When it comes to Cape Town Italian restaurants, specifically pizza and pasta, I am a snob. Yes, I admit it, I am a total pasta snob. Pasta should be cooked to perfection… there jagged Yeah! Not soft, not raw, but al dente… Throw it on the roof if you have to, but make sure it’s okay.
Il Leone must be one of the best Italian restaurants in Cape Town and one of its best kept secrets. I first discovered this charming little place at a business lunch, that is, an excuse to escape from the office, pretend to talk about important things and drink real Italian wine. Our waiter had a real Italian accent, a good sign until I spoke Italian to him and he stared at me, born and raised in South Africa, our fake-Italian. However, she was incredibly talented in choosing our dishes for us; and choosing exactly what we wanted to order. For me, she selected the Tagliatelle ai Porcini (yes, fresh porcini mushrooms from Africa!) in a garlic olive oil sauce. The world around me ceased to exist – wow. All I can say is that it was perfect. The perfect combination of flavor and texture and I even had a few takeaways! He also chose Penne Gamberetti and Scallopine di Vitello with Porcini (veal schnitzel) for the others. Being the junkie that I am, I obviously tried these as well and I have to admit they were fabulous too. Il Leone definitely ranks among my top restaurants in Cape Town for atmosphere and great food, with the Tagliatelle ai Porcini being one of my favorite dishes.
This quaint Italian restaurant is located in Green Point, not far from the V&A Waterfront and Beluga. The atmosphere is lovely – it’s cozy and quite stylish, and it always seems to be busy. They could also add some cheaper wine options to the menu, but otherwise it’s fabulous! The service is also excellent. I recently took my ladies there for our monthly girls night out and by the end of the night they all walked out converted. Our tradition is to explore a new restaurant or bar once a month and have been begging to come back for seconds. Two dishes that also took my breath away in sheer delight were the butternut ravioli in 4 cheese sauce and the giant artichoke and ricotta panzotti in butter and sage sauce. Wine: we recommend the Italian Frascati. Absolute perfection and you don’t even need to go to Italy. This is definitely one of the best Italian restaurants in Cape Town!