Lunching at Proud Mary

It’s a chilly but sunny Sunday afternoon, we were meant to be here for brunch but time got away from us a little bit. The destination today is Proud Mary, a New-York inspired modern eatery that sits right in the middle of the vibrant and foodie-central area of Rosebank, The Zone.

It is my second time visiting the restaurant but as soon as I walk inside, my eyes can’t stop feasting on all there is to see.

TALK ABOUT AN ENTRANCE: Main bar of Proud Mary.

Proud Mary has a contemporary mid-century aesthetic that is modernised by the use of plush velvet touches, rich yellows, deep greens and blues, the mismatch of textures flow together like brass touches on beautiful oakwood tables.

All these combinations come together to produce a wonderful blend of classic and modern, every detail is an ode to the golden age of New York - the roaring ‘20s.

Hotel Voco is actually right above Proud Mary and hotel guests enjoy the restaurant as their main eatery and the lobby is within the same vicinity, there is also a cute bakery closer to the hotel reception that serves the prettiest cakes and yummy pastries.

BAKED GOODS GO TO THE HEART: Proud Mary Bakery.

Word to the wise: definitely call ahead of time and book a table because the place gets full - as we learnt. However, they have an outdoor-indoor area that is covered, has chic ceiling-to-floor sheets that keep the wind out and they’ve installed heaters on the walls, a very thoughtful touch that I appreciated.

Proud Mary’s menu offers you a taste of everything: seafood, grill, café-esque bites and an extensive list of fun cocktails, quality wines, spirits and whiskeys - if you’re interested.

I went the seafood route and chose to order grilled calamari as a starter and roasted line fish as a main. My company had wagyu burgers and a pork belly and we were all satisfied. The calamari was tasty, larger than I'd seen before but definitely worth it and my fish was well cooked, light and fluffy. The portions were just right, the flavours were rich and of course, the presentation was well-executed.

STARTER: Crispy Calamari, Aoli, orange segments, toasted sesame, charred lime & bono flakes.

MAINS: Roasted Linefish, lemon & dill caper berry beurre blanc, seasonal spring vegetables. Porchetta, oven-roasted pork belly, stuffed with pistachio mortadella, pangritata, baby spinach and sherry raisins. Wagyu beef burger with emmental cheese, caramelised red onion, pickled aloi, béarnaise sace and triple fried chips.

I must highlight the abstract art on the walls and the use of light fixtures as statement pieces. Every element is so unique and makes every corner of the space feel personable and eye-catching, there is always something to look at and I love that, however your company might find you slightly rude.

PRETTY WINGS: Wall art forming a cute booth for two.

ALWAYS LOOK UP: One of the many cool light fixtures in the restaurant..

To be honest, the magic of Proud Mary isn’t in the food for me, it has to do with the ambience and the familiarity you feel as soon as you step inside. All across the room, you see tables of families enjoying a Sunday lunch or friends catching up in a cosy corner or large birthday groups that have come to celebrate a loved one. Despite the number of people in the restaurant, everyone seems to be in a world of their own and they’ve forgotten the busyness around them.

As an avid people-watcher, I can confirm that the outdoor-indoor area offers prime content. The vibe is casual but contemporary. Some passerbyers had just done their grocery shopping for the week, some girlies would stop

to take quick snaps of that afternoon’s escapades, children were prancing around with ice cream in hand and their guardians trailing close by.

It felt calming and comforting to watch people doing ‘’normal’’ things, a term that has collected so many meanings these past few years but this one felt good, like things are going to start looking up from now on.

Thank you for reading, I do hope you’ll be on this journey for the long-haul.

Until we go out again, xxx

All images were taken by me. Click here for more visuals and head over to the Instagram page for more visuals!