Review Possums On Burnside - Johannesburg

Food was great!! Very nice seating area outside. Prices are also very good for the amount of food you get. Only bad part was the coffee cups. It was old and chipped. Great experience and the service was terrific👍

Possums is a cosy intimate restaurant. Food is great and we had such a good time that we were reminded to go home😁. The setting is romantic with fairy lights in a garden setting. Also seating indoors. Great cocktails with an interesting variety. Food is excellent from starters to dessert. All and all a good evening out. Romantic setting for two or groups, all catered for. Security all round and adequate parking.

Great food! Id talk about the ambience but I was there for the food🤣it's a beautiful location. I had the pork ribs which were heavenly. My colleagues ordered lamb, and Qual which were all to die for. The parmesan chicken was at best average. Nothing to write home about. Unless you like soggy cheesy sour unbalanced flavour then by all means go for it. Had the croissant desert which was a perfect way to end the meal, cheesecake was also amazing! Pricing is not bad at all.

Very good food and we love the atmosphere. The platter is very good and we loved the service as always. Only reason we rated them down a bit is they are often out of stock on wines and this can be very irritating.

Amazing; had lunch here earlier this month (again) and we were very pleased. Great food, great service and great location. Perfect for a long lazy lunch. Definitely going back.

Lovely garden spot for a bite. All meals served. The breakfast was superb. Secure parking in a side street off Jan Smuts Ave

Possums is a surprise. It is not overdone or underdone in any way... Mood, decor, menu service. It is classy, and calm, and friendly all at the same time. You leave with good vibes. I think the pricing is very reasonable... Also not overdone or underdone.

Awesome food here. Wow I love Possums... great food and great memories. The rustic outdoors theme makes one want to eat and the waiters really understand and know the menu...

Laidback place, its a villa with a nice garden where you can relax and chill here. Food is tasty and ingredient is fresh. They got small art gallery inside.

Beautiful setting with delicious food! Had a fabulous time and will definitely go back. Lovely for a summer lunch.

Great morning breakfast, great start to the day. Lovely morning jazz with a toasty fire in the background takes the chill out the air.

Such a lovely place for an event ......Daughter in law had her baby shower there

Absolutely beautiful! Loved the outdoor setting and live music performances

Beautiful place to go on any given day. What a hidden treasure this place is. The food was great and great service.

Beautiful place and amazing service ... great spot to just unwind

Great to sit outside, hospitality and food always constant. The musician Sean added the cherry on top. Well done all.

Possums has great menu options and pricing is fair. Very nice outdoor seating, and we highly recommend the desserts.

Lovely atmosphere and ambience. Upper market restaurant. Not an extensive menu, however whatever you order will be served very well. Original and varied dishes which make it an interesting, alternative dining experience. Staff could probably be slightly more efficient. Booking is definitely recommended, or can try your luck and still get a nice table. Would recommend for a special evening. Private spot, but lively atmosphere.

The general feel is quite eclectic and fun. Beautiful place. Unfortunately that was the positive feedback I am able to give. The service was disinterested at best, empty dishes sat on the table forever, the waiter disappeared for 30 minutes. The food was mediocre and the mains took 50 minutes to arrive. I raised the concern with the waiter and was quite dismissively told that food is prepared from scratch. Uhm, ok, but 50 minutes? No manager in sight. The chicken pie's pastry was completely over cooked, dry and crumbly. The filling was watery and bland. Photo below. Completely meh.

Called to book for an early Sunday lunch at 10. Got there and was told that lunch is only served from 12, so were basically forced to have breakfast or leave since the waiters said there was no way we could have lunch earlier. Didn't get a drink menu when we sat down. Waiter forgot to bring one of the drink orders. Ordered rye toast with one of the meals cause the waiter said it was an option but when the meal arrived it was normal toast and only when questioned about it did the waiter say that they were out of rye bread. Had to specifically ask for condiments since they didn't bring any out with the food. The food is good but not worth it worth the appalling service.

Visited this gem yesterday for a birthday celebration, and I cannot wait to stop by again. Fantastic food, great service and a stunning art gallery. The four-bone lamb rack was delicious and the vanilla creme brulee is a must.

I loved the decor, the artwork, antique furniture, beautiful garden setting and the background music was just up my alley! The music- Loved it! Loved it! Loved it! The brown paper menus are a great idea! Environmentally friendly & can be replaced to avoid grubbiness or hidden germs. Good service. Food was delicious albeit on the small side. Still felt a tad hungry afterwards.

The service from the wait staff was excellent, however, the food was terrible. I had ordered a burger and told the waiter I wanted it well done- no pink. When i received my burger it was basically still alive. I then sent it back and asked again for it to be well done- no pink. I received my burger again, and again, it was raw inside. I once again said I wanted it WELL DONE. The chef then appears at our table and tells me that the meat wont change colour no matter how long he cooks it! He assured me it was well done. If your meat stays red regardless of the cooking time, then there is something seriously wrong with it. The chef then also proceeded to tell me that if he cooks it any longer, it will be dry and I wont like that so maybe I should order something else off of the menu. By this stage everyone at the table had finished their meal and I hadn't even started mine. Needless to say, i told him to forget it. If i want my meat well done- do it. I am paying for it. I will never come here again, it was an absolute disappointment and does not live up to the hype.

Absolutely love Possums. Great menu, great service, amazing wine list & just an all round stunning setting. A favorite place to get together with friends!

Food is absolutely delicious...setting is perfect and the ambiance sheer peace...a must have lunch place

What an amazing gem... coming from a frenchie, I can say the food is really amazing and great value for money too � ambiance and service were outstanding... I’ve been repeatedly disappointed by restaurants of late, my husband and I concluding that we eat better at home than going out.... but your place OMW...thank you for an amazing evening on our “date night” ���

Great ladies breakfast with impeccable service and an outstanding meal. Definitely a spot I will recommend to anyone.

had breakfast on saturday. the food is reasonably priced. the only concern i had was the choice of glasses juice was served in, peroni beer glasses. i also suggest that the brown paper on the tables is not suitable, the wind almost blew it off. overall great place!

When it comes to awesome food and a great location - you have come to the right place! 5star all around!

I will be returning with my entourage and family for my 39th Birthday in March. ����� JHB's best hidden treasure... surrealism�

We had an incredible time here! It is definitely a place we will always have a meal at when we are in Johannesburg!

Great atmosphere and good quality food! Despite a small mishap with my order, all was well because of the excellent service. Highly recommended!!

Unfortunately bang average. Service slow. Lack of competent supervision. Salmon and other meat items over cooked. Won't go again...

It took 40+ minutes to get our starter and, once received received, it was very underwhelming. Also, the wine we ordered was not in stock so, instead of informing us, and offering a substitute, they went out to buy it, and we waited over 30 minutes for it - I had to follow up on the status of it which is also unacceptable service-wise. The main course food was just okay. The setting is lovely but you can’t eat the setting! Really disappointed. Things need to change...

Extremely poor service and average food. Our waitress as well as all the other staff we dealt with were hopeless and made the experience quite unpleasant. Not entirely sure the menu offerings are worth the prices charged. The only reason I’m rating 3 stars instead of 2 is because of the beautiful setting. Also, Possums offers no vegan options and very limited vegetarian options. You can’t even get a non dairy milk alternative for a coffee. Won’t be returning.

I'm afraid I was disappointed. Chicken livers starter had very little flavor. My chicken salad again no flavour although a very generous portion. Pork belly.... tiny portion and supposed to be a main course. Lovely setting but expensive for what you get

Who like Possums? I really want to know why... we have tried so many times but the parking is a mess, service poor and the food quality shocking. I asked for the prawn last, what size were the prawns, medium was the response.... they were shrimp at best and when I did complain no one came to address the issue, <br/>Food was served without salt, pepper or the requested chili and Parmesan for two pastas on the table, we waited with out plates completed for a whole 10 minutes before someone noticed, <br/><br/>Not acceptable for the prices one pays

This place has a lovely setting although we were very confused as how to enter the actual restaurant. The service was good, we were helped by a lovely lady. The main meals on the other hand was below average, and certainly not acceptable for the price you pay. I had a burger, it was dry and nothing special, someone ordered the ribs and it was also dry and again not special, someone else had a pizza and it was average, then another person had the pasta and it came with exactly 4 prawns! I will say that the chips and presentation of the food was good! We were all left very disappointed by the mains so we decided to have dessert, I will say the majority of the table enjoyed the dessert! I had s very tasty creme brule although my sister had a chocolate brownie and it wasn’t very nice, it was cut up and didn’t come as described on the menu. <br/><br/>All in all, I won’t be back for dinner, I might try again for breakfast as I’ve heard good things about that!

Have had an absolute shocker of a lunch today, table of 12 and have sent back 6 dishes - salmon came with no sauce / toppings stated on the menu, 2 raw racks of lamb, 1 very cold sirloin, 1 totally hard and raw sweet potato and then found plastic bristles half way through the ribs so those went back too. Very disappointing, have been here before and it’s been good, takes a lot for us to complain but today has been a terrible experience.

The venue is beautiful, however, this is definitely the worst service I have received this year so far.<br/><br/>I made a booking two weeks in advance, when I called on the day to confirm my booking, the waiter could not find my booking because the name wasn’t correct. <br/>When we arrived at the venue our booking was still under the incorrect name (after I’d ask the waiter to rectify the reservation name) and our table was not ready. <br/><br/>When our table was eventually ready we waited over ten minutes for a waiter to get our drinks order. <br/>All in all from beginning to end the service was seriously lackluster.<br/><br/>To end off our lunch I eventually had to go to the bar and pick up my drinks myself because no one had bothered to bring them to the table. By this point the ice was already half melted. <br/><br/>I can’t even say that we didn’t try to bring the poor service to managements attention because we’d spoken to him once before our meals had arrived. <br/><br/>Such a pity because this place has such potential.

Quite simply the worst service I have ever experienced, After waiting for over an hour my food didn't arrive, the waiter then intentionally avoided us and then casually confirmed my order as everyone else at the table was finishing theirs, my meal arrived whilst everyone else was finishing their desert, I can tolerate accidents happening, what I do not accept is the unprofessional manner in which they dealt with their error and the quite frankly shocking response from management when I elected to cancel my order. I had to verbally argue and raise my voice with management to have my meal removed from the bill, when in my opinion the entire meal should have been comped. I would love to comment on the food but have not tasted any. I can only say that everyone else at the table was dissapointed by their meal in one way or another from stingy portions to poor ingredients nothing looked noteworthy to me. At roughly R300 per head I can comfortably say your money will be better spent elsewhere.

If you're looking for indifferent and sloppy service this is the place for you. Waited over an hour for a piece of salmon( not cheap) to be served ice cold with the center still frozen. Have left messages several times for owner to call. No response. Bye, bye

Visited the establishment for lunch. I must say the atmosphere and decor give a very relaxed feel, which I throughly enjoyed. The food and service were unfortunately below average. I ordered the parmesan crusted chicken breast which was dry and bland. I would only return to have drinks. <br/>

Beautiful place, wonderful staff, gorgeous doggies, friendly people, happy atmosphere and always delicious food ❤❤❤ I can't fault this place in all the numerous times I've visited. Possums remains in my top 3 always..because all the aforementioned +Ambience!

Beautiful garden and it’s lovely to sit outside on a warm summers day. The service isn’t that great, we had to constantly wave our hands up for some service. Once our food came, which also took a while we also had to wave for some cutlery and salt and pepper. I would recommend going if you are super relaxed and in the mood for a pretty garden.

We went there for a friends 50th birthday breakfast. <br/>Service was awful and we waited for food for over and hour and a half. Also no cutlery available once food finally arrived.<br/>While food is fine it’s not worth the wait or the trouble of hunting down waiters in an empty restaurant. <br/>Definitely not recommending the restaurant to any one. <br/>

Food okay - had the crostini which was good but liver was like warm, pork belly skewers really good but again cold. Main course burger was really good and Mediterranean chicken okay. The service really poor. Waiter was conspicuous by his absence and we had to go to find someone to serve us twice.

On Sunday I met a friend at Possums for lunch. We had pre-booked the week before. The weather was terrible, but they seated us inside and it was nice and cosy, so we were good. I had been there here before and enjoyed the tapas platter out in the garden, and a had great time. This time we wanted to sample their meals. I ordered the burger and chips, as the oxtail was no longer available for whatever reason. My friend had the sirloin I think. The service was not great, we had to get the waiter's attention a few times, and repeat forgotten requests for water, or serviettes for the table, the latter shouldn't need to be requested in my view. Anyway, the food finally came but the chips on both our plates didn't taste fresh, like they were reheated or something. Anyway, they took them away and came back with a fresher tasting sample. I use their tomato sauce...and wow, now I'm not saying everyone should use Old Gold tomatoes sauce, but there is Heinz or another good ketchup brand. But whatever that was is best suited to a cafeteria. I was distraught 😂 dramatic I know. The burger was ok, no complaints there. My friend enjoyed her sirloin though. I probably won't t be back in a while though, nothing tasted good enough to draw me back. But you never know.

Quickly stopped here for a drink with a friend.<br/><br/>Beautiful atmosphere, very private/quiet little restaurant. It’s almost like relaxing in your garden.<br/><br/>The service was good, and I must say... al the food that people ordered... looked AMAZING!!!<br/><br/>So I’ll definitely be back for a lunch one day!

My last visit was about 2 years ago, and the reason for not returning sooner was because the food didn't leave us missing this place at all.  However, decided to give another try, and turned out to be an enjoyable dinner. It seemed that they have simpled down the menu and quite liked their selection of tapas, as they go well with a bottle of wine. Service can be a bit more efficient but liked the friendliness.  Am glad to gave another try and will try again.

We were there for lunch. Lovely setting, great food. The salmon was fantastic and the lamb rack. Will deffinately visit again.<br/>Parking is a bit tight, but organised.

Booked here for a date night and left not really felling the love. Service is average at most, and while the atmosphere is warm and romantic, the food simply isn’t up to scratch. We ordered the duck (because they don’t have the quail) & their ‘deconstructed’ sirloin. Both dishes were cold, under seasoned and perhaps pre-prepared and garnished with a mountain of rocket. Sadly we won’t be back, the prices are high and keep your expectations low.

I’ve been to Possum’s twice and enjoyed both times. You must go. It’s good for families, with quiet corners for dates. Book in advance. <br/><br/>Many good things:<br/>1/ waiters are friendly but professional, attentive, service is quick<br/>2/ food is unbelievably tasty - I had the baked pork with dumplings (sauce is unexpectedly creamy and just divine), and the croissant pudding (sweet, not soggy, perfect)<br/>3/ it has a super homey vibe that I love - feels like eating in your colonial grandmother’s lounge (if I can be politically incorrect)<br/><br/>Nothing bad - Possums for the win!

The setting is perfect, whether inside or on the deck. The food is rather unique so prepare to be dined. Fairly expensive for what you get. Colleagues had the salmon and the rabbit which they liked. The lamb rack was small but good.

Worst starters ever the first time I had the Veg option but it was mooshy and not tasting good at all and second time I had the bread option but they don't give you any dips or nothing needed to ask for oil and balsamic.... mains was okay and the sauce is about 15ml everyone needed to ask for extra sauce. <br/><br/>The good part was the dessert (only had Creme Brulee left) but it was good really good so well done for that!

Possums was such a hidden gem. I was looking forward to taking some friends there after not being back in a few months and I could not believe how much the food quality has dropped. Dry lamb. A dry plate. Not one person on my table of four was blown away and I remember how the food would always blow me away - juicy and cooked with love. Perhaps a new chef?<br/>It's still such a beautiful spot so I hope they can get their magic back.

We really enjoyed this cute, relaxing restaurant. The setting is perfect for a hot evening. The garden like setting has a French bistro feel, with fairy lights in the trees and quirky decor and furniture. The service was spot on and we got our food quickly. Your water comes in a pitcher filled with ice and lemon (I love that). The menu is fairly basic - standard traditional meals. The starters were substantial. The wine list is decent and they also do cocktails. We both had the salmon for mains and we could not fault it - very good and perfectly cooked. This is an ideal restaurant for a low key girlie dinner or for a quiet, romantic setting that’s not pretentious or too fancy.

I have been here a few times and have always had great food and good service. The setting is lovely, just what we need in Joburg! However, I would suggest that the owners invest in some new music - we had Lionel Ritchie on repeat throughout lunch, which was a bit much ...

This place feels like such a neighbourhood gem. It feels cosy and relaxed. We dined outside and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. There's lots of art to look at, and the servers were helpful and friendly. The food and drinks were fantastic! I had an amazing salad and dessert was incredible too.

Most disappointing lunch today. No Salmon or Fillet available. The rib-eye steak was tough, the pork fillet was salty, tasteless and dry and the mango gelato inedible. Won’t be back in a hurry.

Location, service and decor is really great and their festive gear is really nice. The steak was perfect but the rest of the food was average, especially for the price.

The ambience of this restaurant makes it well worth the visit. Lovely setting, especially if outside. Great place to spend an extended lunch.

THE WORST MANAGED RESTAURANT IN TOWN<br/><br/> We were invited for my best friend’s birthday to eat at Possum’s on Burnside today.<br/><br/>While I’m not one to post on-line reviews, Possum’s on Burnside CALLS FOR AN EXCEPTION.<br/><br/>This is THE ONE PLACE IN JOBURG I WOULD URGE WHOEVER IS READING THIS TO NEVER VISIT!<br/><br/>THEIR SERVICE IS EXCEPTIONALLY APPALLING!<br/><br/>We started with an unwelcoming and hugely inadequate parking situation that none of the attendants would address or help sort out when we needed to park our vehicle.<br/><br/>Once we entered the premises and asked to be directed to the table booked for our party of 8, we were shown to two different tables with people already seated and not belonging to our party.<br/><br/>Nobody seemed to know who, what, where. The waiter seemed to think it wise to engage into an argument with us when we expressed our frustration at being dragged about the restaurant from table to table lagging a fairly heavy and cumbersome parcel (gift)! <br/><br/>Once we eventually spotted our table, sat down and ordered drinks, we were informed that we could only have that table for about 30 minutes and that thereafter, our table was actually elsewhere and we would have to move.<br/><br/>Clearly annoyed by the unheard-of treatment we asked to speak to the manager.<br/><br/>A woman showed up and…..lo and behold….instead of apologising for the shocking service, she decided to enter into an argument with us.<br/><br/>We were then moved to a filthy table with no table cloth nor settings. After two bottles of bubbly we were informed that they had run out of both bubbly and water………the waitress herself was mortified at the manager’s lack of professionalism and manners.<br/><br/>If the owners of or investors in this establishment (since the woman clearly doesn’t own it) care to build a decent reputation, we strongly suggest they consider getting rid of manager and some of the staff. Thank you for the disgracefully dismal experience. We will not be back.<br/><br/>Massimo & party

Been here twice in the last few weeks. <br/>Once for a baby shower and that was fabulous. <br/>And then for lunch with my sister. <br/>We had such an amazing lunch! Loved the pork belly salad... it’s so delicious and was perfect for a hot day. <br/>Also loved that we could get champagne and prosecco by the glass!

Very cute little hidden gem. Food is great but not many veg options. The bar is also nice for a drink and a different vibe but it’s a bit smoky and the service isn’t great in the bar

A lovely venue with a unique vibe, sadly some let downs. Attending a friend's birthday on Saturday, we found the restaurant relatively empty as it was a long weekend. We kicked off with beers and cocktails, but as it became dark, we realized the venue had no power (not their fault, but we had not been informed). This meant no more draught beers, as well as a lot of the menu not being available. What dissapointed us was that they did not allow us to order pizza (even though we were advised it could be made), as the other large table would be getting prefrence. Our waitress also refused to leave a drinks menu with us as it was made of paper and they didnt want it to get wet. Service was a let down, and the lady serving us was not friendly or helpful at all. The food that we did order came very quickly and was delicious! Also had troubles with the bill, that we could not really understand. At least the evening was spent with lovely people and was more than enjoyable

What a gorgeous little place !!! Loved sitting underneath the fairy lights . <br/>The menu is small-ish but offers variety.<br/>The food was good , but the setting EVEN BETER.<br/>I would definitely go back for the ambience, I felt like I was in a fairytale. <br/>I definitely recommend it as a place to take a loved one.

Just love Possum's!!! The garden, the setting, the vibe, the service, the food. Had an event there and it was absolutely beautiful. Sunday lunchs are great with the band. Highly recommended

On TWO separate occasions my bookings weren't accounted for ,after calling and providing all my details.On the first occasion I arrived there for my booking during a week night,only to be welcomed with no booking and the front desk questionning whether I had actually booked.On the second occasion,which was for my sister's birthday,I called 2 hours before arriving to confirm my booking,after the lady who took down my booking and assured me that I would have a table on the patio as the garden area was full.Once AGAIN my booking wasn't accounted for and the response I received from the floor manager was that I should have taken note of the person who took my booking,as well as mentioning that the owner was too busy when I requested to speak to her.Nonetheless,I had to make a last minute booking at another resturant for my sister's birthday.The front desks competency is absolutely atrocious and the fact that this has happened not once but TWICE to me,has made up my decision to never have Possums on my list of restaurants to visit.

My husband and I love this restaurant and have brought our families here who love it just as much. A beautiful setting and ambiance, especially on Sundays with the live music. The food is always amazing and there is great service. The setting feels like you are dining in your backyard, but way better!

The service was shocking. No one greeted us at the door. Once we were shown to our table, we were surrounded by screaming kids. The food however was superb.

Lovely afternoon sitting outside in the warm sun. Food was very good. We both had the prawn pasta - my friend said it was the best she had ever tasted. Wine choice good, service very attentive. Definately will be back

Really great spot. One of my favourites. Sit in the garden amongst pots filled with beautiful plants and flowers. Large variety of dishes - deconstructed fillet is really good.

Lovely food and atmosphere here, and would have gotten a higher review if not for an unfortunate eventuality - as our Sunday lunch continued, our server became more and more "under the weather". Eventually he seems to have been removed from our table, but it should have been picked up a great deal sooner and dealt with - especially since by the end it was quite clear he was as drunk as a skunk and we had to send back food we had not ordered, and either give up on items we HAD ordered or ask a different waiter where they were. All of which understandably meant our bill wasn't very accurate. <br/><br/>But otherwise the lunch was lovely. My pork fillet was amazing but still lost out to my mother's quail as the best dish of the day. The selection of breads were very yummy, and the drunken waiter's boasts of one of the best creme brûlée in Joburg were accurate. <br/><br/>There was lovely live jazz music, and the garden area was stunning. Even the bathrooms were beautifully decorated. <br/><br/>With just a bit more supervision by the management, and dealing with problems with staff faster, this review could easily have been a 5/5.

Very beautiful setting. Nice place. However my sirloin that was meant to be made medium to well was actually burnt on the sides and was rather hard overall. Service was a bit slow but the general atmosphere was great. Lovely staff members.

Recently went back to Possums after a break of a year or so. Once avid patron in the Parkhurst days... <br/><br/>In summary, very disappointed with the food, although the venue and service have their special charms (Barman had no clue what was in stock but one is allowed to select your wine from a rack, which is a fun event away from the table). <br/><br/>We had aubergine and deconstructed/modern avo ritz for starters. Aubergine had interesting flavors and Ritz's prawns were nice and crispy. Did miss the traditional avo prawn ratio (ie more avo) in the interpretation. Salsa was also sparingly applied. Portion was very large for a starter. <br/><br/>Mains were a lamb shank and the lamb rack. Let's start with the shank. First comment from the eater was "I could have done this better at home". Sauce for the shank had interesting fennel overtones, but was otherwise a bit flat in terms of flavour. The shank was clearly precooked (not long enough, meat near the bone was tough) and reheated. I like a bit of roasted meat look on the shank, color was grey. It didn't seem that the sauce and the shank had met before they were put on the plate, the common cheat for restaurants and a disappointing response to the need for comfort food in winter.<br/><br/>Next the rack. Was looking forward to the mix of medium Moroccan lamb (think a combination of cumin, anise, fennel etc. with a date inspired sweetness) and tropical rice (coconut). What we got was a very burnt (i.e. black from direct flame on gas grill) rack, well done with pinkish rice (by then I couldn't taste coconut past the hydrocarbon residue on the lamb). I can't recall whether the rice was firm because of steaming, or because of coconut chips (have done rice with the latter, does create some interest to an otherwise consistent starch). I should have stopped at the first bite, unfortunately my upbringing (eat everything on plate and boarding school food benchmarking when things get tough) kicked in. Result: I have never had such a hangover from half a bottle of good Pinot Noir and a meal in my life. <br/><br/>Commented about the cooking strategy to the waitress who passed it on to the cook. Response came back, sorry I only have a gas grill. Mmmm. <br/><br/>I would like to propose an alternative strategy as the results from the current approach are clear from the rating. Given you have pizzas on the menu, can I suggest that you try slow braising the lamb shank during the day in the pizza oven, ration them to half of what you expect to be demanded on a particular night (add profit margin to compensate for lost revenue if necessary) so that every portion is as close as dammit to freshly done. When demand lifts because of higher quality product, double quantity and drop price accordingly (a little counterintuitive, but probably addresses your investors qualms about remaining price competitive in this very tough operating environment). I would also finish the rack on coals scraped from the pizza oven onto a slab with a grill on it, if crisping the rack is the strategy (which I would agree with).<br/><br/>I would also rationalize the menu, was way too much choice and above the number of items one used to see on a Possums menu.<br/><br/>Would love Possums to return to its consistently interesting former glory. May require some tweaks to get there, but nothing that is out of reach or impossible to achieve.<br/><br/>PS apologies any perceived arrogance in the review and recommendations, it was not intended.

I just love the vibe here. Sunday lunch is usually advisable to book..we were kindly squeezed in. A uniquely inspired menu where I have found every meal to be delicious with unusual flavour and ingredient combinations. I had to have 2 starters! Adding to the relaxed atmosphere was a 3 piece jazz band. Get here.

Great afternoon spent inside by the gas heater.... From the outside it looked like it would have a fireplace (I'm sure it did), but we were unfortunately placed next to a gas heater. Once I squinted my eyes the heater started to seem like an actual fire, and the rest of the afternoon was bathed in its warm glow. Food was good (deconstructed sirloin was a winner). Remember to order veg if you have a fillet (otherwise it's just an expensive piece of meat). Service was also good, never had to search for the waiter.

I dined at Possum's on the 23rd June 2017 and was thoroughly disappointed by the meal. The Mediterranean platter was completely over-priced; R150 for a measly portion of prosciutto, 2 blocks of cheese smaller than a Melrose cheese wedge, a few shavings of Parmesan, a tiny bowl of olives, a bowl of pickled onions (probably the largest quantity of any of the food on the platter) and a dry bread stick. The entire meal was barely a starter size. <br/>They used to serve the Artisan platter, which had a huge variety of cheeses, fruits, patê, meats and breads, all in a quantity almost too large to finish and at a far lower price. <br/>This is no longer on the menu and the Mediterranean platter was a thorough disappointment by comparison. <br/>I returned home still hungry, unsatisfied and felt ripped-off. <br/>The atmosphere was lovely and the waiter friendly, but I won't be returning again.

Wow very disappointed ! Over priced and under deliver - food was average and best of all is in a "non-smoking area" people are still allow to Vape - Vape is still a form of smoking. Luckily there is other places in Jozi to visit and Possum's ain't one of them again

A delightful restaurant in the heart of Craighall. The setting and ambiance is quaint perfect for a business dinner, romantic evening or a casual dinner. The menu caters for all tastes - absolutely delicious food!

Oh Possum's how subdued yet quaint you are!We had the most delicious tapas style late lunch there a couple of months ago. I would definitely recommend the focaccia, sliders and oysters. The entire ambience is relaxed and somewhat reminiscent of Europe.

Great dog-friendly neighbourhood place.<br/><br/>Had the salmon for lunch and I think it was the best I've ever had.<br/><br/>We often have the pizzas for a quick dinner and they are fabulous- crispy base, not too filling.<br/>

A great place to get away from the crowds. Lovely menu, and beautiful alfresco space underneath the trees outside. Staff are helpful and the service in general is good. Had the broccoli and asparagus salad, with extra chicken on the side. The food was very good, look forward to come back here for breakfast or even dinner.

Second time at possums, and a bit disappointed, salmon not a cheap meal, sauce the first time was so tasty full of ginger, a chunky sauce, this time after stirring oil on fish, which was cooked to perfection, but spoilt by the sauce and the mash!(

Ridden past here often enough so had to try out some time. Went for a family lunch on a public holiday, lovely outdoor setting with staff enthusiastic to be of service. Menu is classy and different and altogether very enjoyable. This is a good venue for an occasion and in Jozi weather lovely, little pricey but acceptable 😁😁

Possums' owner's dog pooping next to our table:<br/><br/>I thought I was the only one with a negative view of Possums but after friends shared the same opinion and read about other people also had negative experiences, I think it is my duty to share my bad experience there.<br/><br/>Have eaten three times there and were not really impressed and the last time I was very very disappointed and will never go back. <br/>I made prior reservations with Khumalo who assured me he had a table available in a nice spot for us. On arrival the manager Sydney said the only table that was available for us was adjacent and overlooking the car entrance and parking area, and the seating arrangement was up to him, and not Khumalo. The restaurant was very empty. Only 4 or 5 tables out of around 30 tables, I could see, were occupied. We were well behaved, well dressed, came in two cars of over R1m each. No reason to treat us like peasants putting us at the gate of a very empty restaurant at the time.<br/><br/> After sitting at the table for an hour staring at the car guard and my own car, the owner’s medium sized over weight dog walked lazily from further within the restaurant, stopped within a meter from our table, bent his back making ready to poop. I firstly tried to chase the dog away but when I saw it was not discouraging him, I threw an ice cube at him. Softly, not to hurt the dog. I don’t want to visit a restaurant spending R500/R600 for two on food and wine and having the owners dog pooping next to us. After the dog backed off he came back after 5 minutes and did the same after which I had to drive him off with an ice cube again.  <br/>After the waiter came I asked him why can he not move us to one of the other many empty tables, especially after they promised us a good table, and that Caren’s dog is obviously using our table area as his regular toilet. Possums was relay making things challenging for well intended customers.<br/>After about 15 minutes the owner, Caren, appeared and chased us out of her restaurant for throwing ice cubes at her dog pooping at our table. Wow…(Not good)<br/>My friend suggested that perhaps she did not know what happened and to explain politely the circumstances in her office. So I walked to her office but Caren did not even wanted to listen and insisted we leave. I couldn’t believe her impudence. I wanted to record it but three waiters including Sydney grabbed me from behind to take my phone from me. I never raised my voice, not threatening or disturbing anybody.<br/>Thank you Possums for ruining a good time.

I found the staff a bit unfriendly. Was willing to try most of their tapas, the mood was just so tense, we just left😏 The food was decent though, place seemed to have a certain following😏

Went for Sunday brunch and it was lovely! Small but good breakfast menu, lovely setting outside in the courtyard, good service and tasty food (we had the eggs Benedict). Good outing and value all round. <br/><br/>Would definitely try again!

The perfect spot for drinks, or a long lunch where the focus is on alcohol and not the food. It's an incredibly popular restaurant and always jam packed over lunch (especially in Season), but the food sincerely lacks in appeal, especially the vegetarian options. For the carnivore options, it looks moderately palatable, but thus far nothing has stood out in memory.

First time at Possums and just loved the ambiance, elegant, beautifully decorated and romantically lit. The outside area with fires burning was beautiful too. The fresh proteas on the tables were just gorgeous. Service and staff excellent, food delish but only had mains. The loos were so pretty that I never wanted to leave 😃.

I've been a few times and always experience excellent service and superb food! I had a delicious and huge beef burger, perfectly cooked. Others had deconstructed sirloin which was also cooked exactly as ordered and looked yum. Great live music on a Sunday, perfect for Sunday lunch!

Possums has a really good reputation & has been around for a while...as such it has a pretty loyal following and comes highly recommended. I think this all set my expectations very high. I must say it was a pleasant experience...everything is so pretty and has a warm touch. I had the salmon...which was made nicely...I enjoyed it, especially with their Asian sauce. For dessert I had the chocolate Tuscan tart with berry ice cream...it was good, especially with the hazelnuts inside 👌🏽👌🏽👌🏽

Sunday lunch. Ordered the norwegian salmon and roasted butternut.. Excellent. Salmon seared to perfection. Presented really nicely too. Then had the roasted brinjal and pear salad. Again really tasty. Grissini a bit to hard but overall excellent dish.<br/><br/>Mom had the crispy pork salad and the olive focacia and my cousin had the pork salad.<br/><br/>Service was on point. No complaints and the possum sunrise cocktails were top notch. So good.<br/><br/>If i have one complaint it would be i didn't have more.<br/><br/>Possums on burnside.. I'll be back!

Horrible service received. The security guard and waiter treated me very rudely. The food was adequate at most. After complaining to management, I only received a have baked apology. I will never come here ever again. Think twice before trying this place.

It was our first visit to this long standing eatery. It is nicely appointed and our expectations were high after hearing some good things about the place. The wine list is big but over 50% of the offering is foreign. I tried to order local bottle of MCC bubbles but was told they had no local bottles in stock only the stuff upwards of R750 per bottle! To the waiters benefit he did go hunting and eventually found a bottle of local MCC so crisis averted. We were a table of 4 and shared two focaccia breads as starters. The garlic herb one was quite bland but the anchovy and olive one was really tasty. For mains we ordered the pork ribs with slaw , the seared salmon and deconstructed sirloin. The ribs were tasty but we're not actually ribs but rather the rib "ends" found on racks of ribs which made it really difficult to chew without getting a mouthful of white cartilage. Impossible to eat with a knife and fork. Slaw was nice and sweet through the addition of sultanas but then had pieces of garlic' y croutons which did not compliment at all. Seared salmon was overly sweet with butternut side a sirloin was a small portion and not very cooked. The service was quite slow and inattentive throughout. No desert menu offered and empty wine bottle cleared with no offer of a refill. There certainly was no floor manager and we got the sense that the waitering staff just wanted everyone to go home early. Quite sad for such great setting.

Lovely, outdoor setting and pavement café vibe. Great wine list but I'm kinda tired of restaurants making such massive mark-ups on wine... Interesting menu, with something for everyone. I had the duck, which was amazing. So was the salmon, I hear. Desserts also don't disappoint - they don't look or taste as if they've been in the fridge forever, or have just been nuked in the microwave for that "oven-fresh" warmth. Dessert portions very generous, so suggest sharing. Service was great, all in all a lovely evening out.

Arriving at the venue after great reviews was a pleasing experience, the ambiance was great with a mixed vibe and patrons from affluent areas. Service was above average, food was above average but I've had better - especially after dropping R2550.00 for 7 ppl of which 3 were teenagers (14 yrs). To make matters worse - the establishment refused to accept my method of payment via Amex Platinum card - if an establishment will charge an average of R400 per head then they should accept all cards and not refused any - great disappointment which will probably result me in not considering them again.

Possums' location, setting and ambience are perfect and score a perfect 5 out of 5. They seem to have improved their food in recent months. But they just can't get their service right. Service staff are completely indifferent, unfriendly, bored. I experience this every time I visit. It doesn't take a lot to welcome your patrons with a smile and show an interest in them and their dining experience. Come on guys, please give your staff some training and then you'll have a really great restaurant.

Consistently excellent food  and great service in a beautiful setting. Possum's menu has creative choices and is classy, without being over the top.

Violently hungover and needed a breakfast of epic proportions to alleviate me of the tequila aftershocks fumbling through my body. First ordered the Americano coffee which was just short of perfect. Followed by the gigantic Bacon Egg, mushroom and pork sausage festival on a plate. No lies, I would have this for dinner even.... that's how good it was. 2 downfall, took a while to flag our waitron down for the bill. However, your are forgiven.

Possums has a great location with a courtyard and a lovely vibe. The waiters were all really friendly and efficient and the food was great. We were really impressed and would like to commend all the waiters, who were great with the kids and danced with and high-fived them whenever they came pass. IT was a really lovely experience.

Located on my homeward bound route and always wonder what the big attraction is and why it is always so busy.Now I know the reason is because it is a beautiful venue with beautiful artwork, décor and ambiance. Visited Possums during a company lunch and was not disappointed.Had the queen prawns (6) which was very nice although a bit bland to my liking as I prefer prawns in the Mozambican spicy way.The rib-eye steak, lamb rack and quail seemed to be the right choices.The tequila infused cheesecake was the best ever and looking around our table the deserts were the highlight of the day.Extensive wine selection and reasonably priced.

Beautiful setting outside, however the rest of the experience was rather dismal. The service level was really low, drink and food orders felt like it took forever. I only had the Possums platter, please have a starter if you intend on having this as a main. I was expecting chicken chunks on a skewer not a tiny piece of a breast, the sausage was overcooked due to the flame burning under it when it gets to the table and you have to put it out? How ridiculous and dangerous for you as the patron. It's over priced for what you are given to say the least. Not my best experience.

Very average. Service was fine but salads were lacking. Caesar salad with no chicken but tons of anchovy. Pork salad pork was so tough the dentist will make money. Chicken salad had no avos but looked the best. Tomato mozzarella was ok but had to be seasoned.

Possums is a  lovely restaurant with gorgeous surroundings, however, I have never encountered such a rude and unaccommodating owner. What a pity... <br/>Sadly, we wont be returning; all 16 of us.

Called to book for an early Sunday lunch at 10. Got there and was told that lunch is only served from 12, so were basically forced to have breakfast or leave since the waiters said there was no way we could have lunch earlier. Didn't get a drink menu when we sat down. Waiter forgot to bring one of the drink orders. Ordered rye toast with one of the meals cause the waiter said it was an option but when the meal arrived it was normal toast and only when questioned about it did the waiter say that they were out of rye bread. Had to specifically ask for condiments since they didn't bring any out with the food. The food is good but not worth it worth the appalling service.

Love the atmosphere at Possums, the beautiful garden, the friendly waiters en the nice menu. Only disappointment yesterday was that I ordered the deconstructed fillet. The menu said it was served with pomme frites and baguette, but none of them I could discover on my plate. The pommes frites (plural!) turned out to be some long fried cold no-clue-what-it-was, but definately not those nice crispy french fries I expected. And the baguette was just normal bread, and dry on top of that. Eish!

The perfect venue for a small year-end bash. The setting is quite tranquil with perfectly curated decor. The waiters were awesome and the food (roaming platters of veg crostini, beef and chicken skewers, prawn tempura and beef sliders) was good. A great time was had by all.

The new location is so beautiful - very happy to have Possums in Craighall now. We had a friend's birthday dinner there and service was attentive. Food came out fairly quickly after ordering for such a big table. Had the salmon with cinnamon butternut and it was cooked to perfection with a delicious Asian sauce. Went back for lunch there on the Sunday and food was just as good. Deconstructed fillet was delicious and so was the burger - although the bun was a bit heavy.

Currently, in my opinion, the best restaurant in the area. Beautiful venue with a well kept garden, restaurant has a beautiful interior - you can relax and enjoy a wonderful evening with nice music softly playing in the background.<br/><br/>We eat here often, and have never been disappointed. The salmon and the beef fillet - highly recommended! The chicken pot also delicious!<br/><br/>The staff are friendly and attentive and the owner very hands-on. <br/><br/>I will recommend this gem to any one!

In consultation with the owner, I especially booked the private bar area for a company year end dinner. On arrival the area was still being used by lunchtime revellers. Neither the owner nor the manager were willing to ask them to move on to make way for our booking. We were given a table in the main area instead and left there unattended until eventually I had to go ask for service. The starters then took 45 minutes to come and were generally disappointing. Quite a few items on the menu were not available. Most of us ordered the fillet as a main which was good but everything else on the plate disappointing. Dessert was offered free but didn't make up for our bitterly disappointing experience. The owner was very dismissive of our concerns and none of us have any desire to return to Possums.

What a beautiful venue! Pity about the poor service. We came on a Sunday and they were heavily understaffed. Would have loved to have the prawns as mains, but were told that there were none left (we placed our order at 1pm). If it wasn't for the garden setting & nice weather, we would have left very disappointed.

An awful experience. Rude service without a dedicated waiter. Had the lentil and chickpea salad which was 100% the worst restaurant meal I've ever eaten. No flavour and texture like my grandmother's boiled vegetable side. It was gross. An all round complete disappointment. I would rate 0 if I could.

Possum's has become a bit of a standard in the central north.<br/>Service is always great, and food generally good.<br/>The setting (especially during the day) is quite idyllic, although the garden is smaller now than it once was, and overall the environment is getting a little cluttered. <br/>I recently had a function here (in the private dining room/gallery), and it was well handled. Set up was good. the waiters were really helpful and food was good. Recommended.

An unexpected little gem. Beautiful garden setting with plenty of indoor seating as well. There are several nooks and crannies that can supply a bit of privacy for more intimate affairs.<br/><br/>The staff is very well trained and friendly. The menu is typical french bistro inspired with all the expected classics. The deconstructed beef fillet I had was exeptional.<br/><br/>Will be back soon!

What a beautiful restaurant, the outside area is in a garden filled with flowers and makes you feel like staying the whole afternoon. The food was delicious, we had the deconstructed steak, lollipop tjops and the prawn pasta. Our waiter, Ian, was so friendly and the food appeared not to long after we ordered. I know Ian from Rockets and if a waiter leaves an impression so you recognise and hug him when you see him at a new place, then you know he is good

I have to say that it is quite difficult to find a restaurant that takes you out of the city for a while. Set in the heart of Hurlingham, Possums has grown to be one of my absolute favorites! Not only are the tables nestled among the trees and lavender, the pizzas are incredible and just the perfect size for one.

Interesting menu. Service was ok, not the best. <br/>There were 7 different meals at our table and everyone was generally happy. I had a New York style burger. Roll was fresh and patty was good but as a whole the burger was a bit dry. It needs some kind of sauce. <br/>Very relaxed enjoyable vibe.

Visited Possums for a restaurant week dinner. Lovely ambiance, service was excellent but I wasn't so keen about my dishes. I ordered the brinjal, poached pear and olives with brie for my starter and really didn't enjoy it but I think it was my fault for ordering it, had the 250g deconstructed fillet with chips for my main, felt that the chef didn't try very hard with this dish and then had the creme brulee for dessert which was good. I'm very two minded about Possums, may try it again.

We arrived to 'we aren't taking walk ins only bookings, I hope you've booked' which we had. We were going for restaurant week but the menu was so uninviting that we just ordered off the menu. We got a salmon starter and shared a platter. The chirizo had metal from the packaging still on it. The food is tasteless, completely over priced the only good thing was the gin special. We left still hungry after paying well over R500. Wouldn't recommend or return.

This is one of those spots where one has to try at least once in your jhb culinary journey. <br/>This little gem is a great example of a well run joint. Service is always good. Food never a fault. <br/>For a great brunch lunch spot, this sanctuary is a welcome relief from the bussel of every day jhb

Fantastic dinner spot with beautiful lighting and a great atmosphere outside! Food was also sunning and the service was quick and friendly! Would definitely recommend!

I went to Possums for the first time last night with three other friends. First impressions were great - beautiful courtyard setting, soft lighting, great music, delicious smells coming from the kitchen, divine menus...<br/><br/>We went with Mozambican Prawns, Lamb Kofte, Seared Salmon and Prawn Pasta. The general consensus was that the food was under-seasoned, lacked flavour and portions were small. The least delicious dishes were the Prawn Pasta and the Lamb Kofte which was such a tiny portion, she was still hungry after it. We also ordered a double portion of Mozam Prawns as it only came with 6.<br/><br/>Desserts were better, except for the 'creme brûlée' which looked like a slice of cheesecake.<br/><br/>We all left feeling like the food wasn't worthy of its price, and I wouldn't rush back.

Very nice outside section for Summer, would like to return for breakfast some time. We had dinner, the menu is extensive menu with lots of options, spoilt for choice. Food good overall. The  deconstructed fillet was perfectly done. All well presented.

Nice venue for an afternoon lunch. Overall the experience was good however there were a few things on the menu they didn't have, we were only told after ordering. Will visit again.

A great meal and a great day. Fantastic service followed by delicious food. You have to love this spot ...walking through the gardens and admiring the beautiful flowers.... a great lunch or dinner place, just make sure you know what you feel like cause the menu is super extensive. Try the chicken livers, they are incredibly delicious.

We decided to try out Possum's on Burnside as part of restaurant week and I thoroughly enjoyed my experience.<br/>The restaurant has a big open courtyard full of gorgeous lights which is lovely on a warm evening. The service is quick and our waiter Ian was super friendly. <br/>Usually with restaurant week the menus options are quite limited and there isn't too much to choose from but Possum's had a large variety of options for starter, main and dessert and everything looked so good I struggled to decide. I had a liver pate starter which was smooth and delicious, for main I had the deconstructed fillet which came on a Mediterranean style platter with condiments, chips and bread and it was perfectly cooked and seasoned. For dessert I had the apple pie which was very tasty although a bit overwhelmed with ginger.<br/>I would definitely come back for a lunch out in the courtyard or a romantic dinner.

The food is fantastic. Service and location is really nice. We had an unpleasant encounter with the owner / manager who was upset that a waiter had seated us in front of a promotional gin stand ... lol .. not our lucky day. Other than our forceful removal - really good experience overall.

Possums is your typical Saturday or Sunday afternoon drinks place. Perfect for sundowners, out in the open. Portions are a bit small for the price. Usually always busy, so best to book in advance!

Service shocking, waited an hour for food and eventually my hubby went into the kitchen to help...... pizza supposed to have Camembert but they had feta. Manager arrogant and not helpful at all. Sadly Karen the owner sets the bar very low for her staff as when I was meant to meat her to discuss the menu for day as it is my daughters birthday she made an appointment and never pitched!!! Disgusted to say the least.