Long, lazy Sunday lunches in the Cradle (Part 2)

The Other Side Restaurant, Lanseria (087 630 0742)

There is no such thing as a quick Sunday lunch at The Other Side Restaurant on Monaghan Farm. For starters, the view of this sustainable living estate's rolling hills is mesmerising (who would have thought, just 20 minutes outside Joburg).  Then there's the charming adherence to old traditions to contend with – that of hearty Sunday lunches made to enjoy at leisure.

The Other Side Restaurant takes the concept of slow food quite literally.  Three courses come out almost exactly on the hour, which means that if you want to truly enjoy their Sunday buffet, you're committed to a three-hour lunch.

It's more than worth it, however.  A rich spinach and chickpea soup kicks off the feast and thereafter it's a gentle wait and one long, cool and crisp Pimms and lemonade before the generous wooden buffet table is swiftly covered in steaming bowls of all shapes and sizes.

At R205 per adult (R90 per child eating the buffet, or R70 for a pizza or pasta, and dessert), the buffet is a bit of an indulgence, but money well spent nonetheless. Pork chops with apple and sage sit alongside hot pots of hunter's chicken stew.  To complement this is an array of side orders, from sticky garlic potatoes and Borliotti bean fritters to spiced lentils with cucumber yogurt. Now you start to understand why there's a break between courses.

Lunch might have been a tough act to follow, but the orange and ginger tart with fresh cream and poached pears in red wine didn't let us down. A fact strengthened by the kids choosing these sweet temptations over the pony rides and jungle gyms that had them captivated.

*Article first published in the September 2012 issue of SA Country Life magazine.