Along one of the most beautiful streets in the East of Johannesburg sits one of my favourite brunch spots, The Victorian Secret.
Found in the middle of a suburb in Benoni, The Victorian Secret seems to go against its name sake, being a popular among the residents of its surrounding areas, with patrons constantly moving in and out, whether it be for a quick trip to the bakery or to sit down for a meal.
(For full transparency I, Connor, am taking over for this review as Steph has worked for The Victorian Secret in the bakery.)
The restaurant operates out of a beautiful Victorian era house, from which it takes the name.
When arriving, you are greeted by friendly staff, you are given the option of indoor seating within the grand Victorian House, or outside in the garden, shaded by a tall oak tree.
We were joined by our friends, Dylan and Courtney, both for good company and as a way to combat our bias.
Our visit started with a Peanut butter milkshake. These are no frills, straight to the goodness, and personally don’t last very long.
Looking at the menu you will find bits of flavour text below the dish’s name, like the ‘Alo Guv’ner! which promises an extra piece of bacon if ordered in an English accent. The tongue in cheek quips make the menu that more cozy and friendly.
As for food, Steph had the Humphrey Bogart, chicken skewers marinated in a yogurt and herb dressing on a bed of bejeweled couscous with mint and orange. The chicken was moist, soft and flavourful, the couscous prepared perfectly and the flat bread fresh.
Dylan had the King George, a bacon,mozzarella and corn flapjack stack topped with slices bacon and drizzled with maple syrup. This was where the only misstep in our visit occurred, though very minor. Dylan had asked for no maple syrup but the dish arrived with said maple syrup present.
The King George is a one of a kind dish, turning what is traditionally a sweet treat into a great savoury breakfast dish.
Courtney had the Union Jack, a salad consisting of grilled chicken breast mixed with caramelized onion, feta and avocado on a bed of leaves drizzled with balsamic glaze. We heard nothing but happy comments from Courtney.
I had the Queen Victoria, a potato rosti topped with bacon and poached egg drizzled with hollandaise sauce along with roasted tomatoes. Now when I think of the perfect brunch meal, this is it. Beautifully melding together tastes and textures, The Queen Victoria does everything right, from the perfectly poached egg to the crisp rosti beneath.
From there we moved to the artisan bakery. It is attached to the side of the main building, yet walled off from the main indoor seating area, allowing a bit more space for you to ponder whether you’ll take a slice of cake or the whole thing all together.
When entering into the bakery you are met with more smiling facings (and not just from the customers), and a look into their kitchen, giving you insight into how the magic – that is their divine treats – happens.
The bakery has a wide selection of baked delights, from fresh bread to macarons and mini lemon meringue tartlets (which I will admit is one of the reasons for my continued existence.)
Not only do their savoury foods and menu items put a standard in place, the artisan bakery completely turns this on its head. The bakery prides itself on not only putting out beautifully created and delicious treats like the macarons, espresso brownies and the famous scones for their fridge as well as handmade cakes for birthdays, christenings and weddings.
For those so inclined, there are gluten free, dairy free and banting options available! Their menu is also set in such a way that substitutions for any dietary requirements are an option.
The bakery also coordinates the high teas which feature sweet and savoury items, perfect for baby showers, bridal parties and birthdays!
I am never able to leave the bakery unburdened by a large brown paper bag filled with half of their presented array and a bank account in disrepair.
In closing, The Victorian Secret is an amazing restaurant, with great service and even greater food. If you ever find yourself in the East, I highly recommend heading to The Victorian Secret, if not for a meal then for a trip to the bakery (those lemon meringue tartlets though...). It really is the best kept secret in Benoni (sort of).
Stay hungry for adventure, friends.
Connor and Steph
5/5 Queen Mum’s