MAMASAMBA

A LAND STEEPED IN RICH, BOLD FLAVOURS THAT ELEVATE THE SENSES AND IGNITE THE SOUL

Rosebank is fast becoming the culinary epicenter of Joburg and for good reason. With a multitude of new and exciting restaurants to choose from, diners are increasingly discerning and idealistic. This ensures that restaurateurs keep evolving their offering to deliver a consistent flow of excitement and interest to the foodie scene.

The MAMASAMBA team has clearly accepted this challenge with alacrity and gusto. And, for this we thank them.

From the moment you enter this cosmopolitan eatery, your imagination is transported to the bustling streets of Miami with its eclectic mix of Latin American culture, mid-century modern design and cheeky playfulness. The restaurant’s layout has been designed with intention and consideration to the patron’s overall experience. With contrasting hues of pink, green and gold, the stage is set for an evening of pure indulgence.

We must mention from the start that the menus are slightly confusing to the uninitiated. However, this might have been a purposeful decision to generate the theatrical experience that is unique to MAMASAMBA.

There are two cocktails we could highly recommend you try. The first - Hips Don’t Lie – is a mix of Patrón Reposado tequila, horchata, lime juice, maple syrup and pineapple juice, while the second - Lupitaconsists of Bacardi Cuatro, pineapple juice, passionfruit syrup, lime juice and Creole bitters. We’re told the Lupita especially is very popular and honestly, these are two of the most delicious and well-presented cocktails we’ve tasted.

MAMASAMBA has also done an exceptional job of interpreting the complexity of Latin American cuisine. They create exceptional dishes with bold flavour, without detracting focus from the unique and fresh ingredients.

For starters, we recommend the Samba Futumaki, which is a nori and cucumber roll, stuffed with a fried prawn, tuna, salmon and spring onions, topped off with Japanese mayo. If you’ve arrived hungry, we highly suggest visiting the Asado section of the menu. Here you will find a selection of meat, seafood and chicken dishes that have been grilled in a wood and coal fired Josper oven to maximize tenderness and taste. Again, something totally different and unique to the MAMASAMBA experience.

Ceviche is a very popular Latin American dish and MAMASAMBA celebrates this unique offering in new and interesting ways. The restaurant offers Ceviche, prepared the traditional way, as well as Tradito - a combination of Ceviche and Sashimi. They even have a Waggu Tataki with ginger soy dressing and truffle shavings that we will definitely be trying on our next visit.

www.mamasamba.co.za

@mamasamba.sa