A cliched tourist trap? Maybe, but this dining experience is deliciously fun

A tall, slender Mali puppet with a pursed-lipped yellow face and cloaked in a red kaftan welcomes my tour group in the dimly lit foyer. An unusual door greeter, the traditional figure's appearance sets the playful tone for the night. Stretching out its stick-thin wooden hands from under its shroud, it waves hungry crowds towards the dining room.

On paper, Cape Town's Gold Restaurant may read like a cliched tourist trap, a one-stop-shop fusing African cultures, cuisines, arts and performances from across the continent. And while it is somewhat true, this immersive dining experience is deliciously fun. It all starts with a drum roll; bongos replace bread for entree.

Guests seated in the middle of the two-storey restaurant are each armed with a small drum for a Djembe drumming session, ready to mimic rhythms set by three Central African percussionists onstage. But with constant tempo changes, my hands begin to turn red from intense pounding, as does my face, laughing from my apparent lack of coordination. The festive mode continues with roaming face painters drawing tribal lines on diners, me included.

There's never a dull moment in this dining hall, with singers, puppets and warrior dancers taking the stage. And as the entertainment continues to flow, so do the dishes. Drums down, we are in for a feast with a 14-course set menu featuring cuisines from across Africa.

I wish I had a cow's stomach, with each share plate delightfully distinct from the next, such as Namibian grilled ostrich fillet, Ethiopian sorghum grains and Cape Malay bobotie samosas. The latter, I seek out during my remaining two weeks in South Africa.

I ward off my oncoming food coma with a group dance on stage, concluding the night. I've been entertained, indulged in a double-digit food safari, and jubilantly interacted with other guests. Gold indeed. goldrestaurant.co.za