Giorgio Nava 

As the best import from Milan since Armani, this particular Giorgio is an Italian who has changed the face of Milanese cooking in Cape Town. Starting off his empire with 95 on Keerom, now a culinary institution in Cape Town, and then Carne, which is entirely dedicated to meat and described as “Its so sexy, you want to have sex with the walls!” by restaurateur Richard Griffin, these two fine dining restaurants alone proved to the foodies of the Cape that this Italian was here to stay. We wanted to find out more about his unique business approach and of course more about his casual eateries of Mozzarella Bar, The Pie Bar, Café Milano and Down South.

There is a consistent philosophy that runs through all your restaurants, and that is one of creating a unique dining experience.  What was your initial thinking behind this?

Mozzarella Bar, the Pie Bar and Down South are very different to 95 (95 on Keerom) and Carne. They have a more relaxed and comfortable feel to them.  With Down South we are trying to move away from fine dining and offer some salsa and spice.  I’ve realized South Africans like sauce!  Like Americans, sauce is needed on everything!  The fact that it is the first type of restaurant of its kind, is also very telling. We also have very good locations near the young and trendy spots and all our stores are accessible for people to get to.  With the Pie Bar we are offering a more homemade, take-away vibe where you can sit and enjoy good home-cooked food.  Our pies are all made on site.  We also try and use the best ingredients at each restaurant so we can offer clients good quality for a reasonable price.

Cape Town is synonymous for producing some of SA’s best restaurants, however it is also somewhat known for restaurants closing down after a year or two.  So, why the restaurant business for you? And what is your winning formula as your restaurants seem to be standing the test of time!

I came to South Africa 10 years ago to set up a shop like Mozzarella but no one was interested then, they weren’t even sure what mozzarella was, and we closed after three months.  Now a few years later we have a new concept and Capetonians are finally catching on.  It is the first Italian store of its kind in South Africa. In Europe it is difficult to emerge as it has all been done before but here people are very open and so we are doing well.

It is a tough, very competitive market out there and the industry is small. Over 120 restaurants closed last year in Cape Town but then 100 more opened. Many people think it is easy to come here and cook a steak on a grill and sell it. And many open without any experience. I think ambiance, good service and quality food is the drawing card for any restaurant to keep it going.  And I think the secret to any good restaurant is the staff.  We work 18 hour days to train them, mainly at Keerom and then they move on to our respective restaurants.  They are interested and willing to learn and we now have about 126 staff members who work very hard to ensure our customers receive a top service.  I have learnt over the years that if you pay your staff well, they will work hard for you.

If you are not eating at any of your own restaurants, where do you choose to eat and why? And what is your favourite dish?

I hardly ever eat anywhere else but do enjoy and have been to La Colombe and Bizerca.  At Carne I would definitely get the T-Bone while at Down South the ribs and prawn combo is a definite winner! At the Pie Bar I would go for our homemade chicken pie and at Café Milano our pasta dishes are amazing!

What do you enjoy most about living in Cape Town?

I love that there are so many opportunities and the space here in Cape Town. I live in Camps Bay and believe that I am very lucky to wake up each morning there and walk my dogs.  I enjoy life here!

Dead or alive – if you could invite anyone for dinner who would it be and why?

I would have to honestly say, a dinner with all my friends would be wonderful because I never see them as I am always working. I usually never ever take a night off because my work is my first love.  Sometimes I have Sunday free but then I don’t want to socialize, and would prefer some alone time at home and with my dogs.

What our team had to say: Why Giorgio

Chantal

I absolutely love Mozzarella’s coffee and custard croissants!  They are too die for and the fact that we work so nearby does not help matters! 

Christina

I love contemporary Italian cuisine and fancy interior design – so it’s Giorgio’s establishments for me any time!

Danielle

This is a hard one but I think I will have to go for Café Milano.  Just adore their fruit tarts and the bombolones are delish!  Enough to satisfy my sweet tooth!

Richard

I personally loved Carne.  If meat is your treat, then this is definately one place to visit in Cape Town.  I had the best rib eye steak I’ve ever had there!

Candice

I love Mozzarella for many reasons.  The food is uncomplicated, tasty and fresh. They are always buzzing and the ice coffee is beyond amazing!

Mandi

I can’t decide!  I love love love Carne, Mozzarella and Café Milano.  What can I say; if we are not at Milano every Sunday morning then our weekend is not the same!

Hannes

Mozzarella’s is my favourite spot for a quick Tuesday night dinner before I go to class after work.  By then, the otherwise bustling sidewalk café is empty and I can sit in peace to read the newspaper and savour their delicious deep fried phyllo parcels with ham and mozzarella cheese.  This dish goes down equally well in the morning after a big night out!

With both of them currently operating at least five successful restaurants each in Cape Town, Richard Griffin and Giorgio Nava can without a doubt be considered as two of the most industrious Restaurateurs in the Mother City.

The foodie team at Travel Concepts is always on the look out for inspiring experiences and genuine local knowledge of where international visitors to our shores should wine and dine. So we took the time to sit down and have a chat with these interesting gents to find out what really makes them – and their restaurants- truly tick.

Richard Griffin

With a Masters with honours from the Cordon Bleu School in London you’d be easily fooled to think that this person was the type who donned a stiff tie and suit to work on a daily basis. Quite the contrary actually. Richard exudes everything that you would associate with the Madame Zingara philosophy: fun, laughter, passion, and enthusiasm with flair. Richard is the ultimate hedonist and the mastermind and energy behind Cape Town’s most loved bohemian spots like Madame Zingara, Café Mozart, The Bombay Bicycle Club, Sidewalk Café and now the much loved Café Paradiso.

Tell us about Madame Zingara, what is the story behind it and how is it going?

Madame Zingara was a very special place that will always conjure up special memories for me and I think many others.  It had such a brilliant bohemian vibe about it.  All the glitz and glamour, the hedonistic environment – people were attracted to that I think because it was a momentary break from their current day to day lives.  It was one of those institutions in Cape Town that if you went there once, you almost certainly had to go again.  After the fire and then the liquidation it was sad but we all evolve and move on. With the Spiegel tent – which is one of the last remaining Mirror Tents in the world – we have been able to bring the show back to Cape Town and Johannesburg audiences once again. The Tent of Dreams, Victoria as we fondly call her, is in Durban at the moment from June to August 2011.

There is a consistent philosophy that runs through all your restaurants, and that is one of creating a unique dining experience.  What was your initial thinking behind this?

Each of our restaurants is very different and unique.  At Paradiso, the staff are part of the experience.  They have attitude, are fun and are always very enthusiastic.  We are selling a tonic – this makes for an experience that one will not forget.  Service is extremely lacking in our industry and this is something we try to focus on and perfect at Paradiso and the other restaurants.  At Paradiso we have a child friendly atmosphere which many comment on and appreciate.  Finding somewhere to eat with the kids can sometimes be quite a challenge!

We’ve also brought back the original chef and his wife who started at Paradiso 26 years ago.  With them come all the original recipes that made Paradiso the institution that it was.  We still make everything by hand from the pasta to the butter, to the bread.  We really put our heart and soul into everything we do there, from the service, to the food, to the atmosphere.  It is all about food but emotions definitely factor into it.

Cape Town is synonymous for producing some of South Africa’s best restaurants, however it is also somewhat known for restaurants closing down after a year or two.  So, why the restaurant business for you? And what is your winning formula as your restaurants seem to be standing the test of time.

I have been in the hospitality industry since I was 13 years old and I am now 38. It was and is my life. I was inspired by the women who I grew up with in Cape Town and who inspired many a generation of us to enter the industry.  That is why I do this. As to our winning recipe, I think it is our staff.  I have had some staff work for me for many years and we train them and allow them to move them “up the food chain”.  We expand on our people, not our financials.  I think that’s what makes us work.  We have almost 236 staff members and are very proud of the wage contribution we give them.  Our growth is mainly due to our staff and their diligence and it seems to be working.  We bring in over 1500 clients per day across all the restaurants!  I tell my staff, we are only as good as our last shift!  Focus on everything, the entire experience.

If you are not eating at any of your own restaurants, where do you choose to eat and why? And what is your favourite dish?

I rarely eat out at other places; I don’t want my mind to be contaminated with other people’s food and product.  But I do eat occasionally at the Cook Shop. Usually though it’s at one of our restaurants.  The Buffet at Mozart’s is amazing and at R40 for lunch, a steal! 

As is the coffee, the only thing that keeps one alive at seven in the morning!  At Sidewalk Café we make the best burger – chicken, bacon and chilli.  You cannot forget the chilli! And then definitely the ribs at Bombay Bicycle Club and at Paradiso, the salt and pepper calamari.

What do you enjoy most about living in Cape Town?

I absolutely love Cape Town!  People do their own thing here and are not influenced by any other city’s culture.  I visit Joburg often so I can say that it is a fantastic place but when it comes to dining out, the options are not there.  If you want to chow down there you usually have to be near a shopping centre!  There is no focus there, but things are changing.  I am finding little pockets of soul in Joburg like the Arts on Main where one doesn’t have to deal with the mass market.

Dead or alive – if you could invite anyone for dinner who would it be and why?

Definitely Leanne Manas, I don’t know why but I just love her!  Brad Pitt purely because he’s gorgeous. Graham Norton, maybe Sandra Bullock, we’ll need some hot chicks around the table. Oh and Chris von Ulmenstein from the Whale Cottage! Then I would like Giorgio Nava to cook and serve us. Now that would be a party!

What our team had to say: Why Richard

Kate

I love Café Paradiso for many reasons. It’s one of the best settings in Cape Town for any occasion from a first date to first anniversary; the waiters are always amusing and full of beans, and lastly every dish on the menu has that familiar “home-cooked” sentiment with every mouthful!  

Hannes

I remember this restaurant from my days at university when it was the hot spot for an unbeatable Sunday Mediterranean buffet lunch.  These days, its perfect for sipping on a glass of wine in the shade of a Pine Oak tree while watching Table Mountain disappear in the dusk, or tucking into one of their daily specials around a cosy fire in the private courtyard behind the main restaurant.  The interior is normally full and quite lively, so this is the ideal place for dinner with a group of friends. 

Mandi

I love Paradiso for its kid friendly perks: story time, pizza making in the kitchen, excellent kiddies meals and its courtyard garden (a rare find in the Bowl). 

Look out for the next part in our Cape Town Restaurant Heavyweights feature where we share with you our chat with Giorgio Nava of Mozzarella fame!

If you want to taste top notch and real African food whilst in Cape Town (and we suggest you should!) then The Africa Café is the place to be seen.  A long time favourite and popular haunt for visitors from across the globe as well as locals alike, our MD Christina recently dropped in for lunch with founder Portia de Smit.

What started as a simple idea 20 years ago, run from the founder’s private dining room – has blossomed into a culinary landmark for true African cuisine in the Mother City.  Featuring a culinary journey from across the continent from countries like Ethiopia, Mozambique, Senegal, Morocco and of course South Africa, their sumptuous authentic African dishes make the Africa Cafe a culinary connoisseur’s paradise.

With a recently introduced and highly popular lunch menu, served by staff in traditional African dress – you’ll experience a large variety of African dishes from salads, to tapas and dips.  The cafe also offers healthy breakfasts and lunches, as well as cake, coffee, and fresh fruit smoothies to real home-baked desserts. The latest addition to their menu is the Pineapple cake, which is sublime!

The cafe also has their own handmade ceramics collection that is exported worldwide and made in their own studio.

What you can definitely be sure of is you’ll come back for more – the passionate host and founder Portia de Smit says, “As a family run restaurant the flavours, art and service is a collaboration of joint passion, interests and inspiration. We work to bring a culmination of continental flavours and spices into the naturalistic way of preparing, cooking and presenting food that is indigenous to Africa. My take on African food is constantly evolving, it’s fresh, honest, and full of true heart, and this is how I’ve always wanted to invite people into my African eating experience.” 

So if you happen to be in the neighbourhood run on down to the Africa Cafe on Shortmarket Street in Cape Town. You might find us there with a papaya Mala Mala Tequila cocktail in hand!

Renowned for its culinary pleasures, Franschhoek is getting a new and exciting addition to its food and wine portfolio.  Internationally-renowned chef Liam Tomlin will launch a cookery school in conjunction with Leopard’s Leap wine estate and wines near the end of 2011. 

After the roaring success of Tomlin’s Chef’s Warehouse cookery school in Cape Town, the school in Franschhoek will be offering culinary enthusiasts of all ages a wide range of classes, ranging from morning classes to themed courses, presented by the best chefs and culinary experts in the industry.  The school will also host international guest chefs from around the world on a regular basis.

Along with the cookery school and a store that will sell a wide range of quality kitchen products, giving participants the necessary tools to test their new-found skills at home after their class has ended, the new Leopard’s Leap wine estate will also boast a tasting room, delicatessen and wine sales facility.

Sounds like something truly new and spectacular for the Franschhoek region.  Definately gets a thumbs up from us!

The restaurant is the latest addition to this trendy area and offers over 100 different varieties of wine to sample as well as featuring a Mediterranean-inspired tapas menu which changes every two weeks.

After reading her blog post, it sounds as though her visit was memorable!  Click here to read her review of this new and exciting restaurant.

Jealous we are!

CHANTAL AND YOLANDE

We both agree that Beluga in Green Point is a winner! The restaurant has a great ambiance and atmosphere, we love the fact that you can sit outside and enjoy the breeze and vibe of the city. It’s the perfect spot for a late night summer dinner!  The sushi bar is headed by Master sushi chef Alan Haung who is dedicated to freshness and experiments with the most exotic ingredients that make up Beluga’s world famed menu.  The restaurant also has great specials available on sushi and cocktail combos which are delicious!  Chantal says that her favourite dish is the Blue Platter which consists of sashimi, California rolls, nigiri, salmon roses and tuna. It is 26 pieces of pure heaven and offers a great variety of sushi on one platter.  Enough to keep everyone happy!

KATE

Hongs at Stadium on Main in Claremont is a complete “hole-in-the-wall” restaurant – out of town and one of those restaurants that you don’t visit for the vibe, décor and service, but the sushi on the other hand is fantastic! Not only is it incredible value for money, the sushi is always fresh and extremely delicious. I am convinced that they put MSG or something into it as it is that scrumptious and addictive! The fashion sandwiches are colossal – yet just right and their sushi platters are very creatively put together; they are always open if you’d like to chop and change them slightly. My recommendation would be the Hong’s Gift. It is a steal at about R42, for 3 large pieces which I always ask them to cut in half to create six edible portions as well as the Two Oceans Platter which I always share with a friend. These days I no longer crave sushi, but I crave “Hong’s” instead.

KIM, RICHARD AND CHRISTINA

Kim, Richard and Christina have all chosen the trendy Willoughby and Co. at the Waterfront as their pick.  All love the hip and happening pace of the Waterfront, to Capetonians Willoughby’s is a real institution. Recently renovated it is always full of locals and tourists alike and you can now sit at counters around the different sushi stations or at tables in the concourse which is great for people watching.  Willoughbys has an extensive range of seafood, sushi and Japanese delights, which are fresh, well-prepared and come in generous portions.  Also well-priced and extremely popular, you need to get there early if you wish to grab a seat!  Richard loves their Hot Rock ‘n Roll sushi while Kim favours their Rainbow Roll Reloaded which are big favourites on the menu. The fact that one can do a spot of shopping beforehand makes it even more convenient. Shopping and sushi all rolled into one! Perfect!

CANDICE

I come from the Southern Suburbs and don’t want to travel too far to get my sushi fix.  JB Rivers in Cavendish Square and Wasabi in Constantia Village are perfectly situated for me and their sushi is fresh and delicious! My favourites are the prawn fashion sandwiches at JB Rivers, but at Wasabi they make me the Wasabi Sushi Gift which is a mini salmon fashion sandwich wrapped in a seaweed parcel topped with mayo.  It is the most amazing sushi that is not only beautifully presented but tastes good as well!

DANIELLE

I have never been a fan of sushi until I went to the Cape Town Fish Market in the Waterfront with my cousin one evening and was forced into eating their maki and fashion sandwiches.  I was impressed and so wanted more! For me the key is freshness and taste, and you get both of these at the Cape Town Fish Market.  Each piece of sushi is prepared by a trained Japanese sushi chef so you know you are getting quality for your buck.  And you have the option of sitting down to order or choosing your pick off the conveyor belt. I particularly like the Waterfront branch which is chilled and relaxed, with chic touches and lots of attitude.  I have been converted – I am now an official sushi lover!

MANDI

My choice is definitely Kyoto Gardens just off Kloof Street.  The restaurant is small and beautiful, and even has relaxing water features, in the loos (some of the best I have ever seen!) The sushi is very fresh and the choices are original.  They even specially fly in real wasabi root from Tokyo that you can grate over your dish yourself instead of using that bright green paste! My favourite dish beside the sushi is a salad called Ecstasy! It has wilted spinach, clams, prawns, shitake mushrooms, and is just absolutely divine! Kyoto is a special experience and I highly recommended it. 

HANNES

A place in Cape Town where I can live out my wildest seafood fantasies is the amazingly Asian Wakame and her sister restaurant Wafu in Mouille Point.  This is the perfect spot for a sinful Sunday lunch that starts at 11h00 and ends at 21h30.  I always have the same – pretty much everything on the sushi and starters lists.  Chart toppers here include the likes of Bon Bon’s Gift – a spicy peppadew and prawn fashion sandwich; miso soup; ginger chicken dumplings and crispy aromatic duck pancakes.  The one thing I cannot do without though is the calamari with chilli, lime and spring onion.  It’s either deep fired or tempura-ed or something – I’ve actually never cared to ask simply because it’s just so deliciously chewy and crispy that I can’t even find a gap to breathe – let alone attempt to speak!  Also on offer, is a variety of baked and grilled mains as well as salads, stir fries and sushi platters.  They’re all great, but, alas, nothing beats the view.  If you’re looking to find a seat on the Wafu roof terrace where the town’s young and trendy will no doubt be sipping on cocktails, you’ll need to go early.  If that sounds a bit daunting, make sure you secure a table downstairs as close as possible to the window so you can feel the sea breeze on your satisfied belly and lazy eyelids.

And there you have it! Our top picks of where to grab some top notch sushi in the Mother City! 

Do you have a favourite Sushi restaurant that we haven’t mentioned above? Let us know about it and why you love it so much!

Highlight one was that Luke Dale-Roberts, previously the head chef at La Colombe (consistently voted as South Africa’s top restaurant and last year voted 12^th in the world) announced the launch of his brave new venture THE TEST KITCHEN.

Highlight number two (and the biggest of all) was that we were amongst the first 30 people to taste his new menus after being invited to a special  pre-opening tasting night. How we got on this A list who knows, who cares, but for somebody of Luke’s calibre we certainly didn’t mind being the guinea pigs, especially when a treat like this is the equivalent as getting an invite to the Vanity Fair Oscars after party.

In his invitation Luke described his new venture as a “creative space for his team to explore the relationship between art and food, where time will be split between developing new dishes, researching flavour combinations and designs, and of course operating an intimate dining venue offering guests something quite out of the ordinary”.

Luke has also collaborated with some of South Africa’s most talented designers and artists in an effort to bring a wholly original sensory dining experience to his restaurant scene. So with expectations high and excitement at fever pitch we arrived at the Test Kitchen located in Cape Town’s Old Biscuit Mill development in Woodstock.

Our first impression was how small the restaurant was with seating for only thirty diners, but the interior was very intimate and stylish. It has a rustic feel with lots of thick wood, metals, red brick and amazing but subtle lighting which created a really great atmosphere. With tables surrounding an open plan kitchen we also got an inside look into how the food is prepared.

With select artwork and designer ceramics the surroundings then were fabulous, but the food was simply fantastic and experimental and Luke really has taken his La Colombe experience to a different level. We were treated to a five course tasting menu of which the highlights were definitely a “trout tartare served with green apple, lime, aubergine and creamy miso dressing” and the “lamb tongues served with celery, a poached quail egg and mariniere cream”. If this was the taste of things to come then give us more, more, more.

Just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, the final highlight was that Luke then asked our events management team to advise him on his pre-launch party evening to showcase the restaurant to friends and industry colleagues. So last week we helped him host 180 guests in the courtyard outside the restaurant. Like the man himself the event was understated and unassuming but the consensus from the crowd was that Luke is on to a winner and we couldn’t agree more.

The Test Kitchen plans to open officially on Wednesday 24^th of November and is open for lunch and dinner. For more info click here to view the Test Kitchen website.

Christina:

I simply love good pasta – and besides many other authentic Italian dishes, IL Leone Mastrantonio in Green Point knows what pasta is all about. Al dente, simple with fresh herbs, amazing prawns, a hint of garlic, succulent tomatoes…. the whole Monty!

Now on top of that the restaurant boasts a chic interior with great modern paintings by local artists on the walls that one can actually walk home with. An all in one “wine, dine, shopping” experience – but first and foremost great understated, fresh Italian cuisine that I will always come back for.

Richard:

Thankfully my favourite pizza joint is literally in 5 minutes walking distance from the office! Nonna Lina – another Cape Town institution amongst the locals and known for their genuine Italian pizzas. Owned and managed by Antenello, a Sardinian national, this little gem can be found on the bustling corner of Orange & Rheede Street. Their pizzas are traditionally large, with a thin base and marvellous crispy crusts – just the way I like it! Where as some ingredients are sourced locally, the majority of items are imported directly from Italy, so you truly are experiencing a little piece of Italy in Cape Town! The restaurant décor is warm, relaxed and inviting. My favourite pizza has to be the Sarda – fresh tomato, mozzarella, pecorino and the Pièce de résistance – salami, sourced from the region of Emilia Romagna in Italy. Their specialities are also very good and all have names barely pronounceable to the English tongue, so you can bet that they are truly authentic!

Kim:

My favourite Italian place has to be Carne right in the centre of Cape Town. Owned by a well known Italian restaurateur, Giorgio, this is not a place for vegetarians! However, if you enjoy a fantastic steak, this is the place to be. Carne – which is translated as mean in Italian – serve the finest cuts of Romagnola Beef, Dorper Lamb, a variety of game and more. The meat is so good you do not receive a sauce as with most mainstream steak houses, as Carne believe this “ruins” the flavour of the meat. Great for a first date, the ambience is intimate yet contemporary and cool. The waiters present you a platter with the meat cuts before ordering and explain how each one is best served. So Carne is not only entertaining but also educational! Check out our review on our blog

Yolande:

Pasta has to be one of my favourite “comfort” dishes to not only eat, but of course cook at home. With so many varieties

to choose from I love the Pasta Factory in Gardens for their variety and daily specials. Their salad buffet which consist of everything and anything from crunchy roasted veggies, feta, olives, and more – you can basically decide what you want in your salad, as you feel on the day!  The food is always fresh and very well presented and the atmosphere in the restaurant has a very arty, informal vibe – I love it!  Besides the amazing salads, they have a daily lunch special – any pizza or pasta for only R25. An absolute bargain in trendy Park Road!

Mandi:

One of my current favourites is Mezzaluna which can be found on Loop Street. The owner, Jimmy Fiore, is a retired banker from Milan, who moved here to withdraw from the rat race and play golf. As a true Italian, golf would only keep him busy for so long before turning back to food for inspiration. He ended up opening a restaurant with his wife – who cooks beside him at Mezzaluna. My favourite dish on the menu has to be the homemade Ravioli Magro, which is made with veal and absolutely delicious! It’s not the cheapest or smartest of all Italian restaurants in Cape Town but the best time to go is during the day when it is busy and bustling with “the suits” of surrounding offices looking for a good lunch time fix. We took our daughter there for her birthday and asked for pannacotta for dessert to celebrate. We were presented with the biggest pannacotta we’d ever seen! We could tell that they’d had great fun with it as they wrote her name on it with berry coulis. To say the least – it was devoured in minutes! As the menu changes quite often as all ingredients are locally sourced, I will be back to sample more real home-made Italian delicacies!

Hannes:

La Perla in Sea Point – a true Cape Town/ Italian institution with ocean views and a focus on great sea food. Around for 40 years with a chic interior that is somewhat “quirky passé” yet very hip again – it has recently been voted as one of the top 20 Italian restaurants in the world. I simply love their seafood selection, the fact that one feels like family when eating there and that some of the staff have been there since founding days. A good friend of mine swears by the desserts and on a good day you can even enjoy a cigar from their amazing selection.

Kate:

Personally, there are 2 major selling points for any restaurant for me. Of course the quality of the food tops the list, but coming in at a very close 2^nd is the vibe paired with the familiarity and friendliness of the staff. There is nothing better then going out for a good meal and to be greeted – by name – from either the owner or manager. Bravado in Green Point ticks all those boxes. It is “the genuine” Italian experience from the moment you set foot through the front door. The menu offers a variety of excellent dishes ranging from their infamous square pizzas (the salmon and cream cheese pizza being the best of them all), to pastas, light salads and decadent desserts. For the guys – the ribs are a definite winner! There is lots of room for an intimate dinner – just be sure to avoid sporting days as 2 large screens and a lot of noise won’t do your romantic dinner any favours! On warm days I enjoy sitting outdoors on the spacious deck with awesome views of the new stadium and watching interesting passers-by. Bravado has gained a reputation for great Italian inspired food and is definitely “The place to be seen”!

Chantal:

Looking for the genuine Italian experience? The only place to find it would be at the Italian Club in Cape Town. Not exactly well known in fine-dining circles or for its food, which of course is typically Italian in the form of pizzas, pastas and traditional dishes, I would highly recommend it for its atmosphere which is 100% pure Italian. Every Friday evening they host a live show which aims to entertain you with comedy, singing and dancing whilst eat dinner. You best not be shy because you will more than likely be pulled up onto the dance floor with your mouth full of food with other patrons of all ages to wiggle what you got! How more Italian can one get really? By far, the most charming thing I noticed on the night was the older Italian couples arriving fully clad in their vintage dinner dresses and suits to “dance the night away”. You can absolutely guarantee that this has been their Friday night ritual for the past 30 years, and they outlast everyone else. The cherry on top which occurs towards the end of the evening is the dramatic and very entertaining entrance of “Elvis” who’s sole purpose is to ensure that every person “Rocks around the Clock!”.

And arguably the most spectacular of them all has recently opened at the Waterkloof Wine Estate, situated on the edge of the Stellenbosch wine route. As lovers of good things food and wine, we decided to go for lunch and see for ourselves what people were getting hot under the collar about.

The Waterkloof Estate is actually closer to Somerset West than Stellenbosch about a 40 minute drive down the N2 highway from Cape Town. The directions say the winery is atop the Schapenberg Mountain, 300 meters above sea level and the highest point around. As we pulled into the entrance it was immediately obvious that this was something different. High above us was what looked like a massive glass and concrete box, perched precariously on the hillside and as we wound our way up the steep ravine and through the vineyards it continued to look as though it might at any point fall away from its perch and come tumbling towards us.

As we reached the summit, spectacular was certainly the word that came to my mind and we hadn’t even got out of the car yet. The views back down the valley, through the vineyards and out to the ocean and the expanse of False Bay was worth the drive itself. On the far right you could see Table Mountain and the full length of the mountains leading down to the tip of Cape Point in the far distance across the bay. Up close the winery and restaurant building was even more impressive, a real feat of architecture. The inside was also impressive, open plan and minimalistic, with the restaurant on two levels built around the very modern and very much working winery.

A quick glass of Waterkloof’s premium and excellent Sauvignon Blanc whilst we toured the winery with the winemaker and then it was ready for the main event; lunch! With a new Michelin chef running the kitchen our expectations were high and they were met every step of the way. Very imaginative and full of flavour, supported by good service and attention to detail it was well worth the drive.

So if you like great innovation, design, food and wine (not necessarily in that order) then Waterkloof should be on the list of locals and visitors alike, especially on a day when the skies are clear and the sun shining. I’m not sure though that I would like to be sat in that building when the raging Cape storms come passing through.

Opinionated as ever our MD Richard Holt reckons that you get better food in any ten Indian restaurants in most UK cities than is on offer in Cape Town. However recently he had to literally eat his words after visiting the new Enigma Bombay on the Beach in Muizenberg.

“My eyes were opened to Enigma Bombay on the Beach when it was referred to me by one of the food critics at Food 24. She told me that it was the best food in Town, so with a certain amount of skepticism I gave it a go. Brilliant is the word that comes to mind. As soon as the owner told us he was originally from the curry district in Birmingham, I knew I was in good hands. It was just my sort of Indian, simple to say the least- you wouldn’t go here for the décor or silver cutlery but the food was excellent and the naan bread probably the best I have ever had.”

Richard’s tip, “Take your own wine enjoy the simple surroundings and the atmosphere and let the food speak for itself.”

Our head of travel, Mandi Johnson-Aliverti, opted for a more up-market Indian dining experience at The Bombay Brasserie which can be found at the new Taj Hotel on the corner of Whale and Adderley Street.

Mandi says of her experience, “I have never eaten in such a chic Indian restaurant in South Africa. Beside the food being top class, the presentation, service (the waiters were excellent!) and ambience, makes it the full package. It was comparable to the restaurants I have eaten in, when travelling in India. The chef is from a Taj Hotel in India and has cooked with the Taj Group for more than a decade. Unlike some other Indian Restaurants, this is not the place to get take aways. The food is highly priced, although I think a great experience for special occassions. The dining room with blue glass chandeliers, peacock crochet on the chairs and cut glass, makes the whole experience a memorable one that I would certainly repeat.”

Mandi’s top tip, “Be sure to order the palak paneer – its something you wouldn’t want to miss!”

Having tasted some of the best Indian food that India had to offer, Kate had trouble choosing just one favourite! She explains,

“This was my 2nd trip to India since 2006, and for me this amazing country is divided into 2 fantastic culinary zones: North and South. Well known dishes like Lamb Rogan Josh and Butter Chicken of the north are firm western favourites, but as you head south you get to sample the Briyani’s of Hyderabad and then of course the coconut based Kerelan and Goan specialities. I am completely torn between the two but must admit, my favourite meals included vegetarian thali’s – I was completely addicted!!

The best thali in Cape Town resides at Masala Dosa. Situated in the heart of Long Street this South Indian restaurant was a breath of fresh air when it opened as there aren’t many (if any!) South Indian restaurants in Cape Town. Named after the popular south Indian breakfast dish, a dosa refers to a crispy rice and lentil pancake served traditionally with a potato curry, coconut sauce and a veg and  lentil broth called sambar. Their dosas are really good, but I would first attempt a thali if you haven’t ever done so. Served in a standard round silver dish (traditionally it would be served on a large banana leaf!) it is a delectable combo of about 3 puris, rice, a dry vegetable, a vegetable with gravy, sambar, rasam, dal, curd, a chutney or pickle, a papad and to finish off, a sweet. Masala Dosa is easy on the pocket and service is quick and friendly. Definitely a must do when your in the CBD.

My second choice of best Indian in town is a combination of factors: food, experience and just plain cool!  The Eastern Food Bazaar ticks all the boxes for me! This is India at its best and what’s great – it has the prices to match! Lamb Rogan Josh (with rice) for R30, naan bread for R8 (yes, you read correctly!) and all the north Indian cusine you’d come to expect for a fraction of the price. There is loads to choose from, so one visit is not enough! The portions are extremely generous and the food very tasty. This is pure Cape Town casual dining, so you order and pay at the till point and then pickup your food from further down the counter. Dining there is quite festive as you can sit downstairs amongst the hustle and bustle of it all, or go upstairs for a quieter dinner. Whilst you’re there, be sure to take in the decor – it is part of the experience! The walls and wooden pillars are ornately carved and various mixed antiques and artifacts are scattered about. A couple of things to keep in mind: The Eastern Food Bazaar is Halaal, so no alcohol is served and it closes at 9pm. Secondly, this is not fine dining, so expect plastic knives and forks. My suggestion: eat there at least once to experience The Eastern Food Bazaar in all its glory. If you want a glass of wine with that curry, get take aways and take the best of India home with you!”