There are meals that nourish, and then there are those that quietly rewrite your expectations. Gigi, Chef Moses Moloi’s elegantly modern restaurant nestled at Waterfall Corner, definitely does the latter with subtle and purposeful grace. It’s not just a beautiful space. It’s a reflection of Moloi himself – considered, warm, full of depth and reverence for where he comes from.
From the first step inside, Gigi doesn’t shout, it gently whispers. It’s the kind of space that lets the food and the experience breathe. And breathe it does.
We started with two distinctly different small plates. The pulled lamb was a smoky-sweet ode to slow cooking. Succulent shoulder paired with burnt salsa, silky squash, smoked yoghurt and a crunch of pumpkin seeds. Earthy, bold and unashamedly rich. The salmon fish cakes, by contrast, brought a zingy lightness to the table. Fresh papaya salad with the added peanut crunch and Cape Malay dressing wrapped everything in a warm, subtly spiced hug.
But the mains were where Gigi truly shone. The slow-cooked lamb shoulder was a revelation with onion cream risotto that was comfort and elegance in equal measure.
The rib-eye was cooked with confident restraint with grilled miso broccoli, sautéed mushrooms and confit cherry tomatoes. A parmesan tuile crowned the plate with crunch and the delicately spiced sweet potato mash, brought the dish together.
To sip, we chose the Backsberg Plum Valley Merlot which was a great companion to both the lamb and beef. We followed this with an inventive selection of cocktails.
The Crème Brûlée was dessert in a glass – Bacardi Spiced, Irish cream liqueur and heavy cream which most certainly evoked its namesake. The Botanical Bliss was an elegant contrast – floral and refreshing.
Dessert, of course, couldn’t just be an afterthought. The Peppermint Crisp reimagining was a plate full of nostalgia with layers of chocolate mousse, a peppermint centre and perfectly tempered vanilla ice cream. It was a decadent and delicious finale.
Gigi is not about gimmicks or grandeur. It’s about depth – food that tells a story grounded in memory. Chef Moloi creates conversations, pulls at heartstrings and challenges what we think we know about South African flavour.
In a city bursting with dining options, Gigi doesn’t try to compete. It simply carves its own lane and does so with quiet, undeniable brilliance.