Pregnancy cravings, Johannesburg scone quest.
When you’re pregnant, you’re really hungry, unless you’re feeling sick, all the time. For weird things, good things, bad things and things like scones. I mean I enjoy a good scone ordinarily, but pregnant, man I craved them bad!
So I followed my craving for the best scone all over Jo’burg (okay within a 10km radius of Rosebank) to 5 different restaurants/tea rooms on my quest. This was a very good excuse to eat a lot of scones whilst pregnant.
The Patisserie in the Post Office Center in Illovo. 8.5/10
Real good scone, crumbly on the outside, soft on the inside. Served with hand whipped cream, not that horrible stuff from a can (here’s looking at you Woolworths) Scones were R35 for 2 which is a major bonus. You will also likely be the youngest person in the restaurant which is always nice, and makes total sense that the grannies of Jo’burg would know where a damn good scone is.
Glenda’s Hyde Park 5/10
Probably the most disappointing scone yet on the challenge. Actual scone was weird and cakey and served with apricot jam (they didn’t have strawberry jam). I can’t tell you how sad this made me. Also very expensive for a below average scone.
Woolworths 8/10
Woolies was recommended to me a lot, for good reason, the scones ARE good, but in the way all Woolworths things are good, I’m not sure what was missing. The actual scone is great but they’re served with a stingy amount of cream from a can, one always needs to ask for more.
Hodges Colony Center on Jan Smuts Craighall Park 6/10
These are the largest scones I tasted on the quest. Quite moist and bit cake like but didn’t taste like bicarb which is my worst scone trait. Very good value for money, but too soft and wet and not crumbly enough on the exterior for my liking.
Drum roll… the best scone in Jo’burg is from…
Nice on 4th, Parkhurst 9/10
This scone is everything you want. Baked fresh every day, served with homemade jam and whipped mascarpone cream which is just delicious. The scone is perfect, crumbly on the outside and moist on the inside. The tea comes in a proper silver tea pot and the ambience and vibe is very European cafe culture on 4th Avenue in Parkhurst. They have a little kid’s nook with books and toys and games for children to use which is a lovely touch. They also make a killer lemon meringue, but that’s a quest for another day…
Disclaimer: I arrived unannounced and paid for all my own scones. Thank you for supporting and encouraging me with this very important scone work.
