Pretoria’s hidden gem PRIVA lounge is an absolute must visit!

May 1, 2018

it’s a Sher thing was recently invited to visit PRIVA lounge in Waterkloof, Pretoria. Nestled in the heart of this beautiful city, PRIVA was a pleasant surprise of culinary excellence. It’s luxurious setting, delicious menu and live entertainment makes this restaurant a must for Pretoria residents. For Johannesburg residents this experience is worth the drive.

We started off the evening with gorgeous French martini’s in gold rimmed glasses, this fresh, citrus, pink drink was the perfect light sundowner for a cool evening. We then enjoyed a gin and tonic garnished with grapefruit, all while enjoying the beautiful view.

PRIVA’s menu changes every season, thanks to their team of creative, energetic chefs. PRIVA offers a 5-course Gastronomique menu with delicious wine pairing by their sommeliers as well as an extensive a-la-carte menu.

Ambience:

PRIVA is designed to be a place where adults can enjoy the finer things in life, such as great wines, delicious food and a live jazz band until late into the evening. Open to over 25-year olds, you can expect to hear a live band inside the restaurant, see the view of the city from the outdoor balcony or have a cigar with the gents in the cigar lounge.

PRIVA caters to a varied mix of guests from young ladies enjoying a birthday celebration in one of the private dining rooms, romantic diners celebrating an anniversary on the balcony, to some jazz and whiskey aficionados and cigar-loving moguls enjoying a cigar and whiskey in the cigar lounge. The design is sophisticated with a regular jazz trio, providing a laid-back backdrop. Open only in the evening – and until late – PRIVA oozes class. PRIVA offers private dining rooms, a walk-in temperature and humidity-controlled cigar humidor stocks a selection of cigars from all over the world, just waiting to be explored.

Drinks:

PRIVA’s wine selection is exceptional and you will have fun exploring a walk-in temperature-controlled cellar which instantly allows you to handpick a wine. As sommelier, amongst other duties, Marko Jovancic will advise on the smart option, conjure up his own twist on speciality cocktails or take you through their impressive single malt list. Their aim is to be exclusive and, while they have a lavish local selection, their international samples are not to be sniffed at.

Service:

With grace, Marko supervises the happy staff, who are attentive and informed about their cuisine.

VIP Parking:

If you’re keen for extra privacy, you might be given a key to allow for private parking and a secret entrance.

Food:

It’s all about the time of day, the kind of visit and your appetite. Dyllan and I opted for the Gastronomique tasting menu with wine pairing. The food was exceptional, and the wine selection worked well with the flavour combinations.

We enjoyed a trio of oysters, one with pickled ginger, the second with chilli and fennel and the third with white chocolate with caviar shavings. As well as a salmon tartar, duck salad and prawn kataifi.

For mains we enjoyed the beef fillet, pork belly, beef sirlion, and lamb shoulder and for dessert we had the chocolate fondant and spiced pumpkin, cognac pie. Dyllan also enjoyed a cigar in the gents’ cigar lounge before we headed out. We left feeling full and happy. The food was outstanding and the hospitality like no other.

Tasting menu pricing:

5 courses tasting gastronomique menu without wine pairing R 458 pp
5 course tasting gastronomique menu with wine pairing R 758 pp

Lounge menu :

Which includes items like Chicken strips for R78, sticky pork riblets for R178 to a platter of fillet, kingklip, pork belly, chicken strips and potato wedges for R408

A-la-carte menu:

Starters range from R68 for a pear and goats cheese tart to R268 for 12 freshly shucked oysters. I can highly recommend the Prawns Kataifi at R88.
Main courses range from R118 for a creamy Thai vermicelli nest to R258 for the venison or grilled sole. The beef fillet is gorgeous and comes in at R248 as well as the lamb shoulder which retails for R228.
Desserts range from R78 – R98 the chocolate fondant was the perfect balance of chocolate and richness and retails for R88