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The Backstory
Moo Moo puts its own spin on the traditional steakhouse, with a more relaxed, quirky and social feel. The restaurant keeps the food serious and the surroundings fun, with an interactive wine wall and cow-themed details adding to the experience.
According to their menu, the beef is AAA-grade, traceable and hand-selected, with the steaks aged and cut on site.
During my visit, I was told that the Butcher’s Cut can be tailored to your preference, all the way down to preparation. While I didn’t order steak this time around, the in-house butchery gave me a good idea of how seriously Moo Moo takes its meat.
The Vibe
Leather and red cords give Moo Moo a distinctive look, with wooden tables and ceilings, leather booths, large windows and hanging lights throughout.
There’s a wine installation called Moo Moo Wall of Wine to catch your eye, along with playful adages dotted around the space.
During my visit, the music added to the room’s energy without competing with the conversations around me.
The service was a real highlight for me. Staff were warm, attentive and quick to respond, and they seemed just as attentive to the other tables as they were to mine.
Food and drinks
The 500g ribs with chips and BBQ sauce were my choice. The portion was more than enough for one person, and the crisp chips were a good match for the ribs. If you’re dining as a group, the variation of sharing platters is a good option.
The Mzanzi Meze, Easy Grazer and Sticky Fingers platters are loaded with a mix of chicken tenders, halloumi sticks, wings, beef skewers, sweet corn riblets and fries. The Herd and Lobola platters are the bigger options, making more sense when you’re feeding a group and want to share rather than order individual meals.
The peri-peri sauce was another standout for me. Moo Moo also sells bottles of its house sauces for R60, which means you can take your favourite one home with you.
For dessert, I went for the chocolate brownie and ice cream. I’d order it again without hesitation, especially for the combination of warm brownie and cold ice cream.
The “Meet and Whine” personality comes through loud and clear, including the cheeky line that a meal without wine is called breakfast. Wine isn’t really my thing, so I ignored the “Whine” part and opted for a mojito instead.
It was a good choice. The mojito was so good that I ordered the mocktail version later too, and I enjoyed both. A good mocktail option makes a difference if you’re not drinking, especially if you’re driving afterwards.
Why go?
It works particularly well for a relaxed meal with friends, especially if you want somewhere with a bit of atmosphere. Service is one of Moo Moo’s strengths, and the menu gives you options whether you’re dining as a couple or with a group. I’d happily order the ribs again, but I’d also want to try some of the other dishes next time.
It’s also worth checking the weekday and Sunday specials before you head over. The weekday Lunch Cut is available from 12:00 to 16:00, with a 200g Butcher’s Steak and your choice of fries or a fresh garden side salad for R100.
There’s also the Small Plates Bite Club, running Monday to Friday from 12:00 to 17:00, where four small plates cost the price of three.
The Wednesday special gets you a 330ml Leffe draught on the house with any Moo Moo burger. Then there’s Sunday Wine Down from 16:30 to 17:30, with buy-one-get-one on selected wines and bubbly by the glass. Terms and conditions apply.
Overall, Mall of Africa is not just a good place to dine, but you can also do your shopping and engage in other activities.
The mall is currently running a Dine to Win competition until 30 September where visitors can win one of ten R1 000 Mall of Africa gift cards. After enjoying your lunch or dinner, you simply fill in your details on the back of your restaurant bill and place it in the Dine to Win entry box located inside the restaurant.
Details
- Where: Moo Moo, Shop 2051, Mall of Africa, Town Square, Magwa & Lone Creek Crescent, Waterfall City, Midrand.
- Price: R200 - R499 pp
- Opening hours: Monday to Thursday, 11:00–21:00; Friday and Saturday, 11:00–22:00; Sunday, 11:00–21:00. Moo Moo Mall of Africa
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