Succulent steaks cut by the in-house Italian butcher, top-rate service from a close-knit team who have served the restaurant for decades, excellent salads, a superb wine list selected by the restaurant's sommelier Oscar, and knockout interiors designed by award-winning Tristan du Plessis (Studio A) make The Bull Run a Sandton institution. 

Close to 20 years old, The Bull Run has retained its reputation as a fine steakhouse, and with its recent multi-million rand renovation in 2018, is now an attractive stop too for after-work drinks at The Dollar Bar or on the marvellous wraparound terrace on Sandton's Maude Street. Check out the cocktail menu, taste the 'adult' shakes or order some bubbly on tap. 

The Bull Run is all about the bulls and the bears, money, dosh, lucre. So you'll find references to trading on The Bull Run's menu, big screens of moving images of New York City, a wonderful mural of Benjamin Franklin watching over you at The Dollar Bar and of course the landmark bronze bull outside. The 1.2 ton bull sculpture is the work of sculptor Michael Canadas and a Sandton landmark installed in 2018. All a cheeky nod to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange across the road and the restaurant's location in Sandton, South Africa's economic hub. The only place you won't think of dollars is when you see the menu prices, more than reasonable for usually high-priced Sandton. 

The elegant old building in which the restaurant was once housed has been given new life with sleek and sexy interiors, a private long table dining area for 12, a library-like back room looking onto the kitchen with counter space for solo dining and plenty of thoughtfully placed phone charging and laptop plug points. We love the table legs made from stacked books and the airy interiors of the front room that leads onto Maude Street. A contemporary grill room, many of the fittings were custom made. 

No-fuss culinary sophistication is the guiding thought behind the menu with an impeccably curated selection of steaks, seafood, wines and cocktails. The salads are super-sized and delicious, and there's a great range of sides. Arrive hungry as the menu is generously portioned and pop into the wine cellar and check out Oscar's corner for the best recommendations of the day. There's something to suit all tastes in a space as comfortable for lunch as for a date night or a suit-and-tie business dinner.

Get there with the Gautrain: The Bull Run and Protea Hotel Balalaika are located at seven minute walk from Sandton Gautrain station.