Inspired by the energy and vibrance of New York, the newly renovated tashas in Rosebank is adding a refreshed sense of style, stunning cocktails and new items designed for evening dining to the heart of The Zone’s busy shopping and business hub.
New York seemed the natural inspiration for tashas Rosebank – an oasis in the midst of the surrounding hustle and bustle of Johannesburg’s Rosebank. Throughout the space touches of gold, autumnal hues and textured tones have added elements of softness and calm, and linear pieces of furniture meticulously handcrafted from earthy tones of wood bring a unique level of detail.
However, the centrepiece of the store remains the book installation by artist Lisa Occhipinti, an American based visual artist who rescues and repurposes orphaned and outdated books and transforms them new art. The installation features cascading books with beautifully turned pages all with slicks of gold leaf which add an element of drama to the elegant space.
“The piece, found by Natasha for the opening of the store in 2010, is iconic. The renewed inspiration comes from the architectural and cultural significance of the New York libraries,” says Savva Sideris, Natasha’s brother and business partner in Tashas Group. Savva has been instrumental in Rosebank’s renovation alongside Nicky Greig, independent visual stylist for the Group.
Alongside the décor, the menu has also been updated. “We’ve stuck to the New York inspiration, but we’ve added more dishes that are great for evening – satisfying, generous portions, and fresh flavours,” says Head Chef and BoH Training Manager for Tashas Group, Sasha Basson.
The five new classic-meets-modern main courses include a Prawn Newberg Pasta, a fresh tomato-based dish with a sherry twist, or savour the Cajun Prawn Plate, featuring homemade spice, lemon butter, and a crisp herb salad. Meat lovers can choose from either the T-bone steak with crispy onions and chimichurri butter, or the Rosebank Deluxe Burger, stacked with premium ingredients and served with a creamy jalapeño mustard sauce. The Caesar Chicken Schnitzel is a great lighter option with its cornflake panko crust. There’s also the Sticky Honey Sesame Chicken Thighs, or spiced buttermilk Chicken Crunch Burger.
The three new desserts are all decadent All-American favourites – Apple Crumble, Banana Foster and Boston Cream Baked Alaska. The Apple Crumble comes with mixed berry compote and orange nutmeg caramel, the Banana Foster with caramelized banana and crème fraiche ice cream, and the Boston Cream Baked Alaska with layers of vanilla sponge, pastry cream, and brûléed meringue.
“tashas Rosebank is a store that is very dear to my heart. We opened it only five years into our now almost 20-year journey. We are very grateful to Jona Pillay, the owner, for his commitment to our vision to make sure we invest in our locations, remaining timeless, relevant and refreshed,” says Natasha Sideris, Founder & CEO of Tashas Group.
tashas Rosebank was the sixth tashas location to open in 2010. There are now 22 locations with 15 in South Africa, six in the UAE and one in London. While each location offers the same experience the brand has become known for, each one is unique in its own way, inspired by a place or a time reflected in both the menus and the design of each store, making each tashas unique.
Address: 177 Oxford Rd, Rosebank, Johannesburg, 2196 – Shop G28, The Zone Rosebank
Email: rosebank@tashascafe.com
Phone: 011 537 3800
Trading Hours: Monday to Sunday: 07:30 – 21:00
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Feature image: Supplied
