Review Sophia's Bistro - Johannesburg

Great service and awsome food. Good specials and excellent wine selection. Thank you for a great time

Amazing service and lovely atmosphere. Good place for any meal and makes you want to come back for more

I really liked this place, great venue and unbelievably delicious food! Owners were constantly assisting where necessary and you could see they genuinely cared about your experience. Well done, I recommend this place.

Wonderful mother's day lunch at Sophia's Bistro. The food was amazing as was the service. Unfortunately there were quite a few items on the menu unavailable due to lack of stock, which was disappointing.

Good service, prawns weren't that flavoursome, nor was the sole - seemed to miss the lemon sauce, duck livers were great, their home made sweet chilli sauce really good, nice wine list and the meze platter was also good..

quiet and very special place. It's the perfect restuarant for a business meeting. Service and food is very good

Top quality specials and the tenderest streaks. Sophisticated service, music and personable owner, all made for a brilliant night out.

Delightful food, in an intimate setting, great staff and lovely owners! Highly recommended

Lovely, classy restaurant. Reservations are required. Such amazing food and so peaceful and quiet

Wonderful food and a great and friendly staff. Well worth a visit. Kingclip was excellent.

The food is amazing. The baked camembert is absolutely devine. The host is very friendly. The ambiance has a subtle sophistication. I will definitely go back.

Very friendly and speedy staff. Interesting menu but I had a very average experience. Was really looking forward to the prawns flashed-fried with chilli, ginger and white wine - seemed to get an average but ok version of mild peri peri prawns instead. Dessert looked really tired (crepes with mandarin and ice cream) and was too bitter. Crepes tasted as though they were reheated with microwave. <br/>Will try again for a final decision....purely because of some other menu items that look interesting and a second chance.

We have frequented Sophia's for years and never been disappointed. Friendly and very good service is standard with an excellent food experience. Always a treat to visit Sophia's

A sweet little Italian restaurant offering a selection of pizzas, pastas and other Italian dishes in Illovo Square. We shared their ‘signature’ seafood soup which was tasty but nothing outstanding. I had the calamari off the ’95’ menu and friend had veal. I found my meal very underwhelming and wouldn’t recommend it. Service was friendly and we enjoyed the atmosphere. I will return to try something else but not in a rush.

Definitely no second visit. Waldorf Pear Salad had pear slithers and stale walnuts with abundance of leaves. Onion soup was very good. Sole was overdone and burned on the one side. Carrots had an unusual taste not sure what spice they put on. Salmon parcels were too thick although filling was nice. Prawn Pasta dish went back to kitchen as it came tasteless with no sauce and no coriander. Second time much better. Crepe Suzette had an aritificial taste definitely not what one would expect and could not finish eating it. Tiramisu - mascaponi mixture was good but biscuits dry. If they wish to keep the restaurant going they will have to up their game.

Unbelievable dishes unbelievable service. The owner Simon goes out of his way to accomodate everyone. Great staff. Really a pleasure to be here.

What a lovely hidden gem! The food is amazing and the service is fantastic and friendly. My friend and I appreciated the extensive menu which has various delicious vegetarian options! Definitely sit outside if weather permits and ask for the homemade chili!!

A charming eatery in this busy little centre. A team lunch brought us here. Service was great, with the manager ever present. Drinks orders were swiftly taken as each set of guests arrived, and promptly served. Next came the ciabatta with olive oil and balsamic, and butter. The only gripe at this point was that the butter was too hard. The ciabatta was delicious. We went straight onto mains. The dishes arrived nearly in unison (one pasta dish arrived a minute or two later). All the food was piping hot and went down really well. Us girls didn't have much space for dessert so we called it a day. It was a pleasant afternoon.

Amazing service. I love how the waiters are so knowledgeable about the food and the wine. I really felt like this was an exceptional dining experience.<br/><br/>I arrived at Sophia's bistro during the week in the evening and from the door was greeted warmly by the waiters who showed me to my seat. I had a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon and creme brûlée which was torched right in front of us on a food trolley, I thought this was great and unique.<br/><br/>I have and would definitely recommend this restaurant to my fellow pedantic foodies, it ticks all the boxes.

It's OK, not much to rave about. Its a cute little spot with beige and white decor but basic. We got straight to mains with the prawns being average, lamb shank requiring some flavour and duck roast average. I have been here before for lunches and enjoyed the lunch specials but dinner was just ok. The service and management are friendly and nice but the food does fall abit short. It was a Wednesday night with just a couple of tables occupied and some live music but the food needs some jazzing up. The prices are above average and you leave expecting more. My creme brulee was bruleed at the table with a blow torch and ended up with burnt sugar and runny custard. I'm not sure I'd return.

Went to Sophia's Bistro earlier this evening for dinner with family, was told good things and very curious to try it out. Overall was very impressed with the experience at Sophia's. Staff was very friendly and knowledgeable of the dishes & specials and the owners were equally as friendly and attentive. Good hummus starter, welldelicious Scottish Salmon with veg, and other family who ordered duck and salmon ravioli, to list but a few, were thoroughly satisfied with their meals as well. Consensus at the table was overwhelmingly positive from starters to coffee & dessert. Looking forward to coming back one day and would highly recommend Sophia's.

Last night was my second visit to Sophia’s Bistro. My companions included a Capetonian food and wine aficionado, a maverick with specific dietary requirements and a classic (easy) dinner guest who surprises with very specific but basic requirements. Our foray into one of Jozi’s culinary gems did not disappoint.<br/><br/>We started off with Calamari Heads Fritti, Saganaki and a French Onion Soup. The Saganaki was served with commercial sweet chilli sauce, but before the second bite, owner Simon arrived at the table with his own chilli sauce. Please Simon, serve the commercial stuff on the side (if you have to!), but deliver the dish with your delicious homemade, medium hot, flavourful sauce. The French Onion Soup was amazing. Our Cape Town foodie friend stole more than one sample from my bowl! It was a rare discovery, to find a true French Onion Soup, a purist’s pleasure – in Jozi. The Cape Town foodies’ choice, the Calamari Heads Fritti, will be my first choice starter for my next visit to Sophia’s.<br/><br/>Scottish Salmon with Salsa Verde, Veal Marsala, Moussaka and the Drunken Pork were great main course choices for everyone at the table. The Moussaka had a melange of flavours with a delightful spicy twist. The Drunken Pork was cooked to perfection, the stuffing was good and the exotic mushrooms were divine, but the red wine sauce lacked something to uplift the dish. Our Capetonian’s Veal Masala returned a clean plate before it could be shared while the polenta-crusted grilled salmon melted in the mouth. Our waiter(s) failed to detail the veggies of the day, and two of the party would have not selected pumpkin, although the spinach was fabulous – please Sophia’s, rather prepare diners for the vegetable selection.<br/><br/>The Chocolate Pudding from the ‘specials’ menu was misrepresented. All of us heard the chocolate sponge was served with caramel sauce. A chocolaty and slightly chewy sponge was served, disappointingly, with custard. Sofia’s Tiramisu is wonderfully light, has a slight acidity that breaks the heaviness, and a definite yes! A perfect finish to a meal.<br/><br/>I only looked at the red wines: the more affordable wines are disappointing for a bistro of this quality. The mid- to top-end reds are well priced and do not disappoint. The staff are well-trained and offer a new tasting glass for a new bottle of the same label which I really appreciated. Pouring skills of one waiter left a little to be desired with only a few drops on the crisp white linen! <br/><br/>The waiters are very attentive without being intrusive and work seamlessly as a team – our waiter was never compromised: a waiter was on hand whenever we needed attention, including Simon topping up our glasses. The waiting staff has an in depth knowledge of the menu and clearly a taste appreciation of what is on offer. <br/><br/>Our Cape Town foodie was spoiled for choice between her favourite cuisines, Italian and Greek, the maverick vacillated between three different menu items, and was not disappointed, our [easy] guest found soul food. <br/><br/>And I have found a bistro to come home to ...

Under new management since March, the place is more vibey with a younger clientele, live musician and friendly new owners but the prawns were really not great; rubbery and tasteless. The accompanying rice and veges were standard. The Italian salad was fine. I'll give it another chance and order a pasta or Greek dish next time. The wine, a La Brie cab 2012, was mediocre.

I had a lovely birthday dinner here. It had the nostalgic ambience of a restaurant from my youth....starched white table clothes, properly laid places, with the type of traditional menu one would associate with that era too. My kingclip was tasty and my partner enjoyed his lamb dish although he felt it could have been tenderer. The complimentary birthday tiramisu was a real highlight! Excellent service too.

Wasn't spectacular...wasn't bad either. Nothing distinctive to make me want to come back. I guess we are very spoiled for choice in Jo'burg... but that's why I love this city!

I have been to Sophia's Bistro prior to management change and after.  I personally find a lot of the reviews below pretty snotty. I have enjoyed some fantastic meals in the past two months and love the wine selection. The staff members are friendly and management is top notch.  All they need to do now is tap blood out of a rock to please some of these hob-nobs that need to be served with golden plates.  The only reason I didn't give a 5 star rating is because I have more meals to try before I can conclusively say I love Sophia's with 5 stars.  As for the owner mingling with clients, isn't that what they are supposed to do? I'd find it lonely and boring if I went there by myself and wasn't welcomed warmly and spoken to. Keep it up!

We had such a wonderful dinner at Sophia's on Saturday night! We were still deciding on what bottle of wine to order when the owner suggested we try something new, which we did and it was lovely! I found it really refreshing to find staff and management who were genuinely interested and helpful and this definitely contributed to an overall wonderful night out. We tried the steamed seafood pasta and the salmon ravioli which were fantastic and the coffee chocolate mousse which was almost a ganache. I'll definitely not leave it so long again before we return.

The owner Simon is awesome. The foid is delicious. I had the seafood soup tp start. Amazing. My Salmon main course was delightful. The Fish Wives Savignon Blanc that Simon promoted was delicious.

The staff are friendly, management was responsive but the food is dated. Overall experience was average. Such a pity and we probably would not return.

This restaurant is a gem. I have been wanting to visit this place for ever, and finally got the opportunity last night. <br/><br/>The service is excellent and everyone is extremely friendly. The waiters know the menu very well and explained everything in detail. They even made recommendations when i could not decide on a dish. <br/><br/>The food was wonderfully presented and tasted great! We had the calamari as a starter and lamb shank and seafood pasta for mains. Dessert we opted for Irish coffees, which were great too. <br/><br/>I will most definitely be back very soon as the whole evening was thoroughly enjoyed.

Had some wonderful celebratory meals here recently, for Mothers Day and again yesterday for my 92 year old Mothers birthday. Food excellent as always, service great, ambience lovely and Simon and the team always make sure we are well looked after.<br/>

Spent my day craving a good Italian meal and came across Sophia's when searching for something authentic and not commercialized. It's honestly been a while since I've been so impressed with a meal, service and dining experience. The staff are friendly, provide recommendations and are not overbearing. Their constant smiles make it a pleasant establishment The gentleman who took my reservation seated us once we arrived and ensured that everything was up to scratch, and made each diners experience throughout the restaurant personal. Each dish was beautifully spiced and flavored and required no extra seasoning, and that in itself was wonderful,especially for an Indian palate! I definitely plan on being back really soon, and I trust that my next meal will be just as great!

I came here on a Monday evening and there weren't too many diners. For the starter I had the Sophia's salad with peach, walnuts and Gorgonzola. I'm not a salad person but that combination was absolutely delicious. As a main I ordered the Shellfish soup. It has a tomato base (I don't think that was mentioned on the menu) which makes it a little sweet. What I liked about this dish was that the seafood portion was very generous.

I have been going to this place for years and although I tried quite a few items on their menu which was not to my satisfaction there were also quite a few things that I liked, like a) the ambience was nice, b) the waiters know the menu well and their service is good and 3) through the years I have seen the quality of food increase i.e. from grain fed to grass fed meat etc and 4) there lunch time specials.<br/>Now the place has a new owner who frankly thinks that it his sole job just to mingle with the clients.  He has also changed some items on the menu which DID NOT need changing.  It annoys me so much when people buy a restaurant and immediately think they need to make changes which most of the time is unnecessary.<br/>They used to have a lunch time special of grass fed fillet steak with sauce and chips.  Now this has changed to a sirloin steak.  My steak was not even 1cm thick, had I known this I would not have ordered it as there is no way that you can get a ‘minute’ steak medium rare.  In fact it was so well done that each bite proved to be a mission to chew.  They also have some sort of barbeque sauce on it now.  My chips which is usually very nice, tasted old.  They put very little pepper sauce on the meat and when i asked for more they actually charged me (the first time in 4 years that I am charged for extra sauce).  If I am not mistaken the price of this dish also went up?  Why as Sirloin is much cheaper than fillet.  I also had the spinach which usually nice was so overcooked It melted in my mouth.  <br/>The whole feeling has changed and frankly there is an ‘unhappyness’ ‘stifness’ going about the place now.<br/>The new owner must realise that he should lead his staff.  Im sure it’s the same people cooking the food but now the food is different probably due to lack of leadership.<br/>Doubt if I will be back.

Whenever I visit this centre Sophia's is always very busy. The reviews on Zomato are quite good so I decided to give it a go because you can't go wrong with Greek right? Wrong!<br/><br/>The bread served was fine but the butter was hard as a rock. They were extremely busy and I found the seating cramped and the chairs uncomfortable. <br/><br/>Starter platter had ciabatta, hummus and fish roe dip, haloumi, squid heads dolmades and brinjal/mushroom/haloumi. The hummus, haloumi and squid heads were delicious. Our platter was lacking the lamb to go with the brinjal and mushroom, the dolmades were mushy.<br/><br/>Mains were terrible all around. The prawn green curry pasta tasted horrible and bland. The prawns seemed to be blanched and thrown in at the end so they had no taste. I ate the bland prawns and left the spaghetti behind. Parmesan and chilli could not save this dish. <br/><br/>The stuffed calamari was basically stuffed with just spinach. The potato wedges were refried and the tomato sauce lacked any flavour. We hollowed out the bitter spinach and ate the few pieces of calamari. The price was ridiculous for five pieces of calamari.<br/><br/>The waiter didn't ask how the lamb chops should be done. He served one tzatziki sauce to be shared for two people sitting far apart from each other. The lamb had apparently been marinated but was not tender or had any nice flavour and was burnt. The best was the pieces given which were horrible boney cuts with no meat on it. Rather charge people more and offer proper cuts of meat. <br/><br/>We had to send back one lamb chops because it tasted funny, bordering on off. The second one served was basically raw. <br/><br/>The salmon was perhaps the only edible dish. It was a small flattened piece of fish with barely any sauce. The waiter yet again didn't check about which sauce would be preferred.<br/><br/>Overall the waiter and manager dealt with us very difficult customers rather well. It was very unfortunate that every single dish we ate apart from the starter was awful. This was the worst meal I have had in a very long time, for every single main to taste awful is a first for me. From what I see it seems that the dish they apparently do well and what people enjoy is a steak. But if that's all you can do well rather be a steakhouse.

We had an absolutely amazing dinner here. The service was phenomenal, the food was delicious and the atmosphere was great. There was even a live singer who made the night. I would give this restaurant a 6 rating if possible :)

A chilly night and a craving for warm and hearty pasta led us to Sophia's Bistro. It's a tad odd to find it in a complex where the other 2 restaurants are also Italian restaurants, but we suppose it keeps them on their game.<br/><br/>The fried calamari heads were excellent once we added a bit of salt. It would be better if they served the accompanying sauce in a separate bowl, as having it in the same bowl caused some to be soggy.<br/><br/>The pasta dishes - butternut panzerotti and gorgonzola gnocchi - were both good and quite rich.<br/><br/>Unfortunately, the dessert let them down. The Mousse au chocolat et espresso was, despite being inconsistent (ganache-like at the bottom, light and airy at the top), delicious and bittersweet; a dollop of whipped cream rather than cream out of a can on top would have been better. The black cherry gelato with cherry sauce is not a gelato at all, or even cherry flavored; it is instead a disappointing store-bought vanilla ice cream with some cooked cherries in a thin sauce.

So it was the wife's birthday so decided to find a nice secluded and romantic place to celebrate. I must say this place was exactly that! Eventhough the place gets really full on a Friday night, it was so worth it.<br/><br/>The food was deliciously simple and elegant. The Prawns à la Sophia and the avocado Ritz was deliciously simple yet made decadent with their secret seafood sauce.<br/><br/>The roast duckling with orange sauce was a true winner although I'm not a big fan of sweet and sour tastes. The amazing place about this place has to be the staff working there. What I could observe was a real sense of family and ease with the patrons which tells me this place is a regular for many people in the area. It has definitely become a regular in my books!

Came highly recommended from a friend and was not disappointed. All three courses were great and the fillet main was particularly good. Live music was an added bonus on a random week night. I'll be passing on the recommendation to others!!

Really had a lovely evening at Sophias. The quaint little setting with fairy lights coming from the restaurant across the way, was just so pretty. I was sad to see that it wasn't very full! There was a musician sitting in the corner playing relaxing stuff that just made the atmosphere that much better.<br/><br/>The service was good and we enjoyed our pasta's (Cabonara and Gnocchi)! The half-portion is really decent if you're not feeling like a huge bowl of pasta.<br/><br/>Will have to be back to try a few more things off the menu.

Sophia's Bistro has to be one of my all time favourite restaurants! A large part of it has to do with the sentimental fact it's my mom's name, but in all honesty, the food, ambience and service is a full 10 out of 10 every time!! I have had quite a few dishes from Sophia's, but I must say the Linguine Cartoccio is by far my favourite! The passion exuded by the staff and management also add to the overall experience. You just can't go wrong!

Fantastic little spot nestled in illovo. Went for a Sunday lunch and was not disappointed. Starter of beef carpaccio was not raw, however the veal and prawns had at the table were outstanding. Bursting with flavour accompanied good sized main portions. Service was quick and staff attentive.

Originally in Rosebank moved to Illovo <br/>This has a lovely atmosphere and a must for family dining . The seafood pasta is worth returning for .

Good food. The food portions are not overly served. Great family vibe to the restaurant, where you can enjoy a quiet evening dinner. I would recommend the pasta and the drunken duck.

A beautifully decorated restaurant situated in Illovo Square. We came here for Penny's birthday dinner. I really like that the restaurant was in a small courtyard. It had a very nice vibe! <br/><br/>The staff was friendly even though they did seem to take a while to bring the mains. <br/><br/>Overall, I was unimpressed with the mains.. the calamari was chewy and the sides were lacking in flavour. <br/><br/>The dessert made up for it! It was a deliciously creamy creme brulee!

I had the Vitello a La Sophia...good tasting meal. The chef was present to ensure that the table was happy. The setting is fantastic although stiff competition from Cornutti across the way might require an upgrade with the interior. Great restaurant!

Just love this restaurant, beautiful setting, loved the outside seating, it feels like you are in Italy or somewhere in Europe. We had the beef lasagne and chicken with artichoke - really good food and tasty. The staff and management was friendly and really interested in accommodating our requests. Feels like home - a real treat!

My dinner consisted of a good calamari starter although the highlight of the evening was my main (Veal Marsala). For dessert I enjoyed Sophia's crepe suzette although the pastry was a little thicker then I would have liked. Great service and welcoming atmosphere. Will be back for lunch sometime.

We arrived after a show one evening with a large crowd that required some major reshuffling of the restaurant. The service and food were great.

A firm favourite of everyone at the office. Great to find a restaurant that offers superb fare at a price that won't break the bank. This restaurant is up there with the best.

What and amazing evening at this beautiful gem! Food and service is exquisite!!! Definitely a must visit! Lovely cosy and romantic atmosphere aswell!!

We find this restaurant to be consistently good.  Their signature salad of pear, gorgonzola and walnuts is a must, as are their fried squid heads.  Friends who have tried their seafood pasta have raved about it.

I adore this restaurant! The food is fantastic and it is a wonderful spot for an intimate dinner. Sophia's absolutely blew me away in 2014 when I approached them to host my father's 50th birthday. The party was close to 70 people and they were amazing! Everyone was able to order straight from the original menu as Sophia's did not insist on a set menu. They assisted us with everything from a board for the slide show to cutting and serving the cake. The staff and management are an absolute dream!

I was so excited to get a Zomato Meetup Invitation in my inbox this past week for #ZomatoXSophiasBistro! Zomato is the best app for anyone that loves food as much as I do – it has ratings, menus, contact details, directions and other information that will help you decide where to eat out. The mobile app is so easy to use that I have religiously been snapping my food and reviewing restaurants for the past few months. Follow me on Zomato here.

My life became infinitely better after I stumbled across this gem. The lighting, music and service made for a perfect evening. I had the Ravioli Salmone, and it was absolutely exquisite. I would recommend Sophia's, confidently, for a special occasion.

A restaurant with a lovely atmosphere. Beautifully set tables, friendly and efficient waiters/waitresses. The owner himself is really wonderful and makes sure you are attended to. The food was delicious. I ordered the Avocado Ritz. The prawns in side the beautifully presented dish were prawns and not shrimps, smothered in a delicious sauce. My main was Vitello a la Sophia, brinjal slices topped with veal, tomato and grilled cheese, and a generous array of vegetables, simply delicious. Everyone else was also very happy with their meals. Unfortunately there was no room left for dessert. But if you intend going, and I suggest you do, be sure to book, the place was completely full.

Sophia's bistro was a recent Zomato X foodie meetip spot. It's a beautiful Mediterranean inspired resistant in Illovo. The head chef and owner is passionate for good food and his menu reflects his love. We had a 6 course meal that left my taste buds tantalized!!! <br/>The atmosphere is relaxed but still fancy, with live music and real flowers on the table. the service is superb!!!! Give it a try for a special occasion or night out with the family.

I had the pleasure of attending a Zomato Meetup at Sophia's Bistro and had a great evening!<br/>Sophia’s Bistro is a a lovely Mediterranean Restaurant situated in Illovo Square. The decor, lighting and pleasant live music created a very romantic, elegant ambiance. <br/><br/>We were welcomed by the staff as well as the charming owner/chef who took us through the 6 “tasting” dishes planned for us that evening (it was quite sizable portions as you can see!). The courses were paired with some lovely wines: Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay for the salad and seafood dishes and a rich Shiraz for the lamb dish.<br/><br/>We started off with some bread rolls and Sophia’s Salad– a gorgeous combination of pears, walnuts and gorgonzola cheese that surprisingly all came together very well.<br/><br/>Next up was the Calamari Duo, this particular dish was one of the highlights for me because of the delicious fried calamari heads. DIVINE! The other part of this duo was a stuffed Falkland calamari stuffed on a tomato-based sauce.<br/><br/>The Cannelloni di Casa was another interesting dish with asparagus and brie cheese stuffed cannelloni, topped with bechamel and parmesan. I loved the different textures of this dish – crunchy asparagus and the creamy brie cheese.<br/><br/>The Grilled Fish dish followed, it was a firm juicy piece of yellowtail served with lentil rice. I particularly loved the mussels that came drenched in a lovely chive sauce.<br/><br/>I absolutely loved the slow cooked Moroccan lamb dish, by this time, 4 courses in, I was pretty stuffed but I persevered!! It had a gorgeous, rich, curry-like sauce and was served with sultana cous-cous and creamed spinach. That will be the first dish I have when I come back here with Hubster, for sure!<br/><br/>To finish off our dining experience, we were treated to a decadent Creme Brulee, skillfully caramelized by the chef at our table.<br/><br/>Zara Abdulla Monique Matthysen Yolleen Julia Louise Domanski

Sophia’s Bistro is a beautiful little restaurant situated in Illovo Square – a Hidden Gem indeed!<br/><br/>The décor is elegant and tasteful with fresh flowers in little jars on the table. The atmosphere is relaxing and ideally suited to a romantic evening with someone special or a close group of friends.<br/><br/>All our meals were paired with some really well-chosen wines, I wish I had paid more attention to the bottles to get all the names, but I have written what I recall.<br/><br/>First up was a Pear & Gorgonzola cheese salad with Walnuts. Topped with some imported balsamic vinegar, this was the perfect beginning to the evening. Paired with a crisp Prosecco.<br/><br/>A duo of calamari was served next. Some deep fried squid heads and a stuffed calamari. Not oily, just perfect as a starter. <br/><br/>Next up we were treated to a pan-fried asparagus & brie cannelloni. Perfectly crisp asparagus and brie cheese wrapped inside the home-made pasta. I enjoyed this tremendously. Paired with a really nice Villiera Chenin Blanc. <br/><br/>A yellowtail and mussel dish was next on the menu. Of all the dishes, this was my least favourite. The fish was a bit tough. I really enjoyed the lentil and rice side though. Paired with a Chardonnay - an experimental wine - which I really hope they put on the menu. It had a very distinct flavour and I found it easy to drink.<br/><br/>A slow cooked Moroccan lamb was our main meal. The rich Mediterranean/Moroccan flavours really came through with a nice balance of herbs and fruity sweetness. The meat was tender and literally fell off the bone with a slight tug of the fork. The Shiraz was perfect with the lamb, the acidity balanced out the sweetness very nicely.<br/><br/>Our mini crème brulee was cracked with 1 quick snap of the spoon. The custard wasn’t 100% set, but that didn’t detract from the fact that it was delicious.<br/><br/>I am sure I will be back here one day soon! <br/><br/>Thank you to Sophia’s Bistro and to Zomato for a truly lovely evening!

We attended one of Zomato's fabulous foodie meet ups at Sophia's Bistro and had such a great time. <br/><br/>The setting is beautiful and even though it sits inside a small shopping centre the restaurant's open space and beautiful view of the outside area, complete with twinkling fairy lights, creates a fantastic ambiance. We were super surprised to hear the restaurant had been open for 25 years as the decor, while not exactly modern, was beautiful, well maintained and not at all dated. For dinner we enjoyed a 6 course tasting menu especially prepared for the evening. <br/>Course 1: Sophia's signature pear, walnut and Gorgonzola salad - a classic combination of ingredients that worked fantastically together. <br/>Course 2: Duo of calamari: fried squid heads and calamari stuffed with a cheesy spinach filling - both were really tasty but we especially liked the squid heads. The accompanying sauces fantastically complimented their respective calamari. <br/>Course 3: Canelloni di Casa: asparagus and Brie cannelloni. This wasn't our favourite dish of the night as we found the asparagus to be slightly undercooked. We did love the idea of a pasta crepe instead of the usual cannelloni tube. <br/>Course 4: Grilled yellowtail served with a mussel chive sauce. This dish has to be split down the middle when it comes to reviewing it, the mussels were absolutely delicious and we would've been more than happy with a hearty bowl of them with that divine sauce and some nice crusty bread, on the other hand we weren't the biggest fans of the fish and we had to agree with Nick, the owner, when he said he'd have preferred to have made it with a white fish. Hopefully his ideal version will make it onto the menu as we think it'd be absolutely amazing. <br/>Course 5: Slow Cooked Moroccan Lamb - perfectly cooked, beautiful textures & great use of flavour. The lamb was so soft, it was practically melting off the bone and the couscous side was a perfect accompaniment especially when mixed with the delicious sauce.<br/>Course 6: Creme Brûlée with some table side theatrics - they were caramelised in front of us. While the concept was cool and visually awesome we found that after being exposed to the heat the custard had warmed up and melted. Consistency aside, flavour wise it was still a great custard.<br/>The staff we're friendly and attentive throughout the evening and carried off a fantastic service. <br/><br/>Overall a really good meal! Thank you to Zomato, Nick and Sophia's for a wonderful evening. <br/>#thejoburgfoodieZara Abdulla Monique Matthysen Lauras World Chantelle Le Roux Tables And Thyme

What a lovely restaurant! This place is one of those places that you want to come back again and again to try everything on offer on the menu.I came here for a legendary Zomato meetup for dinner and enjoyed a marvelous 6 course tasting menu with a beautiful wine pairing selection. The ambience was amazing, I loved the live music and I also liked the fact that all the table were spread apart nicely. No one was on top of eachother.<br/><br/>We started off with "Sophia's Salad" which I thought was very enjoyable, it came with pear, walnuts and Bavarian Gorgonzola cheese. This mixture added all sorts of textures that blended so nicely together.<br/><br/>Next up we had the Calamari duo. I am an avid calamari fan and this did not disappoint. The two variations included Falklands stuffed calamari as well as calamari heads that had been floured and deep fried. Both cooked to perfection, the blend of the two sauces were delicious.<br/><br/>We then enjoyed the Cannelloni di Casa which is a pasta crepes filled with asparagus and Bri cheese in Napoli sauce and topped off with Béchamel sauce and parmesan. Lovely dish. Once again the sauces cooked to perfection.<br/><br/>After the Cannelloni, we enjoyed a grilled line fish dish which was served with mussel chive sauce. My favorite dish of the night would had to have been those Mussels. Absolutely incredible, I wish they served us more.<br/><br/>Moroccan lamb was next on the menu - very well done with a delectable flavour. My lamb was falling off the bone. It was slow cooked with cumin, fennel, coriander and dried fruit in couscous. By the time this meal came I was so full, but I still enjoyed every bite.<br/><br/>Lastly, we got spoiled by watching Nick ( Owner / chef ) torch the creme Brulee right in front of us. It actually made me enjoy eating my dessert more. <br/><br/>I loved my night here and will definitely be back with family and friends. Lauras World Zara Abdulla TheVisualFox David Berry Monique Matthysen Chantelle Le Roux TheJoburgFoodie

What a beautiful hidden gem of a restaurant. Sophia's Bistro holds traditional values, and their 25 years of experience shines through in every way. The service and attention to detail that they put in is outstanding, and the special touch is certainly in every effort. <br/><br/>I was lucky enough to sample some of their amazing dishes:<br/><br/>The Sophia's Salad - with pear, walnuts and gorgonzola cheese is to die for. It has everything one could want in a salad - sweetness, crunch and lots of flavour.<br/>The Stuffed Calamari - stuffed with creamed spinach and topped with a delicious tomato based sauce is probably my favourite of the evening<br/>The Asparagus Cannelloni - homemade pasta in a bechamel sauce<br/>The Grilled Linefish with Mussels - outstanding, fresh and light <br/>Creme Brûlée - probably the best I've tasted.<br/><br/>What a wonderful establishment. If you have not been there, make a booking now.

What an awesome experience at Sophias Bistro. The staff are so friendly and helpful. Whats great is that the chef is also the owner. The live music added a subtle background music vibe which was not overpowering but was the perfect white noise. We were told we will be served tasting portions but each dish was a large portion. We started with the yummy salad. It was clean and fresh and creamy. The walnuts added a great texture and the pear a smooth sweet taste. The gorgonzola was the perfect creaminess. This was followed by calamari two ways. The calamari was stuffed with cream spinach and the squid heads were crispy and divine. The next dish was the cannelloni but it was actually a pasta sheet cooked rolled and fried...it was amazing. The moroccan lamb was sweet and spicy...the meat was literally falling of the bone and im not a raisin fan but the couscous tasted great. The chef brought out all the creme brulee out and burnt the tops with his blowtorch. Was awesome to look at and even more divine to eat. Each meal was accompanied by delish chenic blanc, chardonnay and shiraz. Great eve. Super spoilt by @Zomatosa....thank you.<br/>

Sophia's Bistro in Illovo Square is a classically Mediterranean bistro that serves authentic tried and tested favourites with a twist. <br/><br/>As I walked into Sophia's last night I could not help but notice the elegance that comes with simplicity and experience of over twenty years of hospitality by Nick and his team. Sofia Villani Scicolone aka Sophia Loren, an elegant and truly Italian icon that serves as this little bistros inspiration and you can see touches of her tactfully in their decor. To your right, as I walked in to be greeted by Arthur and Sophia's friendly GM, I noticed a beautifully framed American Express Platinum fine dining award which is obviously testament to their service.<br/><br/>Onto the food..<br/>Sophia's Salad - pear, walnuts and Bavarian Gorgonzola cheese<br/>Calamari Duo - falklands stuffed calamari as well as calamari heads lightly floured and deep fried<br/>Cannelloni di Casa - pasta crepes filled with asparagus and Bri cheese in Napoli sauce and topped with bechamel and parmesan<br/>Grilled linefish - served with a mussel chive sauce<br/>Moroccan lamb - slow cooked with cumin, fennel, coriander and dried fruit<br/>Creme brulee - freshly sugar topping with Nick supplying a concentrated blast of heat close to our table for us to view.

I had the most divine tasting menu experience at this charming Mediterranean restaurant. The ambiance is absolutely lovely with soft lighting and live music. The service was friendly and efficient and the manager / owner (who is also the chef) combination is hugely successful. <br/>We were treated to 6 courses and every course was more delicious than the last. We began with a very tasty walnut, pear and Bavarian gorgonzola cheese salad. The linefish was stunning, as was the Moroccan roast lamb! My favourite was the creme brulee- truly out of this world.<br/>Will definitely be back!

Went to Sophias for dinner, something my partner and I have been planning for a while! if you plan to go there make sure you make a reservation because they get pretty full on weekends!For starters we ordered the French onion soup I was a bit sceptical because I personally do not like onions but I was proved soo wrong! It was the BEST soup/meal I had tasted all week!!!! they add a generous layer of cheese to cover the soup it was delicious... for mains I had the oxtail casserole and my partner had the lamb. he says his shank was dry which was sad (after such a great starter). My main was good. the ambiance is great and the service is also great!

A good restaurant in the Illovo Square that lives amongst formidable neighbors - the centre has 3 other eateries - all good places. Nevertheless Sophia's serves good fare and I never feel let down whether it's a meat/chicken/pasta dish. I think it's related to the Sophia's in Rosebank which also used to be a really nice restaurant.

WOW! What delicious food! The best seafood pasta I've ever had. The pasta was cooked to perfection, the sauce was creamy and there was enough seafood in the sauce that I couldn't even eat it all. The waiters were fantastic and the ambiance perfect. What a great place for a date night. Loved it. Can't wait to go back.

I'd never thought o go to Sophia's before- whenever I go to that centre I'd go to Conuti's and had seen this place but always thought it looked a bit 'funny-duddy' but I must say, I could not have been more wrong! This place is an absolute gem! Warmly decorated, and with a lovely relaxed, and cosy ambiance this place is a winner. It offer classic Italian and Mediterranean fare- to the highest standard. The service is impeccable, and management were extremely warm and interactive, checking to see if the meal was okay, and stopping for a chat. This seems to be the type of place where you would just keep going back to, and I think they have a lot of regulars who go very often, I may become one of those soon too!

I would give this place a 3.8 rating. Very cozy and friendly restaurant. My boyfriend had the leg of lamb (their signature dish) which was tasty. I must say I have had better moussaka though. <br/><br/>I like the layout of the restaurant and the fact that they have some round tables for bigger groups (I find those work best with a group of friends).<br/><br/>Overall a pleasant experience, but not blown out of the water.

First time I've been back in a while, since they moved out of the old Rosebank Mall.. Still one of my favorite restaurants in JHB.. Great food And great service.

For a family dinner, I wouldn't pick here, but for a romantic evening with your partner it is the right choice, delicate but average food, the staff was alright but I won't be going back in a hurry.

Food and atmosphere was rather desirable for a romantic evening out as it added onto an already pleasant night out with a loved one. A little gem.

This is a great place in the ilovo corner. The atmosphere is warm and romantic, so take out that special person i your life. The service is good and food delicious. Put it on your list for date night and have a romantic night out.

Sophia's was one of our old favourites when it was in Rosebank and we we were excited to try it again in illovo! It has a very relaxed atmosphere with good service. <br/><br/>I had the salmon ravioli followed by the chocolate mousse. Both were lovely, particularly the chocolate mousse. Everyone else enjoyed their meals, only the calamari had a slightly weak review with it apparently being a bit chewy. Overall it was a very lovely meal.

This was my third time at Sophia's Bistro, and I have yet to be disappointed. It's elegant yet unassuming and offers some great dishes. This time we tried the 'Pesce con cozze'; a linefish coated in polenta, served on a bed of rice and creamy lemon and mussel sauce - Chefs recommendation. We also ordered the Fillet with a mushroom and tarragon sauce, served with vegetables and potato wedges. Both mains were excellent, and our plates were licked clean. Good service, and the visit by the chef was a wonderful touch. A great place for an intimate and cosy dining experience.

Great food, wine ambiance and overall unique experience in JHB. Located just off the hustle and bustle of Sandton, this locally and family crafted restaurant will leave you wanting to come back for more.

In the last month I have visited Sophia's for two celebratory dinners. On both occasions I found the waiters attentive and friendly. The food was fresh and delicious. All the specials looked worth trying which made my choice difficult.

I regard Sophia's as our local bistro. Nick and his wife runs a fantastic restaurant and the food and service is always impeccable!! Don't miss this

Delicious food and great service - Sophia' has consistently provided outstanding meals and excellent service since they opened in the 90's - from Bryanpark to Bryanston, Rosebank and now in Illovo - a wonderful experience.

Prefer Mastroantonio upstairs!

Sophia's - We wound up here because another restaurant we wanted to try had no space, but hey, new adventures and experiences?<br/><br/>Sophia's is old school and looks like it has been there a long time, with what looked like many regulars floating in and out which is not so common any more.<br/><br/>My family enjoyed a lovely meal here! The wine list was well rounded and had a few of those classic favourites, Wolftrap, Warwick First Lady etc.<br/><br/>Starters were perfectly sized and wet your appetite sufficiently for the main course, I had a salmon carpaccio, something I hadn't had before - It was quite satisfactory! The rest of the starters around the table looked quite delightful as well (Haloumi and Open Melanzane)<br/><br/>The main courses offer you a nice variety of pasta poultry and seafood! Between us we had The Sole, well sized and nicely seasoned! I had the Panzerroti di Zuca which was totally delightful and fresh and not too much, just what the docter ordered! My mom had the Ravioli Salmone, which I also had a bite of, again can't go wrong with Salmon in my mind so that was also a winner! My dad seemed to inhale his Calamari Ripieni - A sure fire sign that it was delicious.<br/><br/>The wheels fell off slightly, in my mind, with desert and coffee - I didn't enjoy my chocolate mousse et espresso, it tasted a bit burnt but maybe that was the espresso? My cappuccino also didn't have it's usually "round my meal off perfectly" effect.<br/>This left me wanting slightly.<br/><br/>Otherwise it was pleasant experience, staff were prompt and friendly, the atmosphere is cosy. I wouldn't say it's an absolute must visit, but it was pleasant!

Best seafood soup I have ever had-it came highly recommended and I couldn't agree more! The service was great and also a great ambience for a nice dinner.

First time at Sophia's since they moved from Rosebank. Pleasant home style cooking, good service, fresh linen table cloths and napkins, relaxing atmosphere. Vanilla Panacotta was sublime. Will definitely return.

Excellent! We always have good wholesome food, excellent service, perfectly chilled wine. One of my favourite places to eat.

This is a great place to eat. Well done Nick. My wife and I had another fine meal here last night. She chose Scallops to start and I had Springbok Carpaccio. We shared a Pear, Gorgonzola and Walnut salad . For the main we both had Duck which was crisp and tasty. A very satisfying and pleasing evening.

Good olive oil and good Parmesan are indicators of an attention to detail rather than cost cutting. Sophia's is one of my favourite restaurants in Jo'burg. Today was Melanzane starter for her and Calamari Greco for me -- both delicious. She had a shellfish soup starter as a main course which was huge. My souvlaki was average. For desert, the Creme Brûlee was exceptional.

We went there for a dinner a few weeks ago. It was very nice. The service wasn't so great though.<br/><br/>The food on the other hand was really good. I had the seafood soup which was so tasty. Best I have had!! I had the pavlova for dessert and it was delicious.

The best prawns I have ever been served in a restaurant. Fresh and light. Expensive though. Lovely light atmosphere, wickedly delicious chocolate fondant. Very professional and attentive service and a simple and elegant wine list. Love this place, take your mother there for mother's day.