Comments on: Best Italian Restaurants

By: Jess

Jess — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:03:11 +0000

Although not an Italian restaurant in any way, shape or form, i trully think the duck egg linguini a la carbonara served at The Roundhouse should have a mention. It’s just too good.

By: JPR

JPR — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 14:51:09 +0000

I completely agree Jurgen. Which is why I do not base my review on (only) my experience (though I only “arrived” there this year) but deploy other reviewers.

By: Jürgen Seier

Jürgen Seier — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:34:43 +0000

You have obviously only “arrived” at Magica Roma when you get off the menu dishes. Since asking for them does not necessarily work, and most of us are not celebrities, how do you achieve that? Is there a secret handshake?
It is problematic doing a critique on a restaurant based on off-menu items that few others have access to.

By: Casper Oelofsen

Casper Oelofsen — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:15:56 +0000

Magica Roma has jumped another notch for me last night. Pity there is not a 4 star rating! Ezio treated (all the food we had was not on the menu) us with a Pizza a la Dina (buffola mozzarella, fresh tomatoe), the lamb liver on pollenta and also parma ham, salami cakes. As maincourse we had risotto with fontina cheese and truffle oil. Accompanied by an incredible dark old testament Oxtail. Wow!! With all of this we also got informed about the JSE from Marco who also has a nack to suggest the perfect wine for these dishes. And to end all of it we were given a digestivo drink made from apple pits (recipe from ezio’s mother). Long live Magica Roma (off the menu)

By: ronnie

ronnie — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 09:12:13 +0000

In my opinion Il Leone serves the best Italian food I have had in Cape town. The pastas and antipasti are delicious. You can still enjoy the fresh ingredients without the dish being drowned in cream or tomato.I had a Linguine with fresh tomato, rocket and crayfish, I have never received such a generous portion of crayfish(when in season) in any dish anywhere! The service is also delightful and attentive.

By: jenny johnson

jenny johnson — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:32:23 +0000

I have just returned to A Tavola in Claremont and have to say i love the food, the service and the Proseco!

By: Franck

Franck — Sun, 03 May 2009 06:24:35 +0000

for the best pizza in Cape Town go to Massimo’s in Hout Bay (www.pizzaclub.co.za), it’s the real thing!
They also do the best tiramisù!

By: Angus

Angus — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:21:26 +0000

Hi Jean-Pierre

I sent a hefty critique of La Campagnola in response to that spat that went down earlier this year (only discovered your website and guide today but am looking forward to getting more involved). I’d give La Campagnola 1 star. It’s pleasant and a little above average but not superb.

I’ve never tried Pomodoro so, in fairness, I can’t rate it.

By: JPR

JPR — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 08:59:28 +0000

Thanks for the votes Angus. I also rate these two places highly – they both get 2.5 stars in the 2009 Rossouw’s Restaurants guide. What do you think of Pomodoro in Morningside? And La Campagnola in Bryanston?

By: Angus

Angus — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 08:49:19 +0000

I can heartily recommend Assagi and Mastrantonio in Johannesburg, both within walking distance of each other in Illovo.

Assagi does seriously glam Italian food in a rather unpretentious spot. It’s haunted by surgically-enhanced Sophia Laurens and old men with Ferraris and they know what they’re eating. There’s a fantastic lamb shank that’s been roasted a bit after the normal cooking and is served with its cooking juices almost as a consommé which was brilliant. They’re also famous for an asparagus and brie lasagna which left me misty-eyed and in love with the place.

Mastrantonio is a bit more business/mafia lunchy in a well-lit, white tablecloth kind of setting. They served amazing antipasti, especially the melanzane, and they are strong on the pasta and sauce combos. Look out for a geriatric guy who takes his lunch solo every day. It’s a quaint idiosyncracy that speaks volumes about their consistency.