Review Spetada - Johannesburg

Cool place to hang out. Even a nice view at night. The food is over the top.

Wonderful Portuguese restaurant. We keep going back for their delicious Espetada and altogether awesome cuisine. The ambience is classy but laid back with ambient jazz in the background and well trained waiters. Always a treat!

The food is pretty good. The service is truly some of the best that you will find. These guys really pay attention to detail.

The food was good but could've been a tad bit tastier. The service was very efficient and friendly.

I will definitely visit again. The service is great, management and staff are friendly and welcoming, food is devine with a great atmosphere - definitely value-added service here.

Good food, good atmosphere and great staff

One of my favourite places to chill with good food. In fact I had my best whole baby chicken here

very hospitable team,food was great and just on point!will be back definately

Really good food. Helpful staff

Impeccable customer service and customisation of my simple meal which was absolutely divine!!!

Service was good, food was tasty. Watch out for garlic breath

I love their bread!

Had a great meal in a nice relaxed atmosphere

Great food. Loved the private room

Excellent service and menu selection with specials

The food and service are both top notch.

Best potato bread ever! And excellent service.

Nyc place

Awesome food and service

Pretty cool. Service was great. It was a Friday afternoon. The steak was properly cooked and served the purpose for a hungry person. Can't complain about much.

Ate here with a group of friends, and at our table of four, none of us enjoyed our meals. Food was over cooked and sloppily presented. Service wasn't good either.

Have many times walked past this place ( been Portuguese myself) - thought was another Adega alike franchise! Anyways- tonight I tried Spetada and was pleasantly surprised! The staff and management are super friendly and well knowledge with the menu! I ordered estpatada med rare - very few chefs understand this, my meat was cooked to perfection! The only thing I would work on is the: milho frito ( this was not cooked long enough ) and waiter been attentive to wine / drink pouring - I had to pour our own drinks. Overall a pleasant and delicious experience 🙋

Had the most delicious Rib and wing combo from Spetada.. their blue cheese dip is so tasty and goes really well with their spicy wings. These were the Best ribs I've ever had in a while, their BBQ basting is truly heaven sent. Their Service is beyond amazing! One of the best restaurants in Rosebank!

Ended up here out of curiosity and lack of much options at the time... the lighting is quite bad in that they dim the lights to the point where almost every patron had to use the flash light on their mobiles to read the menu... food was decent... i had calamari ... though nothing spectacular... my one of my friends had the schnitzel and enjoyed it. Will i come again? Im not sure... it wouldnt be a first choice more like a last resort

Great chicken espatadas. Great portion size. Waiters are very friendly. Love their flavored ice water. Comfortable furniture makes it easier to enjoy their great food.

Attended a surprise birthday party at Spetada last week!!!! <br/><br/>I could not wait to try out the food and the ambiance of the place as a whole. <br/>It was a group of 25 people and spetada offered us a private room where we could have our own privacy which was really great! Only problem I that it gets really hot in there but it's not that bad!!!! <br/><br/>As one of the planners of the event I must add that christene the manager was very very helpful! She gave me suggestions for people to be seated, and helped with the cupcakes we ordered. <br/><br/>I opted for a fillet steak with baked potato. I requested my steak to be medium and pink in the middle well to my disappointment it was over cooked! I had to take it back and watch my friends eat their meal which is very unfortunate! <br/>It came back literally raw and I was so over the meal that I didn't even bother to take it back or complain. Didn't really eat that night and ended up taking home my meal. <br/><br/>I generally don't think their food is anything to cry home about or maybe I just had a bad experience! Oh yes their bread they serve while waiting for your food is AMAZING!!!! <br/><br/>The service is good and efficient! <br/><br/>The place is really beautiful I must add!!!! <br/><br/>Try it out for the beauty!

Loved the atmosphere, waiters were attentive and friendly, offered good advice on the menu. Enjoyed the mains: Bacalhau fish and Trio Espetada. The millefeuille was delicious- highly recommended. <br/>Good coffee Lavazza and the speciality fruit teas were very flavourful.

Great place, nice decor and very clean. The complimentary bolo de caco is a really nice touch and the food was great. The only thing I didn't like was the shoe string fries, Portuguese food is hearty fair and a thicker cut chip will go so much better with espetadas, steaks and trinchado

Went to spetada to catch up with friends. it was very convenient and cosy with a hint of glam. the outside seating was comfortable. the service was good but as the night progressed and the restaurant got full; the service slackened. the Americano was strong and flavoursome. The malva pudding was exceptional! we also ordered a plate of chips. these, unfortunately would have made any potato lover cringe. they were oily and and terribly soggy limp shreds of potato. 😔😔 <br/>

The bread is to die for 😍!! <br/><br/>My siblings and I had GREAT TIME! This was on Saturday 04th Feb 2017. Beautiful restaurant not mention the AMAZING  service  we got.  We loved everything about  #SpetadaTheFir and are sure coming back for more......

We went there for lunch recently and the food was delicious! I have been so disappointed with the food at all the Portuguese restaurants I used to frequent. The prices are quite high but the quality was higher. <br/>I have only one complaint. I wanted to order one of the platters but I asked for one change as I don't eat one of the items in the platter. It was a flat out NO. The waiter then called the manager and he said NO. In this day and age can you really say NO to your customers? They could have offered me extra chips and I would have been happy.

My dad ate at Spetada a few weeks ago, and was pretty impressed so he decided to host his  60th birthday lunch over the weekend.  Unfortunately, we (including my dad) were very disappointing. What is up with restaurants and their lack of consistency?! <br/><br/>The restaurant is beautifully decorated, and very welcoming. Not only is the offerings on the menu extensive, and interesting, it's also very pretty,<br/><br/>Service was however very SLOW, and our waiter not very friendly.  Not even one smile, or a thank you for his big undeserving tip. It felt like he just wanted us gone.  <br/><br/>We ordered a variety of starters (chicken livers, chourico, delicious fresh bread, calamari, mussels & trinchado), all dishes were excellent, absolutely no complaints, everything was cooked perfectly and was flavorful. <br/>The mains and desserts were however disappointing... just to name a few issues: The rump steak had to be sent back twice, the order was for medium rare, the first time it came it was a very well done, the second time it came it was extremely rare, the calamari was tough, there was nothing  gourmet about the "Gourmet" Prego, the chicken prego was very dry, hardly no sauce, and the bacalhau was too dry.  The malva pudding was dry, and the creme brulee was like scrambled eggs.  We were more or less 15 people and only 4 of the 15 enjoyed their meal.  This was very disappointing, especially considering that it was such a special occasion.  The mains were not awful , but instead dry and lacking flavour.

We came here after christening with a set menu.the starters were great. Salad beautiful decorated .chorizo was nice.chicken livers could be better as was bit tough.With mains vegetables like beans bit tough but sweetcorn nice and chips nice too.Calamari was a bit rubbery.Spetada was hardly seasoned and needs more Portuguese flavour

The bread is to die for 😍!! I always appreciate restaurants who serve Cap Classique by the glass. Interesting decor they have at Spetada, very pretty. Service was really great, considering we were a large table. The waiters are friendly and know what they are doing. The food however, was very average.

Sunday lunch at Spetada was not a bad aides after all ...<br/>Spicy prawns for staters was delicious , T Bone and lamb cutlets were just okay nothing to write home about really.<br/><br/>Their complementary bread was very nice I enjoyed it ...<br/>Service on point great ambiance and location the weather was beautiful .<br/><br/>Service manager popped in frequently to check on our table ..<br/><br/>The mains were not great though! <br/>

We organized a surprise birthday party for a very close friend. Throughout the entire process of planning, every time I spoke to someone who worked at this establishment they were courteous, professional and hassle free. That was a great precursor for things to come. <br/><br/>For those of you who haven't been the Firs square is a picturesque quad with restaurants on all sides. A garden centers this area which is illuminated by Christmas lights around the tree trunks. During the day or night this sets the scene for a beautiful atmosphere for dining. The restaurant itself takes full advantage of this with an open plan seating arrangement, and decor worthy of the setting. On Friday nights the square provides a band to liven up the mood with a fresh take on classic tunes. The atmosphere, vibe and decor come together to provide an exemplary dining experience. <br/><br/>Michelle and her staff genuinely didn't let us down in a food regard either. I had a phenomenal flavorful chicken pasta, the likes of which makes me feel sorry for people who voluntarily miss the opportunity to enjoy by Banting. It was indulgent in every sense of the word. The food came out quickly and fresh with not a single member in our party having a misplaced order, unsatisfactory element or turning anything back. This lack of complaints is a rarity in my experience of similar dinner parties. A masterclass in a variety of culinary disciplines. <br/><br/>Every experience is subjective and although I'm not a particularly fussy person I tend to be critical of my dining experiences only because I love food so much. Not only was it a pleasure to have graced this one but I seldom walk away with an almost perfect experience from something I was actively involved in planning. In so doing the performance of the restaurant is a reflection of the 'host'. Extraordinary eatery. I'll put my name to it.

Had the parmesan chicken with mild mushrooms, food was great. Unfortunately during the course of the meal I accidentally knocked over a don pedro, without having a sip and the drink was added to our bill. Completely put a downer on the whole experience.

BEST CHOICE!! A hidden gem 😱<br/><br/>Deciding where to do lunch in Rosebank with the girls is always a tough one. But after checking Zomato and Spetada popped up. I was like LETS!! Mind you I was tempted to go to Koi cos I was craving some sushi. But I don't regret the decision. 🙌🏽<br/>The menu wasn't overly wow but I was like ah what the hell. Our awesome waiter (Paul I think it was) gave us some recommendations and we each had one of each. My steak came out a bit too dry but they swiftly replaced it with a mouthwatering piece. Their blue cheese sauce 😍😍😍😍 heavenly!! The ambience was just what we wanted, relaxed and yet with a hint of vibey-ness! We had intended to do a quick lunch but once we were relaxed and indulging the hours flew by! Only thing I can fault were the cocktails, not to my liking but the great service and delicious food made up for it all!! <br/>Definitely coming back! I've finally found a reason to drive to Rosebank 😆!

Not bad for lunch. Interesting selection of chicken main courses so I went for spatchcock because it's not something you see often. It was great but be prepared to tear it apart with your hands! Good service and attention but tool 30 mins from ordering. So not fast if you are looking for a quick lunch. <br/>Will go back to check out for dinner!

Wow! In all the years I've been frequenting Rosebank I never noticed this little gem, but today I'm glad a little indecisiveness landed me here.<br/><br/>At first I wasn't wowed by the cocktail menu nor the food menu and my friends and I almost left. Luckily we were convinced to stay and to our delight the experience was lovely. The restaurant has an intimate vibe to it, with lovely homely decor. <br/><br/>We ordered cocktails and wine to start off and wow! This is one of now 2 places I can count on for a delicious boozey cocktail! I ordered oxtail with savoury rice, my friends ordered calamari with prawns and sole fish both served with mash and none of us were disappointed. The food is hearty and fresh and just so delicious I can't wait to actually go back & try more food from their menu! We shared a yummy tiramisu for dessert and that too was a winner.<br/><br/>I cannot wait to go back here over and over and over again.

Bit of a funny place. Not bad, but definitely not good. My espetada was leathery, her calamari was ok. Poorly laid out, but plenty of waitrons to make up for it. Efficient service. So kind of just... Meh. Wouldn't go back, but wouldn't tackle somebody away from the door.

I'm fortunate to work close to Spetada and therefore frequent them for their lunch specials, which is R69.00 for various meals. Favourite amongst my colleagues and myself is the peri peri chicken, dare I say but better than Nandos . You will be eating it the proper way, drumstick in hand and chewing the bones. Oh and I need to mention that they run a daily cocktail special, R40 for selected few.

The excellent winter lunch specials currently on at Spetada convinced me to try them. The chouriço pasta was reasonably good, though rather overly laced with spring onions or something of similar consistency. The service was friendly and quick, and the fresh bread they provided prior to our meal was absolutely superb.<br/><br/>Detracting factors would be the very limited beer menu, and the 4/10 rating for dish cleanliness. It was a bit offensive that you expected to eat and drink out of those dishes guys.

Mom and I came here for a girls night and it was lovely. We sat outside on a couch with blankets overlooking the piazza with a toasty heater right by us, having copious amounts of wine. The service by Atwell was spot on, non intrusive, efficient and we never had to wait long for anything. The...

I ordered the gourmet Prego. I was expecting a little bit of a kick in the sauce but over all it was kept simple, wholesome and fresh which is what I needed! What stood out most for me was the staff, they were friendly and very attentive. The prices were average in comparison to other fancy restaurants and I would definitely come back and try some more Portuguese styled cooking.

This is probably one of the best restaurants I've been to yet, in the Rosebank area. The only negative thing I have to say about this place is that the wait for our food was quite long - we waited just over an hour for our food. But apart from that, the food was amazing - definitely worth the wait. The complimentary fresh rolls and still water were also a really nice touch. Beautiful setting and very friendly staff - the managers were amazing too - although it is expected for them to come to our table and make sure the food is great, they had such a great spirit about them and they also engaged with everyone at my table. I had a great experience and I'll definitely be going back soon!

One can easily miss this restaurant in Rosebank, it's got some amazing dishes. Went there for a friend's birthday party, the turnaround time for our food was great, had enough attention from the chef, manager and waiters. Had the lamb shank which was divine.

The best place to go to! I celebrated my 20th birthday there. The staff was very welcoming and very nice. I really enjoyed myself. Thank you guys😄😄😄

The food at Spetada never disappoints. There is always a delicious bread basket to whet your appetite. The food comes in generous portions and there is something for every taste.

I've always wanted to try this restaurant located at The Firs in Rosebank. Having walked past it for years, I finally decided to check it out for dinner. <br/><br/>The space is inviting and decorated in what I would call a contemporary rustic style. Their menu is Mediterranean inspired with the focus being on Espetadas as the name suggests. They also offer a large selection of salads, burgers, steaks, poultry and seafood dishes. <br/><br/>We ordered the beef trinchado to start - it was actually really tasty and the sauce had a great flavour. Also shared a butternut and avocado salad which was fine, the portion was quite large. <br/><br/>For mains we had a seafood spetada, chicken spetada, fillet steak and chicken schnitzel. I felt the peppers and onion on the spetada was raw and not cooked, which obviously leaves it tasting very strong. The chicken itself was okay, although I would have preferred it to be breast. I tried some of the prawns of the seafood spetada - they were rather dried out. The fillet steak was alright, pretty standard. <br/><br/>For dessert we shared creme brûlée which turned or to be rather good. <br/><br/>Throughout the meal there were times that we struggled to get the attention of any waiters, even though the place was virtually empty. Also, I felt the experience was dampened by the restaurant's lack of ambience...<br/><br/>As their prices are on par with other restaurants in the area, I would rather go elsewhere for a bit of atmosphere and something more memorable.

Who goes back for tea?? *sticks and in air and waves like he just doesn't care*. Now that I've lost about 25 points of street cred, I can say that the ribs nearly made me eat my own fingers. What a spectacular little venue in the heart of Rosebank. Waiter was a laugh, not because he was crap but because he had the best sense of humor. Make him president. Insanely insane fun was had.

I had planned a surprise lunch for my girlfriend and her friends, the managers and staff were great in getting everything ready for their arrival. They managed to pull off a great experience while also ensuring that my guests had everything they needed and enjoyed the surprise experience. Food was excellent as usual. This was definitely a wonderful idea with great and friendly people executing it exceptionally well. Definitely recommend this to anyone planning such a suprise as well.

The gourmet prego is not exactly a traditional prego but hands down the best prego I have ever had. Awesome flavour and very tender generously sized steak. Chips also extremely good.

What an unbelievable dining experience ❤️. The food is a bit pricy but totally worth every single cent. The portion sizes are huge so make sure that you go hungry. The fact that they have a 700g steak on the menu says it all. Without a doubt one of the best Portuguese restaurants in Johannesburg. It would be a mistake for you to miss out on this gem

Spetada has officially been added to my list of favourite places to get a decent steak. The steaks are very well prepared and the staff are incredibly attentive. Starters are worth a mention as well. My fiance had chicken livers that melt in your mouth and the mushroom stack was very tasty. For mains we both had some speciality steaks. The portions are huge! We'll definitely be back!

We decided to try Spetada last night (Saturday) as we felt like something different from our usual choices. We were impressed by the very helpful and friendly staff - who were keen to seat and serve us. We had the spatchcock chicken and espetada chicken - both were excellent: tasty, good flavours, and well presented. It is a little on the pricey side but the portions are substantial so generally good value. Definitely somewhere I'd consider going again or recommending...

Nestled nicely in cluster amidst other restaurants, spetada has a cosy feel with heaters and blankets too for the windy night. The spare ribs were finger licking good and the calamari was divine. The tanqueray mojito could have been better but overall a worthwhile place for a meal.

What an amazing experience! From the warm welcome at the door, the friendly and efficient service to the most delicious food and indescribable ambience. The owner's passion shines through as he personally manages this establishment. I shall definitely be going back.

The food is overpriced for the portion size. I was left disappointed with my choice of the hake and calamari combo. Ocean Basket can offer better value for money. Perhaps their meat dishes are better?

We tried Spetada for a quiet dinner and were intrigued by the wide variety of food on the menu. We both ended up ordering the chorizo and calamari pasta which was delicious and full of flavour. Would like to go back and try some of the other dishes on their menu to get a greater appreciation for the variety they offer.

We've been meaning to try out Spetada for a while now and finally found the perfect opportunity for a friends birthday. The decor is modern and trendy. And the waiter attentive and accommodating (they even organized a birthday sorbet with a sparkler). However, the food is rather average and quite overpriced. I had the calamari with a salad... The salad was mostly lettuce with ONE olive and ONE tiny piece of feta. And my date had the chicken schnitzel was ok but not memorable. If you want a beautiful restaurant with average food- this is your place.

Birthday dinner on a Monday night, expectations extremely high. Greeted by absolutely beautiful decor and friendly staff. Really great atmosphere and set-up throughout the restaurant. An environment conducive to a really good time. Unfortunately, the food was really disappointing! Ordered a Beef Spetada with fries. Given that this was one of their specialty meals, you'd expect it to be absolutely delicious but it was far from it. The meat lacked flavour and the fries weren't really fries. The cocktails on the other hand were really great. Started with a TomCollins then tried the CaliforniaIceTea. Perfect balance of flavour and a potent kick, but not too much. I'd only go back for the cocktails and atmosphere but definitely not for the food.

I must confess it was a very good surprise. It has both seafood and meat options, service is great and the food is excellent. Great grilled squids (I prefer to call them for the real name) and the best french fries I ever has in South Africa.

Good ambiance and delicious food. A wide variety ...the long wait though prohibited me from giving it a 5 star rating. <br/><br/>PS: Great herbal tea selection

We have been to Spetada on numerous occasions and have always had a good experience and super food. We love the avo & biltong steak. The carpaccio starter is a winner as is the pumpkin soup & mussels. You get huge freshly home baked rolls so yummy but careful not to spoil your appetite. The decor is elegant and love the couches seating. This is an upmarket restaurant and not a pub. The waitrons are attentive as is the manager who was checking everything was to our satisfaction. We will definitely be repeat customers. Really enjoyed when there the pianist was playing- what a treat while enjoying a great meal!

This restaurant is on point. It's a bit pricy but the food is so worth it. The avo and Biltong steak is a winner. Service is friendly and food is good. I'll definitely be back.

We stopped in for an impromptu lunch on the weekend. The staff were very accommodating and the service was good. They even changed the tv channel for us so that could watch the cricket. <br/><br/>While waiting for our food, we were given some warm bread, it was lovely. I then had the chicken schnitzel and Stuart had the prawn and rib combo. They were both delicious, my only complaint is that there wasn't a warm veg option to go with my meal. Overall we had a lovely lunch.

I can't explain the feeling to anyone who has not been on a terrace in Portugal overlooking the sea with a shaded area, tranquil tables with umbrellas, beautiful people walking by and at neighbour tables, sun rays glimmering through your sparkling water and wine glass. A quiet friendly waiter, Freeman, gets absolutely everything right and making it seem effortless. We had trinchado (and reordered another portion) , grilled haloumi (and ordered another portion), carpaccio, chips, avocado Ritz, home baked bread, even the pinot noir was at perfect temperature. I cannot fault one single thing. Oh yes ...there was a bee buzzing around our food and drinks, we welcomed it and it stayed for a very short while and left....even the bees at this restaurant are well beehaved (excuse the pun)

This restaurant has a very class feel to it. The bar has a huge curved screen tv.<br/><br/>Once seated we were given 2 bread rolls for 4 people. I asked if we can get another 2 as there are 4 of us, and was told that one roll is like "a loaf of bread", well it definitely wasn't. I had to ask twice for extra rolls and got one more.<br/><br/>The place is not vegetarian friendly.<br/><br/>The California cocktail was very good and was R40 on the drinks special menu.<br/><br/>My friends had beef spetadas and raved about it they said the best trick is to let the spetadas drop into the polenta. My friends were only irritated by the waiters removing their skewers while they were still eating.<br/><br/>The salads I thought were expensive. It was a good salad but not a big portion.<br/><br/>They make an amazing sauce which tastes like spicy pap gravy.

This place is just a gem hidden within Rosebank . The service is impeccable. The waiters are friendly and the manager is very accommodating . This place has a lot of options for beef eaters , but the sea food variety is just as amazing . No complains with regards to the taste of food . If you're lucky enough to go for dinner during a wintery night , you're pampered with a blanket and heaters if seated outside enjoying a starry night.

I've always been reluctant to eat at this restaurant. Today I thought "why not?". I went to spetada with a friend of mine for lunch and I honestly don't regret it. I ordered the seafood spetada. The meal was not too bad but its nothing to rave about. The fish was too dry. The only thing I enjoyed was the calamari. I reason why I'd go back is because of the ambiance. I love it's outdoor area and service.

Wow! I was pleasantly surprised with this restaurant! Walked passed it many tomes and what caught our eye was the Calarizo dish - Calamari and Chorizo combo - AMAZING! We also had the Carpaccio Starter and Biltong and Avo Steak, equally as delicious!

Perfect date night I have been here many times and I always go back for more fresh oysters yeah sounds like I'm the oyster police but when you have a love for seafood you have to have quality or else you could end up in hospital and at spetada they speak the same language as me when it comes to food . . . So we started with our famous oysters with a fresh squeeze of lemon juice and some tabasco sauce finally grinding black pepper yum yum those little suckers are really devine for our mains we decided to share a platter for one well its a very generous amount of food muscles, calamari done 3 ways , Line fish , prawns and your choice of starch well that is a lot of food. Most of the time we don't have space for desert but when we both commit to date night and a 3 course meal we have desert . For me it is romantic we get 1 plate and 2 spoons but my boyfriend doesn't have a sweet tooth so of course it's all mine

Friday evening supper with my lady and we were blown away. Had a fantastic evening. The setting was spot on, the music and the surroundings. Most importantly the food was spot on. The chicken liver starter is the best I've had in ages. Spicy and full of flavor but not hot in any way. I had the 500 g Spetada and my girlfriend had the lamb cutlets as mains. Absolutely spot on. Will definitely be making our way back soon. Only blimp was the service at times was a bit slow but Friday's are busy so could have been why.

Ordered the rump with the biltong and avocado, wife chose mussels and rump. Rump was perfectly done, and the flavors blended well together. I will be back for more !!!!

Went to Espetada for afternoon drinks on a Friday. The ambience of the restaurant is amazing for a Friday afternoon, had the most amazing wine. Appreciates the fact that the waiters also don't bother you ever 50 seconds. I'll definitely be found my back to try out that food selection.

Stiaan Ras,<br/><br/>Wife had carpaccio and myself the Karoo Ribs. Carpaccio very good. The ribs with salad was exquisite!<br/><br/>Probably the best I have ever had!

I enjoyed the clean white decor inside which created a relaxing mood. Our waiter was excellent, very attentive and ready to please. He brought our drinks fairly quickly and also the strawberry and mint water which was refreshing. I order a side dish of chips, which was the side of a main meal, which I would encourage the chef and manager to revisit the portions. I also had a mushroom spinach starter which was really delicious. Generally the food was good but not wow.

I was treated like crap , and was even told that i need to calm down because this was rosebank , the owner himself made me feel like i was nothing. telling his guys to attend to this woman and not a customer !!! imagine , he was totally resist.his body language alone made me feel uncomfortable. i intend taking this matter much further

Went for dinner with friends and we were keen to try as we have never eaten at this restaurant before. <br/><br/>We were seated promptly as we arrived. The seating was different as the table we chose had a couch on the one side and normal chairs on the other. As we got seated the waiter poured us a glass of strawberry and mint water, which was different and very refreshing. <br/><br/>We ordered dozen oysters as starters as were informed they were in special which was very helpful from our waiter. The oysters came and were nicely presented on ice with lemon wedges. The oysters were fresh and fat which is always a good combination. <br/><br/>For mains we ordered, sole and calamari combo, the seafood Espetada and the full ribs with chips. The sole and calamari was cooked to perfection. The sole was well seasoned and soft. The calamari wasn't overcooked and was soft and tender with great flavor as well. The ribs and chips was good. Sticky and sweet. The chips were thin and crispy. Always a good combination. The ribs however seemed to be half rack instead of the full rack which I ordered. The seafood Espetada was well presented and look amazing. Most of the seafood was Devine except for the line fish which I thought was overcooked and abit dry. <br/><br/>For dessert we ordered the mint tea and a Malva pudding. Yea was very unique and presented well. The Malva pudding we found abit strange. The cake we thought had a strange taste to it and didn't taste like the Malva cake we usually have. Have to admit the custard which I'm sure was ultramel was amazing. The manager quickly changed the Malva pudding for us and we chose ice cream and chocolate sauce. This was better than the Malva pudding. <br/><br/>Overall a good meal with good service. Not a bad place for a nice chilled dinner.

Setting: modern, half couch seats half chair seats, relaxing. Decor, didn't make much impression on me. <br/><br/>Service: on a good standard, waiters are attentive, managers come to check on things. <br/><br/>Drinks: on arrival, we were offered some strawberry mint water, absolutely great idea and a good touch!! <br/>I ordered a virgin strawberry daiquiri. It was quite nice... Not too sweet. <br/><br/>Food: <br/>⭐️oysters was on special, and they came fresh, lemon wedge has no pips, and presented neatly! <br/>⭐️Bread came as a whole bun, which we had to divide amongst ourselves, which was different. The bread was quite nice. <br/>⭐️sole and calamari with rice and veg, the seafood was cooked to perfection, very soft and not over cooked. The vegetables on the other hand was undercooked, carrots were still crunchy. <br/>⭐️Pork ribs with chips: my oh my, this was Devine, ribs were well flavored, chips were crunchy and fresh. <br/>⭐️seafood Espetada: great presentation, big prawns, but lacked seasoning, the line fish was over cooked. <br/><br/>Dessert: <br/>⭐️malva pudding with custard and ice-cream: the malva pudding looked great, but one the first bite, it wasn't as we expected, it had a strange taste, not the ones we used to, the texture was overly soft as well, we had told the manager about it, and he had exchanged for us some ice cream with chocolate sauce. <br/><br/>Tea: well presented, there's a whole page of tea selection and explanation on their menu. <br/><br/>Overall experience was an enjoyable evening!

Not bad but nothing out of this world. Steak was good as were the ribs but nothing better than dozens of other places. Not sure if we would come back.

This restaurant is excellent! The staff are awesome. The food is awesome and the cocktails are even awesomer. Staff are friendly and efficient. I would definitely recommend this place to everyone.

Had dinner here while in Johannesburg for business, for starters I had the flamed chorizo sausage, which, if you fancy your spicy continental meats will do you just fine however truth be told it is a very difficult meal to get wrong. For my main I had the Blue Cheese Rump, cooked medium to rare. The steak was cooked well enough but was quite sinewy for the most part so poor meat quality detracted from good preparation. Overall the experience was average which may be fine for most businesses however Spetada is situated at the Zone which is littered with alternate dining options so the management may wish to up the game a bit. Scores out of 5 then. Food: 2.2, Staff: 2.5, Atmosphere: 2.5

Took an international visitor for lunch. Average experience for the SA team for the European team our BEEF is always excellent. <br/>Prices are high in my opinion .

The food was mediocre- nothing to write home about. I ordered ribs, ribs were painfully dry. When I looked over at my friends plate, it looked like I had got the better end of the deal. Waiter was a little cheeky..not sure if that's good for business. Ambiance was on point.

I had date night here and it was amazing. The chef came to greet us and asked how our food was. I had the Portuguese steak and the red wine sauce was amazing. They make their bread in the restuarant so it was fresh and warm...I couldn't stop dipping it in the steak sauce I even forgot that I had ordered a starch to accompany my steak. This is place is a definite must try. The staff including the chef are attentive. Definitely worth the money spent

Good food variety however mixed reviews on the food<br/>I ordered the seafood espetada which I thought would be excellent true to the restaurant name. I was disappointed. It lacked flavor. No salt or flavoring. Rubbery calamari and dry fish. Lamb chops and oxtail ordered by friends were good though. Great location restaurant however don't try the Espetadas- it's overpriced and disappointing

Honestly such a disappointing dining experience. I've been here twice and had bad experiences both times.<br/>The first time the service was poor and the food was very mediocre. I ordered beef kebabs which came on a big hanging metal skewer. I was not warned that the skewer was piping hot and proceeded to very badly burn my hand and had to leave the restaurant to treat the burns. The management was barely apologetic. <br/>I was reluctantly there again last week for drinks with friends. We sat down and ordered drinks (cocktails for my friends and a berry tea for me). The waiter brought a bread basket. Then, after hearing that we were only having drinks, he quickly took the basket away!!! It was absolutely mortifying. Not to mention that in the basket was one small breadroll which the three of us would have had to split or...? <br/>The cocktails and tea were absolutely vile. Strong language but absolutely warrented. <br/>My friends ordered "Mermaid's Orgasms" and they were sickeningly sweet- like melted slush with some more sugar added to it.<br/>My tea tasted absolutely artificial. It didn't even taste like tea. More like sour/sweet syrup. <br/>Absolutely won't be going back.

I think is wonderful very nice <br/>Try ..................................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.. Even the meat was very nice I think or I mean every thing was nice <br/>

Delightful decor with inspired guildings. Average to mediocre service. Chicken parmesan with mushrooms was amazings. Good steaks with the best pepper sauce in Johannesburg.

A Grade Ambience, A Grade food, A- on the service...This place is awesome...great steaks...an overall good second experience very consistent.@Sizepea

Good food and location for post work dinner, friendly waiters who are willing to recommend food and give you a blankie on a chilly day but you will be R10 for warm tap water which is a big let down

Pre-movies dinner last night at spetada was on the menu..ended up here as most other places were full. But pleasantly surprised by the variety on the menu as I was expecting only meat. A novel concept of starter platters appealed to us - you can choose between three and five starters to share. if I had felt like having steak, there would have been a struggle to decide what to have, as there are some interesting options! service, decor was all good. More atmospheric than some of the other options in the firs square.

The owner of this restaurant is unfortunately a homophobe, and from events earlier this year he seems to also be a racist. <br/><br/>My partner,  two of his work colleagues and I decided to go to drinks there on Friday evening (05/06/15) and initially the evening was a delight. Perhaps 20 minutes after we had ordered our first round of drinks, our waiter came over and told us that we should rather go elsewhere if we weren't eating - we had not at the time decided but agreed to be moved to another table. <br/><br/>Once we had asked for the bill, we noticed that it was rather more expensive than we had thought it was to be - and were unpleasantly surprised to see that we had fallen victim to a sneaky piece of advertising. Regardless we settled the bill and I asked to speak to the owner just to inform him that I was dissatisfied with the way the menu was designed as it was misleading.<br/><br/>After much coercion the Manager (Chanca, who was honestly lovely and tried his absolute best to apologise for the owner) finally got the owner to stand up from his table, and tell us that it was as clear as day and that we should leave the restaurant. We left, resigned to the fact that he was "just one of those people" - as we were leaving however the owner mumbled "f*cking fags" under his breath. <br/><br/>Upon going in to confront him about his bigotry, he retreated into the kitchen and stood behind the wall. I refused to leave until I spoke to him and again, after much coercion the Manager was able to drag him out of his hiding place. He pretended that he didn't hear me a few times and walked past me to sit back at the table previously mentioned. I again asked him if he had said "f*cking fags," which he denied and told me that he would call security if I did not leave the premises. I informed him that this was unacceptable and that I would like him to apologise for what he said. He then began to shout at me and told the Manager to call security. <br/><br/>I waited for security to arrive as I had done nothing wrong and i informed the owner that I was going to lay a complaint against him to which he told me to "go do it darling." I decided there and then that I would lay charges against him and I was told that I should "give it a shot sweetie." <br/><br/>I am utterly disgusted with this restaurant - specifically the owner as he is a bigoted coward, happy to mutter under his breath but not man enough to face up to being called out. A homophobe. A racist. <br/><br/>Never will I EVER set foot in this restaurant again. <br/><br/>#disgusted #spetada

My final 30th birthday celebration of the weekend was Spetada in Rosebank for a family lunch on Sunday afternoon.Chosen by default, we were a bit wary of what they had to offer. After seeing the dishes of our fellow diners, we quickly became more excited.3 out of four of us ordered steaks and the other person ordered the Sole. The sauces accompanying the meat were delicious as were the prawns, mussels, biltong and avocado. However, the meat was slightly off the cooking order for most of us, and I found my steak to be a bit gristly but everyone else was happy with theirs. I would advise on getting the mashed potato or baked potato rather than the chips and onion rings.The Malva pudding for dessert was delicious and I would definitely recommend it to anyone with a sweet tooth.I enjoyed the outdoor vibe of the restaurant, and the service was impeccable.The wine list was extensive and catered for all our requests.

As a mother you are always on the go and at times you need time by yourself. I took myself out for lunch at Spetada and really enjoyed it. Everything was on point. The waiter was attentive without being too on my face. The bread that was brought out was warm and tasted good. I ordered a steak and salad which were good. The only thing was that the steak was supposed to be medium but was a bit well done. Will definitely go back.

Food and ambience was great. I had the kingklip and my hubby the chicken burger and the livers. Was really good. The biggest let down was I GOT CHARGED FOR DRINKING HOT WATER???? Who does that!!! Next time I should go with a flask<br/>

My boyfriend and I wanted to have a romantic dinner for two on our 10th anniversary. I would have changed my option.... Spetada was awesome! The ambience was great, the staff was friendly and the manager was cheerful. I had a seafood spetada- delicious! and my boyfriend had lamb shank...His not much of a meat eater so he did not really enjoy it but we would definitely go there again.

Had dinner at Spetada the other day. I had the Classic Burger and I must say it was very good! My husband had the Prego Roll - it's good value for money as you get a lot of good quality steak, it just needed a little more sauce. The menu has quite a range of options. It is a little pricey but not more than other high end Joburg restaurants. The service was very friendly and helpful. The setting is really lovely - we sat outside and it wasn't cold at all. It's a lovely choice, although it's competing with lots of other very good restaurants in Rosebank!

First time at this restaurant and was pleasantly surprised. Ambience was classy and comfortable. Service was great, right amount of attention. Food was good quality, decent portions and tasted great. Seafood spetada is a winner. Drinks were rather expensive though.

Hosted my friend's 21st birthday party. The restaurant is very spacious and elegant. The foid is great. The waiters are very friendly, the manager should maybe be more friendlier, and possibly smile more.

The food is good, nice cocktails and service is on point. It's a nicely positioned restaurant with a nice setup for sunny days or chilled nights.

Popped for dinner on Saturday night, and overall it was great service and well portioned food. We had the prawns and calamari and 500g beef espetada, both of which were delish however the downfall was that the fries were saturated in oil. The beef espetada was cooked to perfection and tasted great. And for dessert we had the creme brûlée which was the best! Overall will give it another shot.<br/><br/>

Love the food and the idea of not making a booking. The live music was such a treat to a beautiful evening. Staff were amazing and so on top of their game. Will return.

Stopped in for a quick lunch. Service was good, attentive non intrusive and we did not have to resort to arm waving to get attention. The restaurant seating was not crowded and we could relax and enjoy ourselves.<br/><br/>Food was good, not amazing and with quite large portion sizes, so the slightly pricy menu is justified. <br/><br/>I would go back and based on my experience recommend Spetada.

I have never been more shocked and disgusted in my life.<br/><br/>What was a pleasant dinner with friends turned horribly when the manager of your restaurant, Mr De Silva, called a CUSTOMER a quote 'angry black woman who just needs to be ******' infront of the whole restaurant. <br/><br/>As a fellow customer I was absolutely shocked by this and I have vowed never to go back to your establishment. You, Mr De Silva ,and the rest of the Spetada management owe this woman a public apology. How dare you insult a customer in such a despicable and disrespectful manner? <br/>

Lovely Ambiance, Great Food and Drinks. Love it!! I tried the beef spedata a bit dry though , but seafood one was on point!! Cocktails very yum ????

Great place, went for dinner with my husband and the food was absolutely out of this world. He had a steak and it was tender and succulent and I had a trio of staters which included oysters, carpaccio and snails - amazing. The starter bread they give you at the beginning was to die for - wow!!!!<br/><br/>The service wasn't bad either....This place is definitely worth a try<br/>

Great place. I Loved their lamb shank! Perfect for a chilled dinner for 2 or with a few friends! Service is good. Would definitely eat here again

I ordered an oxtail which was supposedly prepared the Portuguese way. It was the worst Oxtail I have ever tasted. Poor comparison to others I have eaten at other Restaurants e.g. Meat Company. What surprised me was the manner in which the chef spoke to all the tables around us, asking about the food. But ignored our table (was it because I had complained about the food)? The manager on the day also told us that we had to pay whether I had eaten the food or not. Me commenting about the food wasn't so that I could get away without paying. I had hardly touched the plate. I also refused to the food home so that I could eat it later.

I went here with a large group of people (there were around 25 of us). The waiters were on top of things, making sure that all our needs were covered. We were split into three different tables and it was unfortunate that the one table had to wait around 15 minutes after the rest of us got our food before they got theirs. It was worth the wait though because the food was really good. The glass on the ceiling was a bit weird for me although most others found it really cool

A jewel in Rosebank. Portuguese fine dining cuisine venue.From steaks to deliciously spiced seafood. Good value,friendly staff and attention to detail. Highly recommended.

I love Spetada and think it is totally underrated. The service is excellent and the pricing is great for what you get. Have been about three or four times now and each time my expectations are exceeded. Can highly recommend the trinchado starter too!

Sunday lunch at Spetada. First visit and found service to be prompt & attentive. Ordered 2 speciality steaks and will definitely be back for more. It was delicious. Also enjoyed the complimentary potato bread to start. Sides of butternut & onion rings only brought to table halfway through the meal. Mildly irritating but not a crisis. However the onion rings were disgusting. Won't be ordering those again. Overall value for money & a pleasant experience.<br/><br/>

We were intending to find somewhere for breakfast & ended up having lunch at Spetada. We found it by accident & by using Zomato. <br/>Firstly there is plenty of parking. Yeah. <br/>The restaurant is located in a fresh air courtyard of sorts. A really relaxing setting. <br/>The restaurant is really nicely appointed. Lots of tables & lots of space between them. It's a calming & relaxing setting. There are mirrors on the ceiling as their signature decor. <br/>The waiter was friendly, helpful & really pleasant. He helped us with the pram & we found the perfect table to enjoy our meal at. <br/>Our starters were delicious. Avo Ritz & Trinchado. Really really yummy. Well presented. Looked so appetising <br/>We had prawns & calamari combo and a rump for mains. <br/>My prawns were fantastic. So tasty with a whiff of garlic. Juicy, soft & tangy. Delicious. <br/>My wife's rump was tender, very tasty & accompanied by veggies & a baked potato. She absolutely loved it. <br/>I'm afraid there was no space left for dessert. <br/>We had a brilliant time & thoroughly enjoyed the vibe, the soft music & the wonderful food. <br/>This experience was a great surprise & worth the steep bill ????

I have been here for dinner and lunch. My sister and her hubby introduced us as they Love this place. The Father and Son are friendly, warm and very accomodating. Their starters are divine, you have to try the starter platter. My boyfriend and had dinner there, my patner loved their lamb. I had the fish and requested no sauce, but it came with sauce, they happily changed it for me and gave me fresh fish and veges and a nce fresh side salad. Then ended with  lovely americano. <br/>Thank you!

Ambience good, service good, food good but nothing out of the ordinary

Good food. We had the Gourmet Chicken and Chicken Picata, both delicious. They also have a nice selection of tea. Service was decent