oysters remain a great way to start your meals, whereas the seared tuna, lobster roll and barramundi display the venue’s commitment to high-quality, consistent ingredients.
When: Tuesday to Saturday 11am to 10.30pm, Sunday to Monday 11am to 10pm (Kitchen closes an hour prior)
Where: Upper Retail Shop, The Marc, Corner Rivonia & Maude St, Sandton
Website: www.thebigmouth.co.za | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 010 634 2890
Verdicchio Restaurant & Wine Cellar
Verdicchio restaurant provides an oceanic culinary experience that complements the extensive wine collection tucked away in its cellar.
The restaurant’s spectacular seafood offerings, such as the seafood risotto and the grilled crayfish, are rich in savoury and briny flavours, each highlighting the freshness of the day’s catch.
The wine cellar boasts over 300 curated labels, and the restaurant’s expert sommeliers are always on hand to suggest the perfect choice to complement your seafood selection.
When: Daily from 11am to midnight
Where: Verdicchio Restaurant & Wine Cellar Shop 9 Montecasino, Fourways
Website: www.verdicchio.co.za | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 011 511 1969
The Codfather
Fresh and sustainable seafood is at the core of the Codfather’s ethos, and they’ve used this to revolutionise the seafood dining experience.
Guests can create their own seafood platter from the restaurant’s famous fish counter, where they hand-select their exact meal by weight, ensuring that every plate is tailor-made, transparent, and incredibly fresh.
When: Tuesday to Saturday, 8am to 11pm. Sunday and Monday, 8am to 10pm.
Where: The Codfather Sandton, Sandton Skye, 3 Stan Rd, Morningside, Sandton; The Codfather Polofields, PoloFields Crossing, Midrand
Website: thecodfather.co.za | Email: [email protected]; [email protected] | Tel: 010 020 0286 (Sandton); 010 745 0680 (Polofields)
Kream
With locations in Mall of Africa and Brooklyn, Kream offers a premium dining experience that features an expansive seafood selection.
Each meal is created using top-tier marine ingredients, ensuring that regardless of the order, be it Norwegian salmon or Falklands calamari, the natural flavours of each dish are always enhanced and make for a thoroughly satisfying plate.
When: Monday to Saturday, 11am to 2am, and Sunday, 11am to 1am.
Where: Kream Mall of Africa, Magwa Cres, Waterfall City, Midrand; Kream Montecasino, 1 Montecasino Blvd, Magaliessig, Johannesburg; Kream Brooklyn, 283 Dey St, Nieuw Muckleneuk, Pretoria
Website: kreamrestaurant.co.za | Email: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] | Tel: 010 591 0023 (Mall of Africa); 010 786 1584 (Montecasino); 012 346 4642 (Brooklyn)
The Rock
The Rock’s seafood offerings feature a slew of familiar dishes, including grilled calamari, filleted fish, and a meticulously prepared seafood pasta, yet each meal is treated as a unique culinary masterpiece, featuring generous portion sizes and ocean-to-plate freshness.
When: Monday to Saturday, 7.30am to 10pm, and Sunday, 7.30am to 9pm (Design Quarter); Monday to Saturday, 8am to 10pm, and Sunday, 8am to 9pm (Kyalami and Hazelwood)
Where: The Rock Design Quarter, William Nicol Dr &, Leslie Ave, Magaliessig, Sandton; The Rock Kyalami Corner, Kyalami Blvd, Witpoort, Midrand, 1684; The Rock Hazelwood, Shop 113, The Club Retail Centre, 147 Pinaster Ave, Hazelwood, Pretoria
Website: www.therockrestaurant.co.za | Email: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] | Tel: 011 465 5011 (Design Quarter); 010 591 2957 (Kyalami); 010 447 9860 (Hazelwood)
Fishmonger Ilovo
While Fishmonger has 5 branches in Gauteng, its Illovo branch remains the branch to visit to experience dining for seafood lovers.
Fishmonger Illovo is the first of the Fishmonger restaurants, and, like other branches, it celebrates the ocean’s culinary best, including lobster bisque, squid heads, pangasius, beira prawns and seafood casserole.
With its unwavering commitment to quality ingredients and vibrant, fresh flavours, guests are guaranteed well-cooked and flavourful fish dishes, regardless of which branch they visit.
When: Tuesday to Saturday, 12pm to 10pm, and Sunday to Monday, 12pm to 9.30pm
Where: Fishmonger Illovo, Thrupps Centre, 204 Oxford Rd, Illovo, Sandton
Website: fishmongerillovo.co.za | Tel: 011 268 0068/082 850 4245
Comida
Comida is a great spot to dive into delicious seafood, thanks to its commitment to bold, neighbourhood-friendly flavours.
The menu caters to both casual diners and seafood aficionados, and in featuring dishes like mussel pots and whole fresh red snapper, it speaks to the kitchen’s dedication to the freshest quality ingredients.
When: Sunday to Thursday, 11am to 10pm. Friday, and Saturday, 11am to midnight
Where: Comida Eastgate, Shop R14, Eastgate Shopping Centre, Bedfordview, Germiston; Comida Sunninghill, Sunninghill Square, Sunninghill, Johannesburg
Website: comidashorething.co.za | Email: [email protected]; [email protected]| Tel: 067 164 5865 (Eastgate); 072 237 8557 (Sunninghill)
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