5th visit to True Italic and the food has always been amazing. I've never had bad service and the prices are right. Pre book your table to avoid disappointment. Menus change and portions are spot on. Anyone giving this restaurant a 1star rating needs to be advised that super size meals with bottomless death by soda drinks can very easily be found at many establishments in the vicinity. Gnocchi is the bees knees. The small sized starter platter is ample for 3 people to share.
The burrata cheese and the homemade pasta were simply delicious...you made me feel at home! I’ll definitely come back!
We would like to thank Luca and True Italic for a fantastic evening with 25+ of our friends and family in the party venue located in the restaurant basement. The service was friendly, timely and efficient. What can I say about the homemade Italian food? Simply the best in Cape Town - Luca, you are the man! Do yourselves a favour, folks - get to True Italic for a fantastic dining experience.
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"Luca", "Luca", "Luca" is all I read in the reviews before visiting True Italic, run by the very man himself and the Pasquale family. I inquisitively read up everything I can, particularly about this man waking up each morning making fresh bread & pasta; it sounded like the kind of joint I just had to check out. I find Luca's mobile number floating around on the restaurant website, so took a punt for a last minute reservation on a Saturday night.
For those trying to suss out the 'vibe', my best summation would be hipster meets rustic Italian café. Luca, I presume it was him, has even pinned up the little known S.P.A.L football team shirt on the wall, not only to emphasise his Northern Italian roots but probably as a reminder of the lengths one has to climb to build a successful business. For the unacquainted, S.P.A.L after being declared bankrupt, climbed 4 divisions to reach top flight football in Italy's Serie A. From what I can see, the Pasquale family are destined for a similar trajectory.
The evening kicked off with unquestionably fresh, foccacia-like bread. Nothing fancy it must be said: no sourdough starters in the mix; no studded pieces of rosemary or flakes of sea salt, just good, honest morsels of bread and a large bottle of virgin olive oil on the side. The Bruschetta uses the very same bread sliced as a base, with sweet cherry tomatoes on top and a few basil leaves. Again the pretence is left out, no needless thrills, pesto swirls or cheese shavings. The Aubergine Parmigiana starter hits the bill too: a dinky little plate of stacked baked aubergines with a well-seasoned tomato sauce and a healthy dose of Parmesan between the layers.
The highlight of the main courses was the baked Rigatoni in a tomato and ricotta sauce. The ricotta lent creaminess to an otherwise simple 'al forno' dish. I'm sure many will agree it's soul-comforting to tear away little pieces of charred, crispy pasta from the baking dish. The Gnocchi were (was) the paragon of light and fluffy, although my dining partner and I both felt the tomato sauce while satisfactory lacked the sweetness and freshness of an excellent sugo di pomodoro.
As for the solitary dessert we ordered, well I might offend my heritage and many patriotic Italians but I thought it was a source of great pride for most Trattorias to offer the most limited and basic of dessert choices. To paraphrase what one owner once told me: we can assure a pasta as good as any but nothing beyond that. In keeping with the tradition, 3 slices of chocolate salami were unfastidiously placed on a rectangular plate with a small pot of tart coulis. I ate it all though!
Unfortunately, I never got a chance to meet the main man Luca, which was a shame as he deserves to be commended on the simple, wholesome, unpretentious cooking that True Italic dishes up.
Forza Italica!
AA
Every time we come to True Italic, we are blown away by how authentically homely and "Italian" our experience is. No-frills good food that tempts you to lick your plate clean at the end. We will keep coming back!
GOOD AS ALWAYS
It's my 4th visit to True Italic and the food has always been amazing. It is very rare in Cape Town to find a restaurant with a delicious and simple menu like this. The customer delights an excellent meal and the service of a friendly and professional staff. Anyone giving this restaurant a 1star rating needs to be advised that super size meals with bottomless death by soda drinks can very easily be found at many establishments in the vicinity.
You are not going to find homemade pastas like Luca's ones. Gnocchi di patate are my favorite.
Phenomenal food, service and atmosphere!
If you’re on the hunt for some flavorful Italian food, you’ll definitely find it on 15 bree street!!
True Italic offers you a variety of starters and pastas (all homemade and fresh).. for me the highlights are undoubtedly the sausige ragu tagliatelle and the melenzane parmigiana.
We liked the friendly service and the variety of italian and southafrican wines and enjoyed the cost and familiar atmosphere of the venue.
Will absolutely go back!
AM I IN ITALY OR SOUTH AFRICA?
Being Italian, I can assure the authenticity of this place. Chef Luca really take care of his guests: not only he prepares himself fresh bread, pasta and bakery - with real Italian ingredients and recipes - but he also makes sure that everyone is pampered and is having a great culinary experience.
Price/quality ratio is one the best in town and the menu, which is changed constantly to provide the customers with a fresh new experience every time, is just amazing!
Add True Italic to your to do list when in Cape Town - you won't regret it!
Francesca Chicca Lucianelli
+5
It is definitely the most authentic Italian restaurant I've ever tried. Luca's homemade pasta makes you feel in Italy. We tried also the pumpkin ravioli that were really unbelievable.
The service was fast, friendly, and the knowledge of the stuff about Italian food and wines surprised us. The atmosphere is amazing.
Without any doubts, the best Italian place I've ever been abroad.
A HOME AWAY FROM HOME!
I'll be honest, I hate reviewing, normally I think everyone has different tastes, but I have to make an exception here.
True Italic is my home away from home.
The rustic setting and fantastic atmosphere created by a friendly staff and beautiful music all take a back-seat as soon as your plate arrives.
Whether it's the Italic boards, with an assortment of italian cheese and cold-meats great for sharing with friends, or the delicious home-made pasta (gnocchi, tagliatelle, spaghetti you name it they make it) which comes in a variety of forms to suit even the most picky-eaters, you can't but sit back and smile before digging in.
I've been there often and the menu changes made every now and then are a delightful surprise. It has become a question of I wonder what's coming next!
And I cannot wait!!!
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Simply poetic!!!!
As an Italian living abroad I often get asked the question, where can one find really good italian food. The answer is often difficult to explain. You see you could go to generic places like col'cacchio or the cousins, but you all you would get is a bit of a show and the small part of an idea of authentic italian dining.
Italian dining is creation. It is re-interpretation of something tried and trusted, like fantastic Gnocchi alla Sorrentina alongside the expression of mastery through replication of a classic and perfect parmigiana. All of which can be found at True Italic.
The portions of pasta are fair and for the quality of ingredients used fairly priced. The restaurant imports some ingredients which are tough to source and for the rest it partners with some of the best cheese and wine makers in the country to bring the traditions of Italy a long way south of the equator.
THE PASTA IS ALL HOME MADE!!!!!
all of it painstakingly created before the restaurant opens, everyday!
The setting is quite simply stunning and the conversation, as with all italians, almost always leads to food. The only difference is that at True Italic you are welcomed to this topic by the very knowledgeable and quite brilliant owner/head chef. Who shares as much as he listens.
Whether you're looking for an intimate date-setting or celebrating a birthday or quite simply looking to answer the age-old question where is the best italian restaurant in Cape Town; True Italic is your answer.
FANTASTICO!!!
The best italian restaurant I've ever tried abroad!! It's like being home.
The menu changes every day, homemade pasta, bread... you can feel the real and authentic taste of the Italian cuisine.
As an Italian, I am used to restaurants that pretend to be "italian", that's why I try to avoid them when I travel. But the first time I went to True Italic, I was shocked: no "pasta alfredo", no creamy or chilli stuffs, no fake "fettuccine marinara o napoletana" (these words actually make NO SENSE), and italian words spelled correctly in the menu!
A small piece of Italy in South Africa.
This restaurant has been around for 6 years and I heard about it for the first time just two days ago! I think I must have just woken up from a deep sleep because it is hard to believe that I had not heard about it before!After our first visit this evening we are determined to revisit very soon!
Luca is an energetic, young restaurateur and chef busy making a great name for himself! He was very friendly and welcoming, ensuring that our special evening was an absolute delight.
Outstanding flavours and reasonably priced for such good quality.
Highly recommended!
Katlego Neteru ISIS Mojapelo
+5
Talk about Authentic Great Italian cuisine run by 2 brothers who actually are Italian, you can hear them as they converse and check on tables.
Greeted warmly as we enter , the smell of joy and laughter filled the air... the place was fully booked, we were lucky to get the only table left for 2.
This restaurant has been been simply designed with an Italian touch of simplicity and authenticity.
They have great Italian wines on the wine menu, starter portions are large and VERY GENEROUS , they make there own pasta, the taste of home made pasta is unbelievable, give that Chef a bells lovely through and through - to bad no space for desert.
Make sure you book a table.
Relax and enjoy, we read some reviews online and it was voted as one of the best places to go to in Cape Town for dinner.
Love pasta? Then you'll love True Italic!
It's got a classic old school Italian restaurant feel, great place for a date night. The food was great, the pasta is not as Al dente as what you'll find in Italy, but I preferred it actually.
My wife had a Penne with mushrooms (not sure the name of the dish) and I preferred her food over my Gnocchi Ragu)
This spot has always been high on my list for Italian food. The different sauces that are excellently paired with a particular kind of homemade pasta is always an enjoyable experience and keeps you coming back to try something new.
This particular time we were a bit disappointed with the options and the artichoke starter was a bit dry and bland. While you go there for pasta, in the past they had a few other pasta free options for those wanting to join but with specific dietary requirements, that no longer seem to be added to the menu. I also thought the plating was a bit uninspired since our last visit.
Atmosphere, friendly and knowledgeable staff and good wine are all other positive points that will keep me coming back and hopefully the next time the menu will be more in line with my taste palate
Simple, rustic decor, great home style food and excellent service. Unpretentious, relaxed atmosphere with decent prices. Very easy to become a regular at this place
What a hidden gem, although it looks small from outside, there is a hidden basement stored underneath.
True Italian style and the Pasta with muscles was absolutely mouth watering.
5 star food quality, flavor and presentation. Interesting venue and decor.
Problem.. Portions are ridiculously small which drops the restaurant to a 4 star. I get why they offer the small portions - they’re trying to get you to buy a 3 course meal, its financial metrics and they’re trying to make money, starter main and desert, but sometimes you just want a hearty big bowl of true Italian pasta and at True Italic, you cant get that. So, 4 stars for what could and should be an all-star 5 experience.
The absolute best Italian food this side of the world. Every dish has soul, love and care. The owner, Luca's hospitality and cooking definitely shows why this restaurant ends up in my personal top 5.
The food will make your mouth sing tunes you never knew. The waiters are very knowledgeable about the (current) menu and are very respectful and kind people. The kitchen is open for you to watch, smell and enjoy and the chef on duty will definitely blow your mind away.
Thank you for the great service.
Pleasant atmosphere with traditional food, had a lovely meal and joyful evening. Passed on the slightly pricey (R250+) wine selection but luckily they also cater for more sensitive wallets. Will definitely visit again. Definitely phone for a booking if you want to go.
Very interesting and tasty food. Loved the tagliatelle with anchovies and the porcini cushions (but skipped the scallops which are from frozen). Our first two wine selections were sold out but the servers suggestion was great.
A good buzzy atmosphere in unpretentious surroundings.
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