BROWNS RIVONIA

Last Thursday I went to my company Christmas dinner which was held at the “Fancy” Browns restaurant  in Rivonia located at21 Wessels Road. Unfortunately the weather was wet and cold with soft drizzle the whole evening. We were placed in the cellar as to not disturb the normal runnings of the restaurant. Also I am sure we got quiet noisy. So we are greeted with a choice of non alcoholic and alcoholic Strawberry daquiri’s which were amazing evening in the cold whilst smoking outside.

Once we were all seated and we had browsed the set menu options available and placing our orders and ordering our drinks, we had some festivities and awards and a magic talking spaghetti spoon thingy that got passed around forcing people to say something and contribute to the event.

Then our starters arrived and Calamari was placed in front of me and me being someone who doesn’t really eat fish I know I didn’t order it. So I spoke the waitress who told me I did. And only when the whole one side of the table backed my order did I get my Venison sausage with pap. This was very pretty in presentation but very salty in taste.

Then our main course arrived and most of the people order the lamb shank which was huge, with a small dollop of mash potatoes on the side. But I went with the Egyptian chicken, which looked great with its couscous heap adjacent. But trying to cut this chicken breast was extremely difficult and the chicken seemed burnt or over cooked. It was dry and every piece felt like I was chewing on bones. So I gave up on the chicken and tried to eat some couscous and again this was extremely salty and again very disappointing as again the presentation was pretty and impressive.

Then our deserts arrived and I was extremely happy that I hadn’t allowed the waitress to talk me into the chocolate Torte and stuck with my gut and gone with the sorbet arrangement of vanilla, caramel and strawberry which was perfect, the three colourful balls of sorbet each in their own dish were so good. I just wish I had that for my starter and my main too. Because the desert was my favourite experience there.

After the meal was concluded we had a few more festivities, jokes and cigars and we all started leave before it got too late as we still had to go to work the next day. Some people had been clever and arranged taxi cab transportation just in case they had drunk too much. This is something I think companies should look into as a safety precaution for such events. Because anything could happen to a member of staff after something which involves a celebration.

Browns Rivonia

21 Wessels Road

+27 011 803-7533