Review Balducci's - Cape Town Central

Christopher Hendrickse

One of my favourite restaurants in Cape Town. They have really good pasta dishes and their milkshakes are fantastic too. The vibe is great and good for conversation. The prices are reasonable for what you getting. Parking is no problem however it can be a hit of a walk. They have a loyalty card which is great to collect points from them and a few other restaurants which you can redeem once you have enough, for either a discount or free meal. Definitely recommend.

Dewald Reinke

There are so many good restaurants in the V&A Waterfront that it becomes overwhelming to choose one. It was my wife's birthday and I was looking for a restaurant that has great food and a stylish atmosphere. Balducci's has them both. The decor was beautiful, modern and sophisticated without the "up-tight" feel you sometimes get at similar restaurants. Their menu truly is vast with options for every taste and there is even a separate vegan menu which you don't often see. We started off with some of their cocktails and starters, and then on to pizzas and wine which was just as delicious. Our waiter was friendly and as we made a booking we got a great table next to the window. If you are craving great Italian food, this is a definite must visit.

N Duffy

So we have been going here for the last 6 years and it is still one of our top 5 places to eat. The cocktails are amazing. The food is always good, meat is cooked to perfection. The booking system is also top notch. And the cheesecake well probably the best in Cape Town and I challenge anyone on that. Also the staff and service is great. If you looking for a date night restaurant this is a winner for sure.

Ben Locke

Nice spot to grab lunch in the harbour, just exiting the mall. Really enjoyed the burger, didn't leave hungry at all. It was perfectly cooked and the staff were friendly. Also has a large broad menu so something for everyone.

L. S.

Excellent restaurant. The food choices are amazing. Our waiter (Fabrice) did a fantastic job with the service and we all liked his positive attitude. The seafood platter was amazing - highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys anything seafood. Personally I think it's a little bit overpriced. Even though it's marked "seafood platter for 2" one person could handle it - if no appetizers will be served. But it seafood is not on your thing, there are plenty other choices on the menu. Also, the cheese platter is really something to try out - my wife says so 👍👍

Stacey Solomon

Vegans rejoice! This place has a totally separate and huge vegan menu. The food was outstanding. We had amazing gin cocktails, a blooming onion starter with vegan chipotle mayo, beautiful jam jar salad with an incredible pizza. There were plenty options available and you can totally customise your own pizza too with amazing vegan cheese. Delicious! The nut cream pasta was stunning. We ordered extra and ate on the road the next day - possibly even better the next day! The service was truly special and attentive - Thank you Leesch and the team! Can't recommend highly enough.

Christopher Vermaak

Balducci, since 1996😍😍😍 If there could be a extra star for excellence, Balducci deserves it! The vibe is seriously awesome, so casual, calm and the service is professional. All this before I can mention the tasteful meals. There is a menu specially for the mindful eaters(vegans), with almost bottomless options. From starters to main courses, to dessert(I advise the blueberry cheesecake) and even wines. It's a jolly good restaurant.

Steve

Steak perfection! Typically a lot of venues will disguise a poor quality steak with a really good basting and sauce, some even fail miserably with that. However, Balducci hit the nail on the head with the superb quality of the meat, the incredible basting and even more amazing sauce 😋(lemon butter for me) and then cooked to absolute perfection in both scenarios at our table (medium rare + medium). Last time I had a steak this good and worth shouting about was more than 18 years ago! I got stuck in and before I realised I forgot to take a photo with it was all gone 😅 My partner is vegetarian, so when doing a quick search on Google for a restaurant that had a decent vegetarian option I instantly saw one of the previous patrons mention the extensive Vegan menu and it didn't disappoint! Can't express how much we appreciate a place that actually tries with vegan/vegetarian options, thank you Balducci!! The menu may seem super extensive and overwhelming at first but I appreciate the choice and only look forward to going back and sampling the rest. Can't praise Balducci enough for the all round amazing experience, will be back tomorrow and a few visits more while I'm in the area 🙏🏻

Nir Idisis

The salmon was excellent, but the kob was a bit dry. Overall this is a good restaurant with an incredibly diverse menu. We ate there twice and enjoyed most of the food.

Jason Claassens

There's a reason you have to reserve your table at Balducci, they are in high demand... The atmosphere is sophisticated yet comfortable with an ambiance to match... The food is without a doubt some of the best I've had... 12/10 would recommend... The baby kingklip is a favorite and the steak is unforgettable... Happy munching!

Simone Santamaria

Visiting this place was like we were visiting a friend’s house, how good it feels to be welcomed in a place and that was what happened at Balducci, we were served by Fabrice who left us well at ease, joked, explained all the dishes we were with doubt and gave great tips, always very attentive. We ordered pizzas and gnocchi which were very tasty and even though we did not resist the dessert because the Tiramissu and Creme Brule were delicious!

Sinthuja Ramalingam

Delicious food and drinks, and wonderful staff. Great vegan menu, and good for dietary restrictions.

Clara Hassenpflug

I really like this place! Neat and fancy with professional service. Their food is prepared with love and care. It's at the top of my list for the best steaks because the meat is succulent, done as desired, and just tastes so good! Another recommended dish is the Banting Beef Lasagna. Definitely a great place to indulge in some finer dining.

Uri Rendon Owner, Pure Brokers LLC

What a great restaurant! They cooked my steak perfectly, and the sauces were delicious. The salad was also good too. This is a must-visit location if you are in Cape Town!

Helmut Baumann

Surprising delicious food, one of the best places we have been in years! The menu card is actually a book, so many different choices ! a separate Vegan menu card. 👌 We tasted many dishes, all delicious Nadine was amazing 😊 💯

Robert Uys

Balducci is an upmarket Itallian style restaurant with quite an extensive food and wine menu. They also have a vegan menu. I always have the Portofino pizza and the house brand of Sauvignon Blanc - a good (if somewhat expensive pairing). The prices are obviously targeted for tourists but there is a crowd of local regulars. The quality of the food is generally excellent and the quality of the service is fantastic. You can (and might have to) book ahead.

B Mokoka

Witnessed a proposal and it was the cutest thing. The Chocolate Fondant was like a foodgasm. This place is amazing. Very romantic if you want to do the whole date thing and the food is great if you just want to eat.

Rodney Rockat

This is the place to be , bubbly not too loud absolutely great food and a huge variety to choose from vegetarian to meat fish lamb shanks perfect Asian foods and pizzas 🍕 We had the Balducci Pizza and the Florence and they where absolutely delicious . Very capable staff and such a nice setting day or night .