Kashew

Name: Kashew
Address: The Catalyst, 100 Pretoria Ave, Wierda Valley, Sandton Central, Johannesburg, ZA
Telephone: +27 21 427 5900

The Catalyst, 100 Pretoria Ave, Wierda Valley, Sandton Central , Sandton +27 21 427 5900 29 Jan 2024

Hearty meals that demand seconds at Kashew. Photo: Attiya Sayyed.

The Catalyst Hotel's gorgeous restaurant. Photo: Attiya Sayyed.

Dessert served right at Kashew. Photo: Attiya Sayyed.

Tucked away in a quiet tree-lined street that's a short drive from the centre of Sandton's business district, The Catalyst is a sleek Sandton hotel surrounded by greenery. Kashew is The Catalyst's signature 190-seater restaurant that reflects the hotel's modern feel with plenty of wide open and airy spaces, and contemporary art on the walls.

The restaurant with its large balcony is a quietly inviting spot for a business lunch, pre-dinner drink, or dinner with a menu that will see you rushing to make a reservation. It's a classy space that literally elevates the surrounding greenery seen through the floor-to-ceiling windows with plants hanging overhead.

Here for a sundowner? The Kashew bartenders serve up the perfect elderflower gin with berries.

The elegant dining room at Kashew. Photo: Supplied.

Leading the kitchen is Executive Chef Justin Jonah who draws on Mediterranean tastes and classic dishes in his all-day dining menu. There's something for everyone and dishes are unpretentious yet full of flavour.

They also taste as good as they look. If you’re hungry, go for one of the signature dishes. A Chef's favourite is the sirloin steak with roast marrow bones, brandy, and wild mushroom sauce. Or there's the Wham Bam Thank You Lamb: fun to order – and packed with flavour. The pan-fried seabass with parmesan potatoes, mussels, prawns, and dill lime crème is another hit.

The Chef occasionally experiments with new dishes too, so make sure to ask if there are any specials not mentioned on the menu, such as the pan-fried Mozambique prawn pasta available on the day we visited – it's made with rich tomato chilli linguine, lime, fresh dill, lashings of parmesan, and rocket.

Beautifully presented and flavoursome dishes at Kashew restaurant. Photo: Supplied.

For a light lunch or something to go with a sundowner, try the small plates and 'easy eating' menu where you'll find dishes such as the Kung Pow salmon poke or the mac ‘n cheese bombs. And finally, if you have room for dessert, we recommend the baked Philadelphia cheesecake.

The plates here resemble artworks that echo what's on the hotel walls. It's worth taking time to explore the contemporary art on display (all of it is for sale). The hotel prides itself on its partnership with contemporary gallerists upstART Galleries and promotes local artists with a rotating exhibition of works on display.

An extravagant dessert at Kashew. Photo: Supplied.

*Our reviewer, @thescribsandnibs (Attiya Sayyed) was invited by the restaurant. The views expressed in this review are her own. Follow the Scribs and Nibs travel and food blog online at thescribsandnibs.com.