Soulsa Restaurant's star rising

As many businesses on Melville’s 7th Street flounder, Soulsa Restaurant has been a bright spot, and now owner Conway Falconer is reaching for new heights by quickly jumping on the chance to expand by taking over the adjacent store which was formerly occupied by an optometrist.

Soulsa is located near the corner of 5th Avenue, opposite the Space Guest House.

The newly acquired area will be used as a private dinning area, for an up-market, complementary space that would be used for corporate functions, film industry wrap parties, and other special occasions such as birthday parties and anniversaries, Falconer said.

Falconer attributes two elements to the success of his eatry. “We understand the (restaurant) business, and we don’t hesitate to find the best to do the job,” said Falconer, a veteran owner of bars in Yeoville (the Lizard Lounge) and Troyville (the Portal). Falconer has worked at various positions at Nandos, including as a member of the board of Nandos South Africa. He owns a Nandos franchise in Benoni.

Falconer’s wife and business partner, Natasha Pincus, is the designer for the space (as she has been for the main restaurant) and is now busy shopping for a chandelier. Work on the new dinning area is expected to take about a month.

Soula has recently created a major stir in fine dining circles by snaring major league chef Nicky Gibbs from a big name hotel, the Melrose Arch.

Gibbs, a 25-year veteran of the food business, has extensive experience in high profile cooking jobs. She has traveled abroad for work extensively and has cooked for Paul McCartney, Bono, and Moby, for parties for MTV Europe, as well as cruise liner the QE 2.

Soulsa fans can get on the restaurant's email list by subscribing at soulsa@worldisbeautiful.co.za