Mpho Masilo worked as a bartender and waiter for nearly 10 years before launching his new restaurant Ravioli in Maboneng, Johannesburg, earlier this month.
Ravioli makes all their pasta from scratch just like the Italian mamas do. Mpho Masilo draws inspiration from Italy and the passion behind feeding a family.
“We take inspiration from Italian Mamas, who lovingly feed their families only the best. For us; there is no substitute for freshness and flavour.”
The inspirational father of two started out as a bartender and waiter nearly 10 years ago. During that time, he was studying law through UNISA but had to drop out due to lack of funding. However, dropping out didn’t stop him from dreaming big. Mpho worked on a number of business ideas but they didn’t pan out due to inexperience and being taken advantage of.
Refusing to give up, he was given an opportunity to launch a cocktail bar at an already established restaurant. The very first night was a massive success as he made his entire monthly wage in one evening. The cocktail bar was the start of his breakthrough. He saved all the extra money he made and set up a mobile cocktail bar in 2012. The bar was a feature at many markets across Johannesburg.
He used the money he saved from the mobile bar to open a fully fledged bar known as the Shakers Bar. The popular bar was yet another rung up his ladder of success. Through dedicated saving, he managed to raise the capital needed to open Ravioli.
Today, he employs over 150 people across his two establishments and has trained 67 previously inexperienced people in the hospitality field. These 67 people now have brighter opportunities thanks to Mpho.
His love of food is evident in the detail of his menu. He has even encorporated South African meats into the Italian menu, serving steaks and burgers.
This isn’t Mpho’s final stop on his way up the ladder, he is now planning to open a second, more premium Shakers Bar.
“I am glad that law didn’t work out for me because I wouldn’t be where I am now,” – Mpho Masilo
The furture is bright!
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