I’ve had the Tin Goose on my radar for a while now. Posts on social media showed off the unique aviator theme of this restaurant, as well as the hotel (the Aviator Hotel) – truly eye-catching. This fits in so well with the location of the restaurant and hotel, close to the OR Tambo Airport. So I was excited to be invited to get a closer look at the restaurant and the menu on offer.
So, off we went – East Rand here we come!
As mentioned previously, it is located conveniently close (just under 4 km) to ORT and offers safe parking (yes, unfortunately, it is a thing). When we arrived, the hotel was buzzing with activity. This seems to be quite a popular stay-over option. We popped in at Tin Goose for an early lunch, so the breakfast crowd just cleared.
Just as I originally noticed from their online activity, the decor is quite eye-catching.
Oh, by the way. I did assume that “Tin Goose” refers to some kind of aeroplane. It is a bit more specific than that, it is inspired by the famous Ford Trimotor aircraft from 1925 – for all you history junkies. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Trimotor
We were greeted warmly by Theo and immediately started to check out the menu.
Okay, we may need some time! Let’s order drinks first. I am a bit of a tart for a good cocktail, so the range of classics caught my attention. The whole airport theme made me daydream of exotic locations, so Sex on the Beach it will be!
We were starving, so we immediately ordered starters.
Thin and crispy with garlic, olive oil and rosemary. I haven’t mentioned it yet, but the Tin Goose has got a wood-fired pizza oven, the only way to make pizza. This was a lovely way to get the taste buds going. Ready for more!
I also had the Halloumi and Asparagus starter, when it was placed in front of me, I realised that I may just be in way over my head – this is so yum, and a good-sized portion.
This dish of pan-fried asparagus and halloumi cheese is served with a light sherry and parsley vinaigrette (balanced the fried component of this dish so well) and served with lightly toasted French bread.
Seeing that we are dining at the Tin Goose, it only made sense to order some The Goose Cabernet Sauvignon to sip on.
The wine list is small, but you can find some good everyday favorites like Spier, Porcupine Ridge and of course, The Goose on there.
Choosing the main course proved to be a bit challenging for us, simply because there are so many delicious-sounding options. A good variety of salads and pizzas as well as a few steak and chicken dishes, as well as some good old-fashioned fish and chips. It is clear that the Tin Goose caters for quite a few tastes, which makes sense if you think that they host quite a lot of travellers regularly.
Finally we settled on pasta. It was a chilly winters day, so why not go for the warm and cozy comfort food options?
My roasted butternut risotto (roasted butternut, herbed cream, finished off with shaved parmesan and toasted pine nuts) was so decadently delicious. It was rich and beautiful.
Hubby tried the Seafood Fettucine (prawns, mussels and calamari tossed in a rich heirloom tomato sauce with chili, olive oil, garlic and lemon. It looked so yum!
Both meals were really generous portions and really tasty, so much so that I didn’t have room for dessert. I guess that chocolate torte will have to wait for a next time!
We were very well looked after, Theo was a gem. Next time you are planning a meeting or get together at that side of Jozi, do pop in to check it out. I think it is a great spot for a lazy lunch with friends.
#hosted Our meal and drinks were sponsored by the establishment featured.
The Tin Goose website: www.tingoose.co.za
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