Expensive and small portions, but the quality is high and the flavor combinations are complex, unique, and well done. A date night treat for sure (don't come hungry or your wallet will cry, but you will still have no regrets). Service was great. Our waiter Luke was very friendly and gave us several local recommendations since we are from out of town. Scallops: They taste like pizza! Fancy pizza :) You get three scallops and they are perfectly cooked. Smoky with mild heat, and mildly sweet. Biltong Pizza: Savory biltong, sweet/tangy/savory balsamic, and cheese. Simple and INCREDIBLE. We had I think three of their pizzas at an event and this one was definitely the best. You can definitely fold these pizzas as they are a little floppy, but not too greasy. Plant (with Boerewors): The ultimate combination of several flavors from different countries. It teetered on the brink of too much, but somehow managed to balance with utmost grace. I've never actually had jollof rice before, but it met my expectations for being a tomato-y and spicy rice (it felt a little undercooked to me, but that might just be the correct texture). The sweeter savory curry and helped curb the spicyness of the rice (only slightly). There was A LOT happening with this dish and I can't accurately describe the flavors, but it was good and you must try it. This dish doesn't need boerewors, but we wanted to try it. It was okay! A drier/crumbly and herby savory sausage (I'm personally more a fan of a sweeter and dense sausauge like kielbasa). Duck: We love duck because it's slightly gamey, very rich, and silky soft when cooked right. This dish succeeded yet again in combining just the right amount of sweet and savory, which always pairs well with duck and brussel sprout dishes. Malva Pudding: Very delicious but I would say get one for yourself instead of sharing it :) Wish there were more almonds and jam ratio for the cake, but it was all very nice and sweet (just above not too sweet). The almonds added an extra crunchy and sweet (toffee-like) texture. The jam added a slightly tangy and sweet flavor. Though I have to say, I love a decadently sweet dessert and while I would get this again, the toffee pudding at Scran & Dram in New Hamburg wins in the battle of all desserts ever for me :) read more

Braai House - scallops - South African Near Me - Stratford, Ontario

Sat in the bar area and enjoyed their (somewhat limited) menu. Everything was delicious, but it is quite pricey (the $16 tomato salad was really just dressed tomatoes...). The service was excellent -- friendly, attentive, interested in ensuring everyone had a good experience. read more

Braai House - Mussels - South African Near Me - Stratford, Ontario

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Everything at this restaurant was fabulous. While the menu is limited, everything was absolutely delicious. While it's hard to say which was better, the food or cocktails, I would say that the cocktails are the standout. The bartender here is brilliant not just in the flavor profiles but in the presentation. Beautiful ambiance and stand-out service. This is the perfect pre-theatre , dinner date, celebratory dinner restaurant. read more

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What a delight! First of all - there are a bunch of great restaurants in Stratford (as the home of a renowned culinary school), so it was a really tough choice. Looking at the reviews I settled on Braai House. We were seated at the kitchen bar - I always enjoy this if available, and it was a special treat here as you got a full view of the unique wood fired grill. everything was yummy, the service was excellent, enjoyed the South African wines on menu. The food - everything was excellent - it wold have been easy to rely on quality cuts of meat and the spectacular wood grill. In addition the flavours and seasoning were distinctive yet nuanced. I had the plant/vegan option - which was also spectacular. read more

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This restaurant is a hidden gem in Stratford. You start with smelling the amazing aroma of an open fire. Chef John Porter provides exceptional dishes. I loved the appetizers; especially the spring rolls. The main course lamb steak was mouth watering, tender, and served with a deep fried potato side that was scrumptious. Our service was impeccable although the waiter couldn't tell us which meal was best. We tried the rump steak and the lamb. Both were large portions and amazing. We didn't have room for dessert but we tried the chocolate Mulla(sp). It was a wonderful top off for our meal. We are definitely going back and recommend to all who wish to try this exquisite African inspired meal! Thanks Chef John. read more

Really mixed feelings on this one. The good: Very spicy South African inspired foods. My family loved it--in face a bit more than me. I was put off by a lot of fruit flies, which pretty much ruins any good dining experience for me. Our server was valiant but it was understaffed. He was the bartender but he had three four tops and one ten top all at once. Current and former servers, know what I mean when I say that is too much--especially if you are mixing drinks for the whole place. I love spicy food but it does not love me. My family adores it. Overall, everything was quite spicy which meant they loved it. My only issue is that the menu should maybe give some guidance on the issue as several items I did not expect to be spicy, were. It's up a flight of stairs--no biggie unless a party member has mobility concerns. We will definitely try again next year as overall the experience was good. And I need to admit, I could not get past the many fruit flies :) read more

We sat at the bar to have a yummy nosh of pizzas and truffle fries, vodka,wine, dessert and two espresso served by the bartender Scott who was great, and boy can he mix a drink.:. I would definitely recommend coming here read more

We did return. Still fabulous. Attention to detail very impressive. Get as much variety as you can. This time an amuse-bouche of smoked strawberries set us on our way to a spectacular array of food hard to top. The scallops melted in our mouths like Oceanside dining, marinated melons incredible. Heirloom tomato salad great. And smoked curry maybe my favorite flavor done to perfection. read more

Braai House - Entranceway. - South African Near Me - Stratford, Ontario

When planning our getaway to Stratford, this of course included looking into restaurants, and Braai was one of my top choices to check out while here. Why? The concept of South African wood fire cooked food sounded so delicious and intriguing and unique, and not like anything I'd expect to encounter in Stratford or experienced much even in bigger cities. Braai has several outdoor seating options including in their lane way as well as upper back patio areas. As these were all full, hubby and I opted to get takeout. We enjoyed a nice discussion with one of the restaurant owners who provided helpful suggestions on what we should order as well as considerations for what would "travel" better. We opted to order the half rack of ribs and the Braai bowl. The Braai bowl consisted of fire roasted vegetables including cauliflower, red peppers, squash, and charred kale. It was served with roasted baby onions and over crispy seasoned rice. It's a vegetarian bowl but we're told additional proteins could be ordered with it. The half rack of pork ribs were very tasty. My only regret was that I would have thought they would be a bit more tender than they were. The flavours of were good. These were served over a bed of samp (maize) and beans. Braai's indoor dining area is gorgeous and a spot at their chef's counter facing the open kitchen would be amazing once indoor dining is permitted. The only downfall is the smokiness in the air (which is understandable given the mode of cooking). But definitely highly recommended! read more

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We ate at Braai Bar before theater and were very impressed. The menu is interesting, the drinks are fun and the ambience is great. Service was wonderful and our food did not disappoint. We will make this a regular stop during our annual Stratford trip. read more

Braai House - South African Near Me - Stratford, Ontario

This restaurant has been opened for over a year now, so I'm rather surprised they aren't on Yelp yet. They are located above The Alley (which was recently rebranded from Keystone Alley), a popular restaurant that's been around for awhile. First off, the decor is really beautiful. The restaurant is themed around South African bbq (braai). It would have been nice if more info was available on the menu about it. The menu has something for everyone with apps and shareable dishes, pizzas and mains, which mostly take advantage of the wood fire braai. They also have quite an extensive cocktails, wine and beer menu. We made reservations well in advance, but ended up being offered the patio or the chef's table. We opted to go with the latter and it was a great choice. Watching the young cooks work was a lot of fun and they were incredibly friendly. So even though our server forgot our order and at times it seems us in general, we didn't mind it too much. As this was our second dinner of the day (it what happens when everything is closed on Sunday and you're only visiting for the weekend!!), we decided to have just a main dish. I'm not always a fan of wood fire food. The smoky flavour can be over powering. But I really enjoyed the nuisance, layered flavours of my duck breast, brussels sprouts and sweet potato dish. The duck itself was cooked perfectly and reminded me of a nice cut of beef. The restaurant is a bit on the pricey side, but I think it's definitely worth it for the well executed and flavourful dishes, as well as the lively atmosphere. I hope to go back again next time we're in town. FYI - they charge $6 per table for PPE during COVID. But you get a small bottle of hand sanitizer with this surcharge. read more

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Service was excellent.We were assigned to the bar but were moved to the back sun deck which was wonderful. Food was excellent

Amazing food experience. Sat at the Chef's Table. Wait staff was well versed in wine knowledge and pairing. Quiet, upscale dining. Was able to experience a lot of different food choices. One of the Best Meals available in Stratford. read more

Highly recommend coming here, we had the brassicas appetizer, the Elgin pizza And a margarita pizza. I also got their mango horchata and got multiple of them they were so good. The music is also on point. Will definitely be coming back. read more

Braai House - Brassicas salad and espresso martini - South African Near Me - Stratford, Ontario

Service was great and the food was incredible! I will definitely go back there and recommend to others.

Fabulous!!! The staff obviously loves to be there. Food was amazing. The curry dish was gentle delicious comfort food. This was the downstairs bar which is a lovely ambience. Can hardly believe it just opened a week ago. Everything was perfect. Very pleasant. Best wishes! read more

This was an excellent intro to South African and other African cuisine. I tried foods that I had never eaten before. I don 't remeber the names because it was so foreign to me, but the tastes were wonderful. We have eaten 2 more times there. The service matched the food. I warm weather the 2 level deck in the back was cosy and comfortable, shielded from the street noise. read more

Unfortunately our experience here was not the best. Very small portion for a high price and almost all our food was cold. The only dish we all really liked was their potatoes. read more

A great place with fresh local Ingredients on the menu. The South African food on the menu is unique and sure to please. So delicious! The alley and patio are great options for outdoor diners. There is a great drink menu. Great for a dinner with friends or a romantic dinner. read more

Enjoyed excellent African food cooked over fire and the best seat in the house with a unique pass side view! The staff were happy to accommodate for my gluten free needs, each dish was carefully plated and the flavours were bold and exciting! If you are GF, be sure to try the cashew cheesecake made with a date and pecan base! Thank you, Braai House, for a special evening out! read more