A new restaurant, a free afternoon, and an empty stomach. Say less. This past Thursday, I slipped into Harrington Street for lunch. I was drawn in by fire, flavour, and a very good feeling. Some lunches are forgettable. This one most certainly wasn’t. East City Grill is a restaurant built around fire, not as a gimmick, but as a philosophy. This flame-led concept is rooted in South African heritage, and layered with Asian flair. Where braai culture meets finesse. A thoughtful exploration of smoke, heat, and simplicity. 

Upon arrival, the sign immediately caught my eye. It was giving off a calm, confident, and unbothered energy. Just as I thought the sign was the main character, I took a peek inside only to see the most dramatic flight of stairs I’ve maybe ever seen. To be fair, I don’t generally go around admiring staircases, but this one was impressive. Walking up these red-lit, cinematic stairs felt like crossing into another mood entirely. Anticipation was slowly building with every step, and once I made it to the top, I was far from disappointed, quite the contrary actually. 

“This dish took me back to my school days, more specifically, Friday mornings bunking school with my brother.”

What was waiting for me at the top once I ascended was not noise, not chaos (I left that all downstairs), but a calm and tranquil space. It reminded me of Bali, well Bali before it became oversaturated with fake spiritual influencers, but that’s a topic for another day. There was warm wood lining the ceiling above, soft lighting that glowed at just the right intensity, and I must mention lovely cold air coming from inside. This was the cherry on top for making me feel like I was back in the East. It was the contrast of coming from a hot, muggy outdoors into a cool, fresh interior. Almost like a safe haven. 

Once I landed back on the landing space, I saw the hostess grinning from ear to ear, the type of smile that makes you feel instantly at ease. She was effortlessly warm and genuinely welcoming. She led us through to the lounge area where we would be sipping on some bubbles before heading through to our table. The lounge was intimate and beautifully styled with plush seating, earthy tones, and the perfect balance between sophistication and comfort. It almost looked identical to my dream living area, you know, in the “when I’m big” type of house. We were served a glass of cold, crisp bubbles in the most elegant glassware. As I drank my dry, perfectly chilled drink, I found myself sinking deeper and deeper in my chair… But alas, it was time to fest! After striking a few essential poses, we were escorted to the dining area where we would be spending the rest of our afternoon. 

The dining room is best described as having grown-up energy. Super confident and unbothered, and rightfully so because nothing here is overdesigned or overexplained. Clean lines, generous spacing, and warm materials that do all the heavy lifting. It’s the kind of room that assumes you know what you’re doing the moment you sit down. And in true fake it till you make it energy, I sat down graciously but assertively, and sipped on my bubbles like the wife of a sommelier would. Just as I thought life couldn’t get any better, our waitress surprised us with a complimentary bread course. Bread is my love language. I almost jumped out of my seat with joy but then remembered to play it cool and match the calm and collected atmosphere. The mosbolletjies were dressed with shavings of Parmesan cheese, and the cloud-like bread steamed as you pulled it apart. I was instantly hit with the sweet and aromatic smell that took me straight back to my gran’s kitchen. Alongside this fluffy little loaf were two different butters. Now this screamed South African nostalgia. The one was bovril butter. I mean, come on. Iconic. It tasted like that buttery, salty, and savoury bovril on toast that you grew up on. The second was apricot butter. Personally, apricot jam always beats strawberry jam, no debate. That is most probably because I am a very proud South African. I’m also a firm believer in one savoury slice and one sweet. It felt like home, but with better lighting. They nailed this.

For starters, I ordered the fresh fish nigiri. It arrived looking clean, precise, but still playful. Three perfect layers of rice, avocado, and fish that was then topped with little dots that immediately told me this wasn’t going to be boring. The tuna was beautifully fresh and delicate, the avocado brought that familiar creaminess I always crave in sushi, and something I don’t generally think of but the rice had a lovely chew to it. It wasn’t stodgy, it wasn’t al dente, but it was just right. The light ponzu dressing added that saltiness and acidity. I absolutely loved the little pops of flavour throughout. This dish took me back to my school days, more specifically, Friday mornings bunking school with my brother. We would binge watch Jerry Springer, then head out for half price sushi. Rainbow rolls were always my order, non-negotiable. A quiet moment of nostalgia I didn’t see coming. RIP my brother.

Back to the table, but not for long, because their take on a Singapore Sling (apologies, I forgot the name of their version) transported me sky high, onto a flight en route to an island holiday. Of course, this one was much more refined than the slightly warm, very artificially sweet cocktail, borderline mocktail, served in a little plastic cup on the plane. First things first, she was pretty. It’s definitely the type of drink you would be served at a five-star resort. Soft blush pink liquid with a light, airy foam sitting on top. Mimicking a sunset by the ocean. It was finished with the most perfect slice of orange, as well as a glossy, jewel-like cherry. Hard to believe, but it actually tasted better than it looked. It was juicy, refreshing, and well-balanced between sweet, sour, and spirit. Long story short, holiday energy in a glass. But, be careful, you might find yourself booking that well-deserved trip away after one, or two… 

Moving on to mains. I went for the fillet, cooked perfectly medium-rare. Warm, blushing, and exactly how I like it. I love that you get to choose which steak knife you would like to use, not that you need one since the steak cut like butter. The meat is brushed with wagyu fat before sizzling on the open flame, which adds the kind of char you want on a steak. Smoky, savoury, and complete braai vibes. I must just say that the seasoning was spot on. I didn’t think about salt once, which is honestly the highest compliment. It was a thick piece of meat, so that’s super impressive. To accompany my steak, I chose the exotic mushroom sauce. Wow. It was silky, deep, and unapologetically umami. This was a match made in heaven. I chose the creamed spinach as my side, and it really surprised me in the best way. It was creamy, but very light. It was fresh, vibrant, and lifted with little pops of pear that added a gentle sweetness. The perfect contrast to the rich sauce and buttery meat. Fillet has always been my go-to, and this one is genuinely one of the best I’ve ever had. And yes, better than plenty of steakhouses.

Last, but certainly not least, we have dessert. I don’t usually order cheesecake… but I’m SO glad I did. This is the best cheesecake I’ve ever had. Like, no notes. And if you know me, you know I’m all about the base. This one was thick, buttery, tennis biscuit energy, and I loved that it climbed up the sides. It was built like a house. The filling was proper decadent, it was so thick that it held onto the spoon like it didn’t want to leave. Like how you would hold onto your bed frame when your mom pulled you out to get ready for school. That much grip. The matcha dusting added that little bitter edge, which cut through the richness beautifully. It was served with a puffed rice ice cream which was milky, light, and slightly savoury, rounded out the richness. Just when I thought the glossy gel cubes were just there for presentation, I added them to the mix and they popped with a fruity sweetness. It was the perfect playful contrast to all the creamy flavours.

All in all, East City Grill completely exceeded my expectations. Thoughtful, confident cooking with real heart behind it. From start to finish, everything just made sense. Safe to say this one’s earned a return visit, and sooner rather than later.

Thank you East City Grill, till next time!