Reviews Workshop 55

Name: Workshop 55
Address: 55 7th Avenue, Johannesburg, Gauteng, I-2193
Telephone: +27 11 442 6252
Rating: 76

Mandisa Charmain Gaba

Absolutely amazing food. Great ambience. Beautiful space. Didn't have to wait long for our meal. The hostess managed to arrange us a table for seven even though we hadn't made a booking. She was also so attentive. Definitely worth a second visit in my books.

Gaopalelwe Mekwa

I had gin for the first time at Workshop 55 and it set a very high bar for any other place where I have gin. I found the atmosphere so cosy and inviting. The bar staff was knowledgeable about the gin and took me around the world by preparing different infused gin and tonic combinations with different gins and tonics. It was definite treat and a place I intend to have many a celebratory night. Love it

Ilonka Poole

Wow! What an experience. Food is original and fresh. Service is top class- Thabo was phenomenal-- personal attention by the owner. And not to forget the star of the evening- GIN- superlative. Highly recommend the ostrich / curried lentils/ Korean pulled pork. For dessert the doughnut and caramel tart.

Nick Ferreira

One of the best Gin experiences I've had, the staff were knowledgable and the food was amazing, there has been a lot of thought gone into the decor so take some time and have a look at the lighting and special choice wall paper/wall murals - all in all a great night out - well done to Gary and his team 👌

Candice Nadasen

An amazing experience from the minute I walked in to the minute I walked out. The service received from Scotch our waiter was undeniably great. The food was beyond delicious. The vibe was very much like you were in a snazzy Cape Town restaurant. I cannot wait to go back!

Stacey Candace G

Unique and absolutely five star. Excellent service, gorgeous decor, fabulous food with a different approach to the norm, delicious quality cocktails and an overall fantastic experience.

Haylee Rae

Workshop55 was amazing. The staff were so attentive and the fruit infused gin was spectacular and the food was delicious. They environment is warm and lends itself to sharing, laughter and relaxation.

Kevin Reddy

Lovely place to be at, loved the selection of exclusive drinks and the chilled ambiance and waiters recommending mixers for your choice of hard liquor.

Lauren Somer

Workshop 55 never ever disapoints. Have been coming here for over a 1,5 year now and still love it. Staff if so friendly and service minded, host is always nice and chef great. Love this gem!

Jo PinkNoise

The Gins are fabulous and the staff are very knowledgable! Beautiful restaurant and decor. Can't wait to book a dinner here!

Rita Groenewald

Such a great place!! The decor is just beautiful! Staff is very friendly!! and the FOOD!! Oh my gosh it is DELICIOUS!! its something different and done so beautifully. The selection of Gins and Cocktails are great!! Will definitely be back again :)

Luc JJ Bollen

Had a great evening at Workshop 55 , great Gin ( German Elephant gin with elderflower tonic) and succulent tapas in a modern relaxed setting 👍👍👍

Jasper Van Jaarsveld

What a stunning venue, we had the most amassing time. So worth it.

Rachel Mason

I'd recommend the French 75 as it was absolutely delicious!

Michelle Steel

Amazing!! beautiful restaurant, food was spot on... and i had the most delicious gin i've ever tasted :)

Kaylie-ann Bosch

Fabulous evening food was out of this world !! What an experience ��

Craig Colin Roy McLeod

Spectacular food and incredible cocktails. If somone is giving a bad review because they cant afford to eat there, they should not be allowed out in public.

Kate Marriott

From the second we drove into the parking area, the service we received was amazing! The car guard, the host, our waiter, were all incredible! The food was out of this world & the atmosphere was beautiful! We will definitely be back!

Iselle Combrink

Amazing food, but the gin is mind-blowing! Excellent service too... Can't wait to return :) Thank you for creating magic here!

Devina Nichols

Food was great, portions more than expected and Specialized Gins were awesome!

Abbey Artico

Delish. Great service

Aisha Moolla

Workshop 55 has definitely earned its great reviews. The restaurant has a fine dining feel but still feels really cozy. The service is top notch and the food is served absolutely beautifully! Everyone definitely enjoyed the meals (and the gin!) but what stood out was the dessert. So far, this is the best chocolate fondant I have had in Joburg (and I eat a lot of fondants!)

6 months ago

Tanya Sakota

Exceptional experience at Workshop 55. This was our first dinner at the restaurant. From the moment we parked our car, the doorman welcomed us and thanked us for our patronage! Never had that before! We had gin and tonics in the bar. Very vibey! Our dinner was excellent. We had small plates calamari with black squid ink risotto, tuna tartare , braised beef and ostrich! I cannot choose between the dishes as they were all exceptional !! Enzo our waiter was great! The vino selection wasn’t huge but the wines we chose were perfect! Very possibly my favorite restaurant in Parktown!!

Aug 07, 2019

Greg Marcia

Delicious small plates with a good number that are vegetarian friendly. Loved the main of exotic mushrooms in particular and the quail.
Nice assortment of drinks and good service.

Aug 03, 2019

Ruanne Sandrock

The food was great. I appreciated how many vegetarian options there were. The pea veloute and exotic mushroom were particularly great.
My only negative is the staging of the food. We specially asked if they will stagger the dishes, but then they brought three dishes all at once.
However, this is still a fantastic spot

May 11, 2019

Kim Elli

I was lucky enough to win a complimentary Sunday lunch at Workshop 55 and what a treat! 😊.. The food was delicious, I really enjoyed the exotic mushroom dish and their famous chocolate foundant. Their food never disappoints! Will definitely be going back there sometime soon 👏🏼

Apr 29, 2019

Morgan

We visited Workshop 55 as part of Restaurant week and I was impressed. The food was really good - nice idea to have a sharing board as a starter - of which the calamari was a standout.
The sirloin mains was excellent as well, glad the chef recommends the meat medium as a standard. The fish (See Bass) was a little underwhelming, but decent.
Desserts we're really fantastic and well thought out.
They've got an impressive gin list, with good options for mixers as well. Only thing that I would have liked was a draught beer on tap as well.
Service (from Brian) was spot-on, never waited for anything but he wasn't intrusive or pushy.
Will be going back to try their normal tapas menu soon.

Dec 04, 2018

Jarred Michael Bell

After driving past a few times, we decided to visit Workshop 55 during restaurant week to try it out. Workshop 55 is a blend of a gin bar and restaurant and if you’re a lover of gin, they have some unusual guns that make for a great evening with friends. We had the mixed vegetarian/meat/calamari platter to start, followed by the ostrich steak for mains. We shared the White Blondie and Chocolate desserts. Our meal was great and thoroughly enjoyed the gin cocktails recommended by our waiter. While pricey, Workshop 55 is a great treat for a night out

Nov 04, 2018

Lizelle Brink

What a lovely little gem. I was fortunate enough to attend one of the Dine4Six special events where Chef Alex Webber who aquired his skills at the famous Prue Leith Academy, carefully crafted a 6-course fine dining menu with wine paring. The menu and fod was outstanding, and the dish that stood out for me was the Pork Belly.

The menu comprised of the following: S.) Oysters to start 1.) Spring garden harvest with seasonal spring garden veggies, goats milk chevre, olive and mayo. Very interesting presentation! This was paired with a Gin Mare and Fever Tree Tonic. 2.) Malay Seabass oven roasted, with apricot puree, malay picked mussels, citrus salsa, chickpea chilli bites and lemon balm. This was paired with a Flotsum & Jetsam Chenin. 3.) Duck Duo - cured and seared duck breast, confit duck leg tortellini, pancetta & tarragon cream, apple and butternut, paired with Crystallum Peter Max Pinot Noir. I found the pork to be a little on the dry side, but this was not the case with the rest of the guests. 4.) Pork Belly with soya-honey glaze, served with five spice braised rhubarb, parsnip & celerian puree, fire roasted peanuts and crackling. The course was paired with Mullineux Syrah. 5.) Lime, white chocolate and truffle cream pallet cleanser. 6.) Apple Pie - Brulee apple & pear, mint chantilly cream, orange gelee, port gel and pastry.

Oct 03, 2018

Sesh

Been on my list for a while. A nice setup with kitchen as focal point for main area, you get to see your food being prepared. The individual dishes are little plates of yumminess, at R245 for 3 per person.

Between the two of us our 6 dishes were the lamb, duck, seafood gnocchi, korean chicken, quail and chocolate tart. Dishes are quickly made once ordered due to their excellent prep and size of meals. Everything was delicious with the quail being my standout. You don't have to order all at once and if you still hungry more dishes can be ordered at R90.

There is a bar area which is quite chill. Service is good and it makes for a good way to try different dishes.

Sep 16, 2018

Mini Radebe

I had a friend who had been recommending this place so i gave it a try. 1st off - great service Brian was a lovely waiter . The food was delightful. My personal favorite was the lamb and how tender it was , really lovely . The duck breast in general is usually dry but this combined with beetroot so it gave it a bit of moisture . The tuna is also a plate i would give a 10/10. Really lovely experience and i would definitely go back

Aug 25, 2018

This place deserves a 5 but the drinks are the only thing I marked it down on as they are soooooo expensive. But we tried the gnocchi, quail, duck, Korean chicken, lamb belly and pork belly. The quail and lamb were flipping fantastic! 10 out of 10!!!! The chicken and duck were a tie, then the pork belly and then the gnocchi. The gnocchi just needed a lil bit more salt to boost the seafood flavour. But overall the food was amazing!!! A must try for a splurge dinner date.

Aug 23, 2018

Lisa Nyoka

I love gin so a friend recommended I give Workshop 55 a try since they kinda specialize in gin. I really loved that you can add a wide variety of fruits to your gin (plus it's free) and they had a wide variety of different types of Gins & tonics so that was very nice... Due to the way the menu works (three starter portions) I thought I'd hey hungry but it was actually extremely filling. My favourite dish was the lamb belly, so tender and so flavorsome so that was excellent. I also had the duck which was delicious, I just found that the beetroot accompanying it was a hard, it did however come with a lovely beetroot risotto which I really enjoyed. The last dish I had was the seafood gnocchi; it came with a really fresh seafood broth as well as a few pieces of seafood. The only thing o didn't enjoy was the the chilled muscles, I don't think it went well with the warm gnocchi and warm broth. Overall, if you're looking for a cosy night with lots of gin, I'd high recommend this restaurant!

Jul 21, 2018

Kirti_unbound

Amazing food. Melt in your mouth ostrich, interesting pairing of gin and flavours, a jasmine green tea mousse that sent me to heaven. Tactful staff, just the right amount of attention and privacy. Great atmosphere.

Jun 16, 2018

Wilhelm Nauta

Took overseas guests to Workshop 55, one of my favourite restaurants. Food was absolutely delicious. They serve tapas style dishes. Service was good and attentive.

Jun 02, 2018

Jenny Laithwaite

Great evening of wonderful flavours. Quite pricey but a fun evening out. The gin was delicious too. The menus on Zomato were outdated. Thanks for a lovely food experience.

May 28, 2018

Mika Stefano

This cosy little restaurant situated in Parktown North is a real little gem. The space is split into two, on the right there is more of a cocktail bar and on the left we have the restaurant section.

The menu is detailed and the dishes are delicately plated. For R245 you are allowed to have three options off the menu. Because it is a tasting menu, I wouldnt suggest eating here if you are starving. Its the type of restaurant you should take your date to. Not only because of its warm intimate environment, but because the tasting menu loans perfectly to an intimate dinner with bae.

My first dish was one of the chefs recommended picks, the spicy prawns and chorizo sausage. This is off their limited menu, but was by far one of my favorite plates of the evening. Id suggest you pop in, before they change the menu. Its perfectly spiced and the portion is decent.
My second plate was the pan seared mackerel with mango and coriander puree. This was a lovely flavor and texture explosion with bits of jalepeno and corn.
My 3rd dish was the lamb belly. I personally didn't like the celeriac and parsnip puree. The lamb was done well.
Cyprian had the gnocchi with prawns and mussels. This had a tasty tang thanks to the paprika.

The cocktails were great. Gin is their thing, so ask the waiter to explain all the different gin cocktails they can make. My cocktail was sweet and easy to drink.

The highlight was the bread & butter pudding with vanilla. I would go back, just for this. By far one of my favorite sweet treats.

May 15, 2018

Sue

I’ve been here twice now, as I had to bring my husband back. And we will be back for more! If you have overlooked this place to eat, then you are truly missing out! A great restaurant if you are a foodie and like a good drink and loved a chill (laid back) environment.
Service A+
Food A+
Decor B (restaurant) A (bar)
Atmosphere A+ (thanks for being so cool!)

Apr 22, 2018

Morne Dreyer

Love the vibe, amazing food with lots of flavor! Good service and even a visit from the chef! Great selection of food and just a beautiful spot! Wine and Gin & Tonic was a little expensive , should have a bigger selection on the wine at a good price! Great restaurant!

Apr 11, 2018

Kate Baart

Went here for dinner last night as a celebration. We had a fantastic meal with excellent service! Would recommend to everyone! Each dish was lovely, some portions are bigger than others but everything was delicious!

Mar 30, 2018

Terry Cronje

+4.5

Absolutely love the decor and ambience of the place. Very stylish and upmarket, while still casual. Our waiter was very attentive and very knowledgable and had great suggestions, which were all very tasty! A quick check in from the manageress as well as the chef also added that personal touch.

Mar 29, 2018

Leanne

The Gin Bar here was a must! We started at the gin bar which was very festive and then moved onto the dinner. Food was fantastic and tapa portions were huge. Overall a very happy and fun experience.

Feb 25, 2018

Jeandé Elizabeth Lück

+4.5

Similar to Urbanologi with the small dishes concept which I love. Their Gin cocktails are great 🎉 there is a separate bar which is great for after work drinks 🍹

Feb 06, 2018

Anisha Lutchman

I have recently become a huge fan of gin so I was beyond excited to go try Workshop 55. The best part is that it is down the road from where I work.

We decided to just go have drinks with my cousins from Cape Town who were in Joburg for the day. Upon walking in, I fell in love with the place. It's a classy venue with the perfect lighting that creates the perfect ambience. Our waiter was amazing and so attentive. He made sure we were well taken care of throughout the evening and took so much time to advise us on what gins to pair with what flavours. There were so many options to choose from and it leave you feeling like you need to try them all. My first drink was a shot of Malfy gin with pomegranate. This was an awesome combination. My second gin was a shot of Malfy gin with a square of pineapple and a lit cinnamon stick that gives it a special aroma. It was too delicious!

We then decided to order dessert. It was a platter of three desserts, which we shared. I can't remember what the desserts were called but they were simply amazing. Definitely worth a try. I can't wait to go back and try their tapas menu. Although a little on the pricey side, I absolutely loved this place!

Jan 03, 2018

Kyle

Workshop 55 have a great drinks menu full of specialized spirits and obviously my favourite drink gin and tonics. The drinks is very expensive though! We had some drinks and deserts and it was really very good.

Nov 16, 2017

Justin Jay Rocca

Outstanding service, Outstanding menu. Really can’t say enough good things about this place, from their euro ambiance to their friendly and elegant staff. The best gin selection I have seen and tasted in SA. Their food options are amazing and taste incredible, the ostrich was so good we had to order it twice. Highly highly recommended.

Nov 02, 2017

Vanessa Snyman

+4.5

Difficult to fault Worksop 55. Food was in my top 5 of all time. My husband and I had snoek, beef short rib, paella, steamed lamb buns and the pork belly. Portions are very big and probably best to have them stretched over a long period whilst you sip on some devine GnTs that the waiters help pair with your food. Wish we had space for desert.

Oct 21, 2017

Fareed Hare

Let's see...Good Food, very over-priced drinks, friendly but slow service. Did I like it?- It was ok. The food was really good - we tried the curried lentils (loved it), Ostrich (loved it), Paella (loved it) - so once again, the food was amazing but do not go here if you are hungry because the portions are small and you may even get "hangry" because of the slow service - basically, this restaurant has to make at least 3 times the amount of dishes as customers because - you pay R240 (I think) for 3 dishes. There are no other options unless you decide to add more dishes. The food was reasonably-priced and it was really worth the money. However, expect a tapa-sized portion. The average cocktail price is R100 (Overpriced) and the staff is very friendly but slow. The ambience was noisy and fun. This is an awesome place to socialize but not the place to get wasted or stuffed.

Oct 09, 2017

Sarah Williams

One of the best meals I've ever had. From the food to the service, it was absolutely amazing! Every single dish was superb and beautifully presented.

Oct 06, 2017

Dani Gama

+4.5

If you love Gin this restaurant is a must! I had the pomegranate Gin and Tonic and was so pleasantly surprised at how refreshing it was.
The food portions are small but pack a punch.

Aug 30, 2017

Yolisa PN Malaba

Tappppaaas was delicious!
No complaints. Great service. Some dishes outshines the others. The pork belly was intricate and divine. Beautiful flavours.

Aug 25, 2017

Shaun Watson

A must! The venue, the atmosphere, the service and the variety of Gins on offer, if you're a Gin drinker is a real treat!! A bit on the pricey side but worth it!

Aug 21, 2017

Shannon Aerts

+4.5

We had a experience at Workshop 55 on Friday night.

Our waiter was extremely friendly and knowledgable about the menu and suggested the most delicious gin fusion for me.
The flat rate of R210 allows you to choose 3 meals off their interesting and well thought out menu. With a variety of vegetarian, seafood and meat options, the 18 leave you wanting to try each one of them.

My favorite of the day was the duck and corn, the corn ice cream was a revelation and the duck was perfectly cooked.

The dessert menu is equally as tempting.

Overall, a lovely experience. However, the menu is on the pricier side so you pay for the experience as well as the food.

Will definitely be returning.

Aug 20, 2017

Nica Van Der Merwe

What an incredible place!! Amazing atmosphere, super trendy decor and the best food in town!! I have never had duck or pork capable of falling apart on a fork! Absolutely worth a visit!

Aug 19, 2017

Leon Pretorius

An easy 5. Between four of us we had 14 different menu items. No complaints on any of them and compliments on all and we are an admittedly fussy crowd.
Great service to boot.
Very well done indeed.
Best experience I have had in a restaurant in a long long time.

Aug 17, 2017

Amanda Scribante

+4.5

Chose workshop 55 for my birthday - one of the best meals I've had. Variety is fantastic, portions generous and flavours just mind blowing. Very impressed and will definitely be back

Aug 15, 2017

Aimee Lloyd Fowler

+4.5

We had a wonderful meal on Friday night at Workhop 55.
Trymore, our waiter, was superb and offered us unusual and interesting gin and tonic cocktails on arrival.
Throughout the evening my husband elected to try a variety of gins and tonic pairings whilst I stayed with the original cocktail as it was absolutely delicious
For R240 you select three items off the menu.
We were worried that three small meals would leave us hungry afterwards but we were stuffed and neither my husband nor I could actually finish all our food.
All the meals were amazing but of all of the selections, the Paella was both of our least favourite dish. We loved the lamb steamed buns, the arancini, the duck and corn was by far my favourite of the evening. My husband loved the chicken jerk.

The vibe was great - busy enough to have atmosphere but not too loud or overbearing that you can't have a conversation.

The only gripe I would mention is the exorbitant price of booze. As it is a gin and whisky bar, they pride themselves on an impressive selection of both.
Unfortunately an average price of R75 per shot (they get much more expensive - up to R200) with tonics means you are in for well over R100 per single GandT drink. (Our evening cost us R980 per person)

That being said, I would definitely venture back, but I'd make sure my wallet was well padded before going.

Aug 13, 2017

Harshini Vallabh

+4.5

Love this place, great food and lots of Vegetarian options, awesome vibe - fun fun fun !!! Definitely will come again! Prior booking required.

Aug 12, 2017

Michelle

+4.5

I am not the most adventurous eater in the world so I did struggle to find 3 items on the menu that I wanted to choose. After a few suggestions from others - we went in a big group - I made my choice and I was so impressed!!
Every single thing I ate was absolutely delicious. Not one person had a bad meal, and when you are a group of 10 with 3 choices each that is highly impressive!
Lovely ambience and great atmosphere. Really good service!
Will definitely be back!

Aug 11, 2017

Mauro D. Cariano Nave

+4.5

From ambience, service, food, drinks.. everything was on point.

Pork belly was superb, been a while that I've had such good porkbelly.

Highly recommend the beetroot dessert.

Aug 05, 2017

Jean Michel Silva

+4.5

One of my favorite spots ! Portion sizes are generous and love to watch the chefs in action from the table. To date haven't had a single bad experience ! Food and service fantastic

Jul 19, 2017

Lauren Timmer-Somer

Had dinner @Workshop55 last Thursday.
This restaurant never disapoints not in vibe, service and food. Absolutely one of the best price / quality restaurants in Joburg.

The ingredients and combinations are carefully selected and presented in a magical way. The kitchen is open and you see the team in action. It is a well oiled machine under supervision of a dedicated and passionate chef.

We received a complimentary vegetable tempura.

After that we ordered the: seafood risotto, soufflé, tuna, steamed lamb buns, arancini, steak tartare and a dessert selection.
All amazing.
The cheque was about 1500 including tip for: 6 dishes, 3 desserts, a bottle of good wine, two pre-dinner drinks, 2 after dinner whiskey's and two after dinner brandy's including coffee.

Would recommend this restaurant over another new and popular restaurant in the same area known for tapas.

Jul 17, 2017

Heather Hook

I was lucky enough to join a fellow foodie friend here for dinner – and enjoyed it immensely. I had heard so much about them, and to be honest actually missed the place on busy 7th Avenue, Parktown North.

The stunning lounge/bar area – pictured above, is all about parquet flooring and classy bar vibes. You can order drinks here and chill, or you can also eat, until 17h30 in winter.

The restaurant itself is cosy and welcoming, and packed – utterly packed, I was so glad that we got there early to order. It was a Thursday night and it is clearly a prime location for dinner and drinks after work. (Note: There is an automatic billing in the restaurant itself of R240. In other words you will put that towards your food bill – and that gets you 3 tapas dishes off the menu. The menu is not vast, but certainly caters to a variety of tastes.

I adored the beautiful panel work on the bar that serves as the kitchen, and the general feel of a being in a special place. This is certainly a great first date venue. Or even a second. Or a third…you get my drift.

We hemmed and hawed and I eventually choose the Arancini (one of my fave dished of all time) the Smoked Tuna and the Camembert.

My dining partner chose a Beef Carpaccio, Fennel & Anchovy and the Lamb Shoulder Ravioli.

I loved that the plates are all different, so you wind up with a selection of brightly coloured crockery on your table – and we really enjoyed our selections – although I do prefer eating with people who let me taste their food too.

Always happy to try a spot of pudding and the Chocolate Custard Tart, which the waiter also agreed was great gets my stamp of approval. Very rich and great to share, and is served with a pistachio ice cream and Turkish Delight – another fave for me!

Jul 16, 2017

Angie Bandolini

+4.5

What an amazing experience at Workshop 55 last night. We went in there for date night with no expectations! We were welcomed with friendly service and a warm ambiance. The menu is short with a great selection, and the drinks menu is very large with a vast selection. We were tempted to some of their signature gin cocktails which were outstanding. Burnt pineapple and cinnamon; sour cherry and thyme; and berrys and sage! As there was a set menu price , we eat could choose 3 dishes from the menu that are all served tapas style (small but substantial portions). We tried the tempura white fish, beef carpaccio, Asian beef short rib, pork knuckle, chicken thighs, & lamb ravioli... each dish unique and equally delicious! By the end of this we were so stuffed that we couldn't even think of eating desert although the milk tart sounded amazing. So I guess we will be back soon! Justin Van Der Net xxx

Jun 22, 2017

Athena Pavlakis

The range of gins and Japanese whiskeys are impressive. Also liked the presentation and addition of rosemary and orange to the gin. Different flavor. Will go back for that.

Our favorite tapas selections were definitely the chicken thighs, ostrich and potatoes. All the tapas were great - and with 3 of us dining- we had the opportunity of tasting most of the menu!

Jun 09, 2017

Busisiwe Miller

On a cold Saturday evening a couple of friends and I decided to go have some drinks. I was immediately drawn to this place because I am a great fan on gin. Although pricey, the drinks were good and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole vibe. I stuck to my favourite Inverroche amber and it was infused with grapefruit. I'm sure they have even better infusions which I will be trying!

The pork knuckles were very tastey, I enjoyed their chicken too. I was slightly disappointed by their braised beef...it was 100% over cooked and really difficult to chew on. All in all, it was a great evening.

Jun 05, 2017

Wesley Hattingh

A fantastic all round experience at this eclectic restaurant! The food was absolutely delicious- especially the bone marrow and the pork knuckle dishes. The owner spent a great deal of time chatting to us and demonstrating the preparation of the gin,which was wonderful, thank you! The gin infusions were really senstaional, something utterly special and worth the visit. My favourite was the apple and rosemary.

May 12, 2017

Citadel

Fabulous food, beautifully presented. Really Vibey ambience, attentive, friendly staff and a mind-blowing selection of gins! This one will become a firm favourite.

Apr 09, 2017

Lauras World

+4.5

Last night, I was very kindly invited to Workshop 55 to sample what has to be my favorite TAPAS of 2017!!

This glamorous, yet unassuming spot tucked away in Parktown North is gorgeous! Think ambiance, vibe, delicious tapas, excellent wine selections and delicious infused gins.

The food line-up for the evening:
Octopus: Hickory smoke, cauliflower puree, truffle, squid ink mayonnaise, pickled radish.
Beef Sirloin: Carpaccio, edamame beans, watercress, sesame, soya sauce, cili mayonnaise, croutons.
Chicken Liver Pate: Griddled stone fruit, granola, nuts port, bacon crisp.
Tomato: Marinated tomato petals, crispy mozzarella, basil pesto mousse, mayonnaise.
Beef Fillet: Fire-grilled, smokey aubergine, bone marrow, za'atar.
Smoked Pork Knuckle: Slow roasted, honey & soya glaze, brussel sprouts, dukkah, sweet potato.
White Chocolate & olive: White chocolate & olive blondies, white chocolate mousse, olive sprinkle, lime gel. Strawberries & Balsamic: Strawberry & balsamic frozen yoghurt, vanilla shortbread crumb, macerated basil strawberries, strawberry gel.

My favorite course has to be the vegetarian course (Tomato) closely followed by the octopus! Absolutely mind-blowing combinations of flavor combined with beautiful plating and presentation make for an impressive meal any day of the week!

The Wine:
Workshop 55 has a wonderful selection of Nederburg wines that we sampled on this particular visit.. A highlight of which for me was from their limited-edition gourmet range celebrating the story of Nederburg's Heritage. The Brew Master is a Bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc that commemorates Johann Graue, who took over at Nederburg in 1937. DELICIOUS!

The Workshop 55 Concept: At Workshop 55 they charge an entrance of R210, which, although suprising, then includes any three dishes of your choosing. Thereafter additional dishes cost R60 each.

The Chef: Chef Alex Webber shyly popped out of the kitchen to check on each course, but we were all enjoying our tapas so much that we struggled to pay attention as he passionately described the inspiration for each plate.

The service: TOP notch! I could not have felt more like a VIP. Staff were well-trained and attentive.

*Recommendation: In short, the best tapas that I have eaten this year (and we all know that I eat a lot). Would I return for date nights, girls nights and everything inbetween? Yes. Again and again.

For more, find me on Instagram, Facebook & Twitter: LaurasWorldza

Apr 05, 2017

Matthew Alford

+4.5

• COOL JAZZ VIBE • DELICIOUS FOOD •

We attended a foodie event for the evening at Workshop 55 and were treated to a splendid array of sharing platters which were all superb.

Special mention must be made of the smoked pork knuckle which was my favourite dish of the evening. The carpaccio is also fantastic.

Wines for the evening were courtesy of Nederburg Beautiful Lady - some delicious wines to accompany the equally delicious food.

The crew at Workshop55 were all professional, friendly and attentive at all times. The vibe of the place is cool and we loved the jazz music adding to the ambience. It would be a great venue to possibly get a live musician in for special events.

I look forward to going back!

#justenjoy

Apr 05, 2017

Shannon

+4.5

From food to service to setting, this place is a new favourite. Oh and the Gin and Tonics are out of this world! I let our wonderful waitor Arnold choose everything for me including the gins and it was all perfect!

Mar 30, 2017

Bridget Meyer

Had a lovely time at Workshop 55 last night. We started off in the lounge with an imported gin each. I tried the Bathtub Gin with a slice of pear and thyme whilst my friend tried the Gin Mare with rosemary and olives. Both were classic, dry London gins which we both prefer to the botanical varieties.

From the restaurant side, our favourite tapas and ones we'd highly recommend:
Chicken Liver Pate, Braised Beef Short Rib and Quail

For dessert we shared a Chocolate Custard Tart which was sublime!

Fantastic service, eclectic decor, great atmosphere and unique concept. On the whole, a great experience!

Mar 03, 2017

Tsenge

+4.5

Loved the tapas. They were very filling and provided a wide variety of taste sensations! The gins were also good. Enjoyed the different ways you can flavor the drink.

Mar 03, 2017

Caron Whitfield

+4.5

As a dedicated follower of sav blanc and sushi this spot was going to be a totally new experience. It was a week night and we gathered for sundowners with two of our favourite people. We sat in the bar area and ordered a selection of gins and tonic based on the suggestions from our knowledgeable waitron and watched as the heavens opened and cooled the last few hours of the day.

My favourite was the Hendricks gin with a Fitch and Leeds tonic with lemon. Also enjoyed the locally made Inverocche with rosemary.

We then sampled a few of the tapas and our initial concerns that the portions may be too small were eased when we laid down our forks after finishing only two plates each. This did of course leave some space for the dessert options which were heavenly!!!

The decor is beautiful and you must spend some time sampling the various gins with their suggested accompaniments, such grown up fun!!

Feb 24, 2017

Tracy Sol

Tried Workshop 55 tonight, over a year after the first time i went, and it was much better. Tried 7 different dishes between 2 of us and it was more than enough, and every dish we ordered was incredible. As was the dessert (chocolate tart with pistachio ice cream and Turkish delight). Service was excellent. Wine by the glass also very good, and a generous portion, like everything else. Will be back soon

Feb 11, 2017

Emma Jane Ashworth

+4.5

Love the setting in one of the old houses which the area is known for. Service is upbeat , funky and extremely friendly. Tapas menu which changes frequently enough to keep us coming back...presentation is that of serious upmarket restaurants. Great Gin menu concept

Feb 04, 2017

Stacey Norsworthy

+3.5

Trendy atmosphere. Idea of the menu is to order multiple small Tapas - the quail,pork shoulder & chicken were very good. The same works for dessert. My favourite dessert was the ice-cream and balsamic strawberries. Only complaint is the bathrooms-always a queue- should be extended. It was also pretty evident that our waiter was indulging in alcohol throughout the evening.I appreciated the fact that the chef came to the table to say hi.

Jan 30, 2017

Martinique.cordeiro

+4.5

We ended up at the workshop55 for a year-end function. I hadn't heard about it previously but honestly I was very pleasantly surprised! It's honestly one of the best restaurants I've ever eaten at. A week later and the group we went with are still talking about it.

The way it works: it's a tapas restaurant and their speciality drink is gin (all different types and from different places). It's R210 per person and you get to pick 3 items from the tapas menu. Dessert is R120 per person for 3 desserts once again. I shared dessert with someone.

It is a little pricey but the food was really great so I think it was worth it. I ordered the Asian beef short rib, the pork belly and the seafood gnocchi. My boyfriend ordered the Pork belly, the quail, and the lamb shoulder. Everything was GREAT. I have to say though, I loveddddd the lamb shoulder, I think that was my favorite. The portions are on the small side so we thought we'd have to order more food afterwards, but surprisingly we were all super full after our 3rd tapas item.

I've read reviews saying this place is way overpriced and that people have paid around R430 for a cocktail. This is highly possible because they have speciality Gins for about R135 a shot (if I recall correctly) so a double, plus an expensive tonic I suppose could set you back quite a lot. My advise LOOK at the menu and make sure to specify a specific gin and tonic you want and are willing to pay for. I do think the gin is worth trying (and I'm not usually a gin drinker). South African gin was about R20 a shot and the cheapest tonic was like R35 which is a normal price for a cocktail I'd say.

Overall, honestly loved the food, the place was Vibey and full, and most importantly I'd definitely recommend it and even go back (to try some of the other amazing tapas items)!

Dec 17, 2016

Lisa Witepski

Friends chose this place as the venue for their farewell, and I think it's a great spot for this kind of occasion. First of all, the tapas dishes add a great social element. The vibe is great, probably thanks to the free-flowing gin, which I think is also a key feature. In fact, the highlight of my night was telling the barman which type of gin I wanted and letting him select the tonic and botanicals (like grapefruit and mint or apple and thyme) he felt would suit it best. The flavours are complex and sometimes surprising. I especially enjoyed the restaurant's take on a traditional Caprese salad. Desserts are truly outstanding. Just one criticism, or more of an observation: it's rather expensive, so perhaps best for a special occasion, and I think more of a group type eatery than a date night place.

Dec 14, 2016

Nuno

Really great ambiance and thoroughly enjoyed the variety of gins on offer. The portions were generous and my favorite dish we ordered was the braised beef shirt rib. Good service and Overall a great night

Dec 11, 2016

Ivone Da Silva

Quite a different experience. The food was awesome tried a variety of dishes while enjoying they gin combination. The staff is very friendly and helpful. For a Wednesday night I was amazed at the vibe and how busy the were. A definite must try if you looking for something different.

Dec 01, 2016

Dylan Wills

+4.5

A smokey smell hits you as you enter. Friendly welcoming staff and a vibrant atmosphere. The food was unique with various twists on some classic favourites. I loved the tempura hake and the cheese puff pastry tart was incredibly smooth and memorable. It was great watching the chefs while we ate and huge compliments go out to them.

Nov 30, 2016

Zachary Buillon

Lovely food with some interesting flavors and ideas. The design of the menu is interesting and very unique which I enjoyed. The food was excellently presented, however, I thought that the dessert didn't live up to the high expectations that they set with the mains. It's hard to comment on the ambiance as it was a Tuesday and we arrive relatively early. Would definitely recommend and return.

Out

Nov 21, 2016

Michael Harris

+3.5

The Workshop 55 concept of contemporary fusion tapas and craft gin is solid, but the execution still needs some work. It is pricey compared to other similar places in the area, so immediately raises expectations. I was disappointed to be told that they don't allow corkage despite nothing to that effect appearing on the listing. The wine list was limited but well curated and offers decent value. Of our six tapas plates, four were excellent, but two were unspectacular. A poor hit rate for a premium offering. Will return in a few months to see if the necessary polish has been applied.

Nov 13, 2016

Marco Driol

+4.5

As per usual Worskshop delivers on food, atmosphere and service. Organised a surprise birthday partners and everything went incredibly well. Our waiter was very friendly and efficient - our food delicious and of course the gin always a winner. I would definitely suggest this to anyone looking for a great night out!

Sep 29, 2016

Georgina Caldow

Amazing
Amazing
Amazing
Everything amazing: food, wine , service, decor, vibe
This is my new go-to spot👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

Sep 15, 2016

Carmen De Jager

+3.5

What a lovely little gem - I arrived with some colleagues for a farewell and was really pleasantly surprised by the food and abundant gin selection. My only critique would be that the music did not suit the decor but all in all a really fun evening that comes recommended.

Aug 27, 2016

Daniel Wiggill

What an amazing spot. I'm truely loving this new tapas trend that is hitting Sa 's shores..
Workshop 55 is a good new addition to the parktown north scene. Don't let the price per head put you off its well worth.
Trust the bar men the gin combinations are well worth it.
Only negative be weary of waiters recommend whiskeys off menu... You might be in for a huge surprise

Aug 11, 2016

Olivia Coombes

This is a great place for a Gin lover. They have quite a selection of craft gins and tonics. The food is also great. Prepare to drop some serious dollar though

Jul 10, 2016

Luke Mckend

+4.5

Had a fantastic evening this week with the Cape Town cousin. Even he was impressed. The Gin selection had a few interesting options, and the food was great too.

May 29, 2016

Dean Langkilde

+3.5

Great little spot if you want to try something different.
The Tapas style food is good with something for everyone.
The Gin selection is one of the best I've seen in JHB, albeit a bit on the pricey side.
The staff are well trained and friendly and make great recommendations on infusing a gin cocktail to your liking.

May 17, 2016

ROBERT ELLIS

We had a very enjoyable meal here. The whole vibe is great, you pay an 'entrance fee' which includes 3 tapas meals and it's such a social occasion sharing your food. It is also a gin bar which infuses it's gin with all sorts of fruits and spices but unless you are a gin enthusiast it's quite expensive for the gin. We just sat and enjoyed the meals, great service and very tasty tapas meals that we shared

May 15, 2016

Haydn Du Plessis

+4.5

Had a great time here. Not a major fan of gin, but the variety of styles and flavours were interesting, and definitely enjoyable. A decent amount of drinks to choose from, although I did find the beer selection somewhat limited.

All the food was tasty, and we enjoyed the concept of sharing and exploring a variety of dishes. I particularly liked the pulled pork. The smoked duck had potential but the general consensus was that it was too smokey.

Very interesting decor. 100 year old tiles, and a beautiful counter made from lead wood.

May 08, 2016

Wendi Kark

+4.5

Love the idea and the food was fantatstic. The mushroom risotto croquette was so delicious I didn't want to share the plate. The lamb shoulder croquette equally delicious. Smoked Duck breast perfectly done. Service was good and the waiter was very knowledgeable. I had a gin with blueberry and orange zest. Definitely some where I will revist

May 01, 2016

Trinka Mynhardt

I love this concept of sharing a whole lot of tapas in a cool social setting. You pay an "entrance fee" which includes 3 gourmet style tapas, while enjoying a uniquely mixed gin drink. We chose a rosemary and berry infused drink, which was delicious and a great complement to our tapas dishes. All in all the food was very tasty, and more than enough for one person. I personally loved the kudu croquettes as well as the wild mushroom dish with truffle mayo. Quite pricy, but definitely worth a visit!

Apr 30, 2016

Judith Matthis

+4.5

A restaurant that we have been looking forward to try since it opened. We were warmly greeted by the charming staff, and our evening kicked off with a fragrant and beautifully presented "infused" gin and tonic - strawberry and thyme is a new favourite. The meal is a smorgasbord of 3 tapas/meze plates. R210 gets you 3 generously portioned and exquisitely prepared meals. Our highlights were the crispy and soft mushroom risotto balls, gruyere tart and creamy chicken livers. I also thought that the snails in a herb pesto were delicious - but not to everyone's taste at our table! We ended on a decadently high note with the Belgium chocolate custard. Not an inexpensive night out, but worth the treat for any foodie.... no doubt we'll return to savour the rest.

Apr 30, 2016

Michael Baretta

+4.5

Felt corned by the entrance fee but was pleasantly surprised by the attentive service and amazing food. Every meal tasted completely different and delicious! Don't really like gin but who cares when then you have the great food and good vibes.

Apr 29, 2016

Michi_05

+4.5

A recent dinner outing had us try out workshop 55 in Parktown North. It was the best decision made, the food was cooked to perfection, the staff were friendly and always helpful! I even got a small 'happy birthday' dolce. Thoughtful, inviting, lovely atmosphere and great food!

Apr 26, 2016

Natalie Lazaris

A gin bar with a twist and tapas menu to match. This very vibey spot is buzzing with ambience. Nice touch the chef comes to your table and assists you with anything that you may require. We were fasting so couldn't try everything but we will definately go back for round 2. The lentils were absolutely delicious.

Apr 26, 2016

I am very excited to write this review. This is the highest score I have given a restaurant and it is well deserved. It is a very clever menu as most dishes can be prepared in advance and are even better if left for the next day.
I have read some of the reviews complaining that the dishes are too small for the price. In their defence they don’t claim to make oversized portions and clearly state that they are a gin bar. We had 9 plates between the 3 of us and we found it to be more than enough. You do have an option to order additional plates for only R50. We also received a complimentary vegetable tempura plate which was delicious and a nice change from the usual stale bread you get at other restaurants.
First of all we were greeted by very friendly staff (even the security guard outside was happy to see us). Our waitress was very enthusiastic about the gin and we opted for a blueberry and orange rind infused double gin. The price YES is hefty but alcohol overall is expensive. Their wine list is very reasonable. The gin came in a nice big round glass with lots of ice and was delicious. All of our dishes came promptly and all of them were outstanding. I like to eat free range so did not taste 2 of the meat dishes as the menu did not state if it was which were the lamb frikkadels and the beef cubes, my husband had those and he said they were outstanding. I did have a taste of the pork belly though and it was 10/10. In particular the gruyere cheese tart and the double baked cheese soufflé again 10/10. The dish that was least successful was the snail dish. I found it extremely rich and could not have more than 2 bites. The deserts we had the lime and coconut, the doughnuts and the chocolate pot and the two people at my table loved it (I’m not much of a sweet tooth). If I could describe the food in a nutshell it is like travelling the cape winelands and stopping and all the little restaurants on the wine farms. That is what the food is like. Fresh, simple and good quality, not pretending to be something it is not.
If I had one criticism it would be the lighting. It is just too dark for my taste. I like to see what I eat. Just making it slightly lighter inside would be nice.
If I could make two changes from my last visit I would eat the blueberries in my gin before I told the waitress to take the glass away, I can kick myself for not eating them! And I would not eat the whole day just so that I can order extra plates.
Our bill for 3 people was R1200. This included 2 double gins (R100 EACH) and a bottle of wine of R200. I found this to be quite reasonable.

Apr 11, 2016

Reviews Workshop 55

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