This smallish, unassuming family-style Italian restaurant is tucked into a corner of the unglamorous Post Office Center in Illovo, which didn’t make a great first impression, considering the rave reviews I had read online. But once I sat down and got comfortable, the uncomplicated décor, friendly atmosphere and enticing menu started to win me over.
The interior consists of simple wood chairs, basic white linen tablecloths and brown walls. One wall is packed with framed awards, press clippings and celebrity endorsements, which gives the place a homey feel.
The restaurant burnishes its “authentic” credentials by listing the names of the dishes in Italian, with English descriptions. Food is standard pasta/meat/antipasti, with an emphasis on freshness and seasonality. Almost everything is homemade on the premises.
I ordered saffron linguine with prawns, tomato and rocket pesto, which was interesting but nothing to write home about. Nothing was wrong with the dish, but I didn’t think the flavors jelled together that well. I also tried the brie and asparagus lasagne, a house speciality, which I didn’t actually think was all that special. Yes, it was tasty, but a bit too undefined and cheesy. The brie was light and creamy but layers were not discernible. And the fact that the food came out extremely fast and scalding hot tells me that the cooks might have microwaved it.
On the plus side, the service was prompt and unintrusive, and the prices not too high for what you get. It was a satisfactory if unremarkable meal, which leaft me wondering how it got the moniker of “best Italian restaurant in Sandton.” Perhaps another visit and the food would knock my socks off (like it has many others), but this meal just felt average.
Expert Review
This smallish, unassuming family-style Italian restaurant is tucked into a corner of the unglamorous Post Office Center in Illovo, which...
This smallish, unassuming family-style Italian restaurant is tucked into a corner of the unglamorous Post Office Center in Illovo, which didn’t make a great first impression, considering the rave reviews I had read online. But once I sat down and got comfortable, the uncomplicated décor, friendly atmosphere and enticing menu started to win me over.
The interior consists of simple wood chairs, basic white linen tablecloths and brown walls. One wall is packed with framed awards, press clippings and celebrity endorsements, which gives the place a homey feel.
The restaurant burnishes its “authentic” credentials by listing the names of the dishes in Italian, with English descriptions. Food is standard pasta/meat/antipasti, with an emphasis on freshness and seasonality. Almost everything is homemade on the premises.
I ordered saffron linguine with prawns, tomato and rocket pesto, which was interesting but nothing to write home about. Nothing was wrong with the dish, but I didn’t think the flavors jelled together that well. I also tried the brie and asparagus lasagne, a house speciality, which I didn’t actually think was all that special. Yes, it was tasty, but a bit too undefined and cheesy. The brie was light and creamy but layers were not discernible. And the fact that the food came out extremely fast and scalding hot tells me that the cooks might have microwaved it.
On the plus side, the service was prompt and unintrusive, and the prices not too high for what you get. It was a satisfactory if unremarkable meal, which leaft me wondering how it got the moniker of “best Italian restaurant in Sandton.” Perhaps another visit and the food would knock my socks off (like it has many others), but this meal just felt average.