There’s something special about a cosy restaurant and a beautifully made pasta next to an ice-cold martini. In my opinion, it’s even more special on a weeknight. Recently, I took a friend to my favourite local, PRON, in Linden. After silently disappearing into a plate of potstickers, he looked up and said, “This feels like Friday!” Mission accomplished.

For most of my adult life, I have been a vocal evangelist for the midweek dinner date, and for the last decade in Johannesburg, I have recommitted to this religion. It’s the early Pablo House dinner and sunset view after a long day at work, the joy of three courses at Embarc when the only fine thing about your day was the dining, or an urgent debrief with a friend over beetroot tacos at La Boqueria.

In a nightlife scene so often defined by the intensity of the early AM hours, I remain committed to my moment of communion in a restaurant, the seat at the table reminding you that living does not start on Friday and end with the Sunday blues. But if you don’t believe me, I bet you’ll believe Anthony Bourdain. Speaking to The New Yorker, he once shared: “The good stuff comes in on Tuesday: the seafood is fresh, the supply of prepared food is new, and the chef, presumably, is relaxed after his day off. Most chefs don’t work on Monday.”

But it’s not just about fresher ingredients and a refreshed chef – it’s the joy of reclaiming time. It’s about the rebellion of something patient, selfish and delicious on a day of the week you’re supposed to be eating clean or stressing about the day at work or, I don’t know, watching yet another true crime documentary. It’s the freedom to choose a soft life, a sinfully good cocktail and a quiet table in some corner of Sandton or the city.

And as a real connoisseur of the midweek dinner, I know what works and what doesn’t. Restaurants that have their “A-Team” working even on quiet days? Extra points. Putting one unbeatable special on the menu that has you rebounding back into your seat? Iconic. Closing off unused sections to make the space more intimate? Top tier. On the other hand, treating Thursday like the unwanted shift and making your diner feel like an imposition? Absolutely not.

Once again, though, don’t just take my word for it. In 2024, dining experts OpenTable shared the real benefits of dining out midweek – for diners and for the restaurants themselves.

Dining out during the week offers several surprising pros, AKA reasons to listen to me and do it: restaurants are often less crowded, service is quicker, and many spots offer midweek specials or discounts. It’s also a great way to break routine, boost your mood, and support local businesses during their quieter hours. And, in most cases, it’s just easier to get a table.

If you go often enough, the staff may even give you “your table”. There’s nothing more main character than that.

And of course, in Johannesburg, where you can go from delicate plating to deep house in seconds, capturing the midweek mood is crucial. A little music, not too much light, and for the love of all things delicious, hold the booming MC.

Much is said about the city’s nightlife, and there’s no doubt that the closure of many iconic locations has dampened the mood. But you can still get a Pantry pizza at 2AM, the East Rand is peppered with eateries and bakeries for those willing to take the drive, and new food collectives and pop-ups (shout out to Blue Table Project and Beijing Opera) mean that no two weeks are the same. As they so often say on TikTok: being bored in South Africa is a choice.

Whether you’re tired of staring into the bolognaise void, need a little upgraded solo time, or can’t bear day four of your meal-prepped bento box, make the reservation. Put on the dinner party look, wear the good perfume and indulge in the magic that lives in the middle of the week.

Take a look at the list of Eat Out star restaurants and start making your reservations!