Braai

3.8 (693)

$30 and under

African

329 West 51st Street, New York, NY 10019

OverviewReviewsDetails

About this restaurant

Innovative
Neighbourhood gem
Great for fine wines

Enjoy an exotic South African dining experience right in New York's Theater District at Braai. Its enchanting decor features reed-thatched ceilings, warm lighting and faux tree trunk-lined walls. Owners Tanya and Reshma Hira opened Braai for locals and travelers to experience the flavors of South African cuisine. This restaurant has a prix fixe menu for lunch hours with flavorful dishes like chicken bobotie with rice and lamb with mango chutney sandwiches. Dinner entrées feature plates of herb-crusted ostrich filets with curried coconut potatoes, oxtail stew and more. Braai has a full bar that serves wine and various cocktails. There is a private room for hosting events such as parties, business luncheons, receptions and more. This South African restaurant also offers catering services and welcomes reservations.

Not available on OpenTable

Unfortunately, this restaurant is not on the OpenTable booking network. To check availability, please contact them directly.

Is this your restaurant?

Claim this listing

There’s more to explore

Discover countless more restaurants like this one with our app.

Scan the QR code to discover countless more restaurants like this one with our app.

Open app

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
African, Global, International
Hours of Operation
Brunch: Sat-Sun: 11:00am-4:00pm Lunch:Mon-Fri 12:00pm-4:00pm Dinner: Daily 4:00pm - 12:00am
Website
http://www.braainyc.com/
Payment Options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Executive Chef
Armando Martinez
Private party facilities
Brandy/Private room available for bookings up to 12 and main dining floor accommodates private functions and corporate events.

Location
329 West 51st Street, New York, NY 10019
Area
Hell's Kitchen
Cross street
Between 8th and 9th Avenues
Parking Details
Parking lot on the block.
Public transport
C & E trains to 50th Street and 8th Avenue.
Additional
Banquet, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeaway, Weekend Brunch, Wine

Soup Of The DayUSD 8.00
ask your server for our chef's daily offering
Beetroot SaladUSD 12.00
thick slices of red beets with chopped onion and pineapple in a lemon lime dressing
Braai Salad "die Braai Slaai"USD 12.00
seasonal oranges, goat cheese & roasted garlic over rocket salad complimented by a rooibos herb dressing
Safari SaladUSD 16.00
dried apricots, mangos & kiwi over baby arugula with feta cheese in a mint-yoghurt dressing

Mini-Sosaties

Traditional skewered meats marinated overnight in cape malay spices

Vegetarian PaneerUSD 12.00
indian paneer cubes & assorted vegetables seasoned in malay spices
ChickenUSD 10.00
Dukkah crusted chicken with pineapple in an indian curry yogurt
MuttonUSD 16.00
tangy marinated lamb chunks, onions & tomatoes
OstrichUSD 18.00
ostrich meat, peppers, onions & apricots in sweet & sour tamarind
VenisonUSD 18.00
tender venison chunks, apricots, peppers & onion in a rooibos-syrup

Istatah

Braai Brie CheeseUSD 14.00
arugula salad, toasted bread & honey orange
Nandi NkukuUSD 9.00
char-grilled chicken wings, basted with tangy "monkey gland" sauce
Drie-hoekiesUSD 9.00
indian samoosas, mango atchar & fruit sambal with a blue cheese sauce
Fish CakesUSD 12.00
a salmon cake served with selection of caviar-mango salsa with peri-peri mayonnaise
Braai Burger-Chicken, Lamb, Ostrich (+$4) or VegUSD 12.00
our famous sliders with shitake mushroom, caramelized onion, baby greens & peri-mayo
Deviled Chicken LiversUSD 14.00
chicken livers in a spicy peri-peri gravy served with sliced bread
Braai'ed MushroomUSD 16.00
grilled portobello mushrooms, caramelized fennel & sauteed lemon spinach with saffron-pomegranate sauce
Rainbow Platter
(For 2,4,6 or 8 persons) our chefs selection of popular appetizers for your table
- Starting atUSD 18.00

Main Kos

Kaapse Vis ParcelUSD 16.00
deep fried fish filet, calamari and "slap" chips
Chicken Or Beef BobotieUSD 18.00
ground chicken, baked in malay curried chutney with an egg topping
Boerewors & Soweto SauceUSD 20.00
traditional beef & pork farmer's sausage with fresh corn polenta "pap" in a rich tomato gravy
Ribbetjies - Pork RibsUSD 20.00
char-grilled pork baby back ribs with soft spinach, truffle coconut polenta "pap" & rooibos-chocolate glaze
Prawns Peri PeriUSD 26.00
grilled mozambican prawns marinated in a peri-peri sauce & served with basmati-saffron rice
Horns & HoofUSD 28.00
braai'ed beef steak with jacket potatoes & sauteed seasonal vegetables
African Road RunnerUSD 30.00
pan-seared, herb-crusted ostrich filet with curried coconut mashed potatoes, green beans, pear onions with a blackberry peri-peri sauce
Peri-Peri Cornish HenUSD 28.00
grilled cornish hen basted in peri-peri marinade with truffle pap & sauteed spinach garnished with a gentle mint sauce
Seafood CasseroleUSD 28.00
a feast of assorted seafood marinated in a mild malay curry served on a bed of mixed vegetables and yello saffron rice
Oxtail StewUSD 24.00
hearty slow cooked oxtail portions stewed with mixed vegetables
Biryani's
traditional north indian spiced long grain fried basmati rice served with your choice of meat
- VegUSD 16.00
- ChickenUSD 18.00
- MuttonUSD 22.00
- SeafoodUSD 26.00

e'sides

"Slap" Chips (fries)USD 5.00
Mashed-Truffle Coconut PapUSD 5.00
LentilUSD 6.00
ChakalakaUSD 5.00
"Mielie" - CornUSD 5.00
Basmati-Saffron RiceUSD 6.00
CouscousUSD 5.00
RotisUSD 5.00
Umgushu-SampUSD 6.00
Sauteed Seasonal VegetablesUSD 9.00

Sambals

SambalsUSD 2.00
mango or apricot chutney, mint jelly, banna-coconut, cucumber-yogurt dill, mango-coriander salsa or "monkeygland" peanut

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at Braai.

3.8

(693)

3.9Food
3.6Service
3.8Ambience
0.1Value

Noise • Moderate

693 Reviews

OT
OpenTable Diner
New York City1 review
3.0
Dined on 29 May 2016
1. Overall 3
2. Food 4
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 3
It was a nice place to go with my family. I don't know that it's really authentic South African cuisine. The food was great though. The service was slow, but the servers were nice and recommended wines to go along with your meal of choice.
Is this helpful?
l
lesb Gold
Fort Lauderdale68 reviews
4.0
Dined on 24 April 2016
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 3
Good unusual food, good service. Worth going to.
Is this helpful?
F
Foodie16
Coastal Georgia9 reviews
5.0
Dined on 26 March 2016
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We decided to try something new while Visiting my daughter . We are glad we did . A very relaxing time. Food was excellent . Staff was attentive Definitely will eat here again
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York City1 review
5.0
Dined on 24 March 2016
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This place deserves rave reviews. Five star service, food, drinks and ambience.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner Gold
Ottawa8 reviews
2.0
Dined on 23 March 2016
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 3
I visited this place with my South African girlfriend on our trip to NYC. She was thrilled to finally eat a restaurant that reminded her of "back home". Wow, this place was a disappointed and she was furious and embarrassed at the same time. I kept quiet because I knew there wasn't much that I could say. We were told that Koeksisters was unavailable for the night as was Boerewors. That's like going to McDonald's and them being out of burgers and fries. The food that we did have was decent, at best. The Ostrich Sliders were the bright stars while everything else fell flat. The Slap Chips were perhaps the most amazing and I don't mean that in the traditional sense; basically it was French Fries...actually it was. If you Google Slap Chips, you will notice them to be thick and "meaty" and drenched in vinegar. The service was OK. Not exactly warm and friendly but maybe more aloof. The pricing was what you'd expect in the Theatre District. Oh well. We thought we learned our lesson with South African cuisine and decided to double down and try Madiba in Brooklyn. Heavens me, it was worse - believe it or not! They too didn't have Koeksisters....what are the odds of that? I could see the smoke coming out of my girlfriend's ears when I bit into pumpkin fritters which were half cooked and half raw. What ensued was a debate as to which restaurant was better or worse. In this duel for last place, we voted Braai as the better place. Sorry Braai, I really did want this to work out well....
Is this helpful?
d
dancingshrimp
Greater Boston15 reviews
4.0
Dined on 19 March 2016
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 4
Great for pre-show dining. Menu has unique offerings. There was an extensive list of daily specials which I ordered from. My grilled calamari over arugula was excellent. The other guests enjoyed their meals. It would be nice if they had more vegetarian offerings.
Is this helpful?
B
Bahamas25 Gold
New York City42 reviews
4.0
Dined on 16 March 2016
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
Sparse decor but interesting menu and great service.
Is this helpful?
L
Lanlan
Montreal / Quebec2 reviews
5.0
Dined on 12 March 2016
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
South African food is one of my son's favourite cuisines, so we decided to take him to this restaurant for his birthday dinner last Saturday, 12 March. After we ordered drinks and food, I discreetly ask Keame, our server (not sure if I spelt her name right) if she could arrange something special for my son as a surprise. At the end of the meal my son was presented a piece of their local desert cake with a fountain candle sparkler while the crew sang the birthday song in Afrikaan language. That just did it! On top of that we were very satisfied with the excellent food . I had the oxtail, my husband ordered seafood potje, my son had bobotje). Overall, the decor, ambiance and atmosphere made it a perfect setting for our special celebration. The wine selection slightly pricey but we found something familiar and to our liking. Thank you for the effort and gesture and for a memorable night! We be back next we're in NY!
Is this helpful?
JD
JessicaD Gold
Greater Boston45 reviews
4.0
Dined on 6 March 2016
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 4
We went here for dinner last night and the food was delicious! I had the avocado and rock lobster salad and my fiancé had a baked brie salad, both delicious. For our entrees we had the steak and ostrich special, both delicious. This is the second restaurant in a row we've been to (Medi, last weekend) that has an outdated menu online both for food and wine. Online they have an extensive South African wine list, with bottles starting at $30. At the restaurant, they only offered 10-15 bottles starting at $45. The service was slow, our waitress forgot our wine, but the food was delicious. Do not go if you are in a rush.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia County2 reviews
5.0
Dined on 21 February 2016
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Braii has always been my go-to weekend brunch spot in the city. Whether you're just with a friend or in a group, the outstanding atmosphere, service, and South African cuisine is hard to beat! They also have a generous mimosa special for brunch!
Is this helpful?

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
African, Global, International
Hours of Operation
Brunch: Sat-Sun: 11:00am-4:00pm Lunch:Mon-Fri 12:00pm-4:00pm Dinner: Daily 4:00pm - 12:00am
Website
http://www.braainyc.com/
Payment Options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Executive Chef
Armando Martinez
Private party facilities
Brandy/Private room available for bookings up to 12 and main dining floor accommodates private functions and corporate events.

Location
329 West 51st Street, New York, NY 10019
Area
Hell's Kitchen
Cross street
Between 8th and 9th Avenues
Parking Details
Parking lot on the block.
Public transport
C & E trains to 50th Street and 8th Avenue.
Additional
Banquet, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeaway, Weekend Brunch, Wine

Not available on OpenTable

Unfortunately, this restaurant is not on the OpenTable booking network. To check availability, please contact them directly.

Is this your restaurant?

Claim this listing

Braai

About this restaurant

Not available on OpenTable

There’s more to explore

Additional information

Sop En Slaai

Soup Of The DayUSD 8.00

Beetroot SaladUSD 12.00

Braai Salad "die Braai Slaai"USD 12.00

Safari SaladUSD 16.00

Mini-Sosaties

Vegetarian PaneerUSD 12.00

ChickenUSD 10.00

MuttonUSD 16.00

OstrichUSD 18.00

VenisonUSD 18.00

Istatah

Braai Brie CheeseUSD 14.00

Nandi NkukuUSD 9.00

Drie-hoekiesUSD 9.00

Fish CakesUSD 12.00

Braai Burger-Chicken, Lamb, Ostrich (+$4) or VegUSD 12.00

Deviled Chicken LiversUSD 14.00

Braai'ed MushroomUSD 16.00

Rainbow Platter

Main Kos

Kaapse Vis ParcelUSD 16.00

Chicken Or Beef BobotieUSD 18.00

Boerewors & Soweto SauceUSD 20.00

Ribbetjies - Pork RibsUSD 20.00

Prawns Peri PeriUSD 26.00

Horns & HoofUSD 28.00

African Road RunnerUSD 30.00

Peri-Peri Cornish HenUSD 28.00

Seafood CasseroleUSD 28.00

Oxtail StewUSD 24.00

Biryani's

e'sides

"Slap" Chips (fries)USD 5.00

Mashed-Truffle Coconut PapUSD 5.00

LentilUSD 6.00

ChakalakaUSD 5.00

"Mielie" - CornUSD 5.00

Basmati-Saffron RiceUSD 6.00

CouscousUSD 5.00

RotisUSD 5.00

Umgushu-SampUSD 6.00

Sauteed Seasonal VegetablesUSD 9.00

Sambals

SambalsUSD 2.00

Additional information

Not available on OpenTable