Sandton’s modern-Italian eatery, SINN, unveiled a new menu just in time for Sandton’s most indulgent season.

• SINN’s new menu blends modern Italian flair with daring creativity that invites a return visit long after the meal ends.
• A glowing red bar, moody interiors, and projection-lit ceilings transform dining into a theatrical experience.
• Despite a strained service under pressure, the food quality at SINN consistently impressed throughout the evening.
• Visit www.sandtontimes.co.za for more stories.

Tucked within the striking LXX Sandhurst centre, SINN has become a name synonymous with indulgence in Sandton’s dining scene. In just its first year, the luxury modern Italian restaurant has captivated guests with a food experience as bold and stylish as its interiors. Now, as Sandton prepares for the glittering festive season, SINN has revealed a new menu – contemporary, daring, and well-timed for a city that knows how to celebrate.

A Night To Remember

On a bustling Thursday evening, one of the week’s prime dining slots, SINN opened its doors to selected media, friends, family, and tastemakers eager to be among the first to sample the new menu. The atmosphere was buzzing, the dining room filled with the hum of anticipation, as guests discovered what the kitchen had been quietly fine-tuning.

Starters That Set The Tone

The opening courses revealed an attention to detail and balance that set the stage for the evening. The Woodfired Salmon Pâté, delicately roasted and folded into lemon cream cheese, was lifted with capers, radish, and spring onion, and paired beautifully with charred dill bruschetta. The Pear & Pancetta Carpaccio was another highlight – refreshing, light, and layered with texture. Sliced pear, crisp pancetta, blue cheese crumb, and roasted hazelnuts came together under a mint and garlic vinaigrette, a combination that felt both classic and inventive.

Vegetarians were treated to the Tomato Chilli Stracciatella, a rich and creamy dish that played like a symphony on the palate. The blend of confit tomatoes, basil, citrus hot honey, cranberries, and toasted sesame pistachio crumb, served with grilled focaccia, proved that indulgence need not rely on meat or seafood.

Pizza With A Twist

The pizzas continued the Italian narrative but with SINN’s modern edge. The Pancetta, topped with baby spinach, feta, and pressed pork belly, was a hearty, flavour-forward option, while the Caprese, with burrata, heirloom tomatoes, garlic, basil oil, and parmesan bruschetta, offered the comfort of an all-time classic, executed with restraint and respect for tradition.

Main Attractions

The mains showed the breadth of SINN’s culinary ambition. The Manzo al Cognac, featuring Martell Blue Swift slow-roasted shortrib with parmesan mashed potatoes and baby carrots, may feel like a colder months’ dish, but its generous portion and layered flavour made it a stand-out.

Vegetarians again had thoughtful options, including the Peppered Polenta, with fried parmesan polenta topped by a pepper ragù and herb sugo, and the Artichoke & Truffle Ravioli, filled with marinated artichokes and truffle, served on parmesan vellutata with a drizzle of truffle oil. The ravioli offered an interplay of hot and cold textures, an inventive approach that was intriguing.

Perhaps the most decadent dish of the evening was the Lobster ‘Mac’ & Cheese. Mezzi rigatoni in a creamy cheese sauce, topped with lemon pangratatto and crowned by a butter confit lobster tail, felt like the kind of indulgence that guests will return to again and again.

A Sweet Finale

Desserts did not disappoint. SINN’s Tiramisu comes in multiple variations – Traditional, Dulce de Leche, and Nutella. The latter, with its unmistakable hazelnut chocolate flavour, was an instant crowd favourite and best enjoyed shared. The Pistachio Gelato, studded with real nut pieces, was equally worth a return visit.

Drinks To Match The Mood

The indulgence extends to the bar, where cocktails are crafted with as much artistry as the food. Highlights include the Cheeky Devil, a fiery martini glass presentation adorned with fresh chillies, perfect for guests who like their evening to begin with a spark. Seasonal gelato and sorbet selections, paired with carefully curated wines and spirits, complete the experience.

An Atmosphere Of Indulgence

SINN is as much about atmosphere as it is about cuisine. With moody interiors, a glowing red bar, and ceilings brought to life with projection lighting, the restaurant feels theatrical, almost cinematic. It is a stage on which Sandton’s diners gather to celebrate, whether the occasion is intimate or festive. Every detail, from the emblem etched with a circle of Italian charms to the carefully chosen textures and lighting, underscores a philosophy that indulgence is not an afterthought.

The Experience: Indulgence With A Few Hiccups

If the food and drink dazzled, the service was strained under the weight of a packed house. Courses arrived at a patience-testing pace between plates, leaving even the slowest diners restless. The kitchen and floor staff, tested by the demand of a full house eager to taste everything, could not quite keep up with the theatre of it all. Still, it would be unfair to judge SINN solely on one night’s operational challenges. The flavours, plating, and creativity were exceptional – a clear demonstration of a kitchen that knows its craft. The question remains not of what comes out of the kitchen, but how swiftly it can arrive at the table.

While the food delivered with flair, the service on the evening did eventually – a reflection, perhaps, of the overwhelming demand from diners eager to taste the new menu. Courses took longer than expected, stretching the dining experience, though it would be a shame to let one operational challenge overshadow the kitchen’s talent and creativity.

A Table For The Season

As Johannesburg slides into the year’s most decadent months, SINN is perfectly poised. With its bold menu, stylish interiors, and a philosophy rooted in indulgence, it offers not just a meal, but an occasion. A place to gather, celebrate, and savour – a new season of dining in Sandton. As Sandton slides into its most decadent months, SINN looks to position itself as the city’s table of choice for celebrations. Its new modern Italian menu is both bold and indulgent, a reflection of a restaurant unafraid to play with tradition while serving it in unapologetically memorable fashion.

Yes, the service may still need to find its rhythm when faced with the city’s heaving festive crowds. But when the food sings as loudly as it did that Thursday night, SINN proves that indulgence, taken seriously, is its own form of luxury. In Sandton, a city that thrives on spectacle, SINN has found its place: a restaurant that feeds both appetite and atmosphere, inviting guests to come hungry – and leave a little guilty of too much pleasure.

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