Review Er Buco - Johannesburg

A hidden gem. This is an old school, an Italian family run restaurant. The service is professional. The atmosphere is relaxed and the food is delicious. The type of meals that an Italian grandmother would cook for a family feast.

Haven't been here for about 5 years but was very happy. Friendly owners and staff, good service and great food. I had lasagne that was excellent, my wife enjoyed her gnocchi. It's a shame the place wasn't busier, but we'll definitely be back

Food was delicious and service great... I'd recommend to anyone. Their cheesecake was out of this world as well.. thanks..

Absolutely divine food!! My husband and I decided to stop her for a quick supper, now I wish we had more time to spend there. The food, the atmosphere, everything was just on point and wonderful. The food is authentic and delicious. I have never tasted gnocchi that soft, it was like little pillows of heaven! Definitely going back there!

The meal was very well prepared, service lovely, prices reasonable and... Not one single spelling error on the menu 😂

The food is delicious and the vibe is cozy and relaxed. Fine Italian dining. A huge bowl of pasta fagiolle soup preceded a wonderful thin crust seafood pizza.

Epic Spagetti will definitely be getting food from here again!

Wow by far the best Italian food, freshly made. You feel you in little Italy. Friendly staff, owner she such a gentleman and helpful. Great pastas , food is good.

This gem of a restaurant is not being supported enough. Great ambiance with owners on hand and serving. Food was outstanding and well presented. Can't wait to go back

Wonderful, quiet evening, delicious food, love the personal attention from the owners.

Went to the original when I was a little fart, can't remember much but we went their often. After 30 years or so the food is still good, pizzas are great - I thought a bit on the small side so the next time I went I ordered two for myself - and I only managed to finish one. What a genius gut bucket I am. The only thing, and I think it is a general consensus is that the decor / atmosphere is a bit sterile. It's like sitting in a hall - old Italian club style. Maybe a pot plant or two and some music could do this little gem wonders.

I had a great meal tonight. We had pasta, cannelloni, veal and calamari. And I organised for italian kisses for dessert for a birthday and they didnt even charge us for that. Service was great. I havent been there in years and now Ill definitely be back again.

Whenever one dines at Er Buco one can always expect the warmest and friendliest service, as well as a wide variety of tasty foods all cooked to perfection. This little family business is one of the best restaurants I have ever been to in the area. I highly recommend Er Buco.

Great traditional Italian food. Amazing. Old school service. Freshly prepared ingredients. A small menu makes it easy to choose and keeps you coming back

I have heard only good things about Er Buco spanning its decades of being operational from its humble beginnings in Orange Grove many years ago to its new home in Linksfied, and in particular, its authentic thin crust pizza and famous cannelloni.<br/><br/>As such, on our first visit, we chose to share pizza, cannelloni and the beef ravioli. The winner? Pizza every time! <br/><br/>Don't expect fancy interiors or extensive wine lists, but if its authentic Italian that you are after, this is a tried and tested favorite. Anna, is truly the original "Mama" (as everyone so lovingly refers to her as) and she checked on our table often throughout our meal! <br/><br/> *Recommendation: Er Buco truly is a hidden gem worth making the trip for, and the prices aren't bad either (which is always a plus). I highly recommend their pizza!<br/><br/>For more, find me on Instagram, Facebook & Twitter: LaurasWorldza

Disappointed, ordered a bottle of wine almost an hour later no one else came to take our food order, finished the wine and asked for the bill......cheapest night out so far <br/><br/>

P and I felt rather lazy to cook tonight and she wasn't feeling so well, so we decided to go somewhere closeby ..kust 15min away we find #ErBuro which means little hole in Italian. The hosts are very polite and are a wealth of information, the waitor looked like he had a huge chip on his shoulder and an attitude to match his died brown hair. When he first arrived at our table he just stood there and looked at is and I gathered he wanted to take our order.. yes not a word... he just seemed very condescending.. anyhow we would not get that get in the way we ordered snails for starters and that was a mini Pizza retreat with about 6 delicious garlicky herbi snails..believe me it was fresh and delicious.. please ordered a call one (folded pizza) and I ordered a grilled sirloin with side pasta.. my steak was done to the t, just the way I liked it. The pepper sauce was nice.. if you bite into the peppers, your sinus feels it.. P's can zone was really tastes.. sumtupus actually , it had a light flaky crust and it was just yummy.. very enjoyable evening.jusy try and not get the hair died waitor to serve you

Great traditional Italian food! Sunday lunch is family time and we were there for a family lunch. I had the Lamb shank which was buttery and delicious served with fresh garden veggies. The osso bucco and schnitzels (both veal and chicken ordered) were rated as very good. The highlight of the meal though was the Zabaglione which was made by Isaac. A bit heavy on the brandy, but still delicious paired with finger biscuits.

Wife had Tripe, very good. I had the Lam Shank well prepared. Service is good. Will visit again<br/>Prices is good and safe parking. Nice wine list with good variety. We were pleasantly supriced with this family business.

Great authentic Italian. Always good. Always welcoming. Haven't ever had a bad meal, always quick to the table and the home made pasta is superb.

A warm feel and atmosphere. The food is proper Italian grub at a reasonable price. The gnochhi gorgonzola was awesome and the other members of the party raved about their dishes too. A jug of sangria and a tiramisu later and I will definitely be back.

The decor is kitsch but it works to bring about an authentic old Italian vibe. The little owner lady seemed really sweet and was very friendly with all the customers.<br/><br/>We had the snails for starters and they were delicious. The pizza was great, the base was nice and cheesy. I ordered the arrabiata pasta and was a bit disappointed. The penne was quite average and there was way too much, with very little sauce. Not sure if this is the Italian way but I would have preferred a lot more. Flavour-wise it was delicious though. Would definitely like to come back sometime and try their other dishes.

This restaurant used to be in Orange Grove in the days of the long gone Little Italy that once existed there (There's now a de facto Little Italy in Illovo, but that's a different story).  It retains its old world flavors and is run by a fine Italian lady who typifies warm Italian hospitality.  You've got to try her pizzas--they are delicious, made with the finest ingredients and with thin crust.  They come in only one size, but that's part of the charm, so I hope she never changes that.  They rank among the very best pizzas I've had anywhere.  She makes her very own napoletana sauce for the pizza (and other things) and yes, it does indeed taste homemade, like something your mother would make.  The pastas are all very good, and last time I went I had the veal schnitsel parmiggiana--a fine cut of meat delicately done with that oh so divine napoletana-type sauce that makes Er Buco so unique.  It is served with beautifully fresh vegetables.  If you're less hungry and want something light, might I suggest the Colosseo salad?  It will leave you feeling satisfied and happy.I've been to Er Buco quite a few times and always I love the food.  I am tempted to try every single item on their menu.  It's all true Italian flavors, and sometimes you can see Italian families there playing with cards and having a good time, and folks from the Italian club.  Always a good sign when an ethnic restaurant is patronized by the members of the group it represents.  The prices are not bad.  Great place for a true taste of traditional Italy.Atmosphere is nice and home-ish.  Decor a little dated but acceptable.  The only real complaint I have is the chairs--they make your backside sore after sitting on them too long---Er Buco really needs to invest in better ones. If better chairs come, I will increase the rating.

If you want real Italian food then this is the place to go. Great veal and awesome home made pasta. Pizzas are amazing even though they are made in an electrical oven. Base is thin!!!! The place is still owned by the original owner. 50 years. Really authentic.

This little spot is run by a little old Italian lady and her brother (I think). The food is like any home-cooked meal in Italy. Absolutely delicious and comforting. Probably the best focaccia ever! Lamb shank was definitely tops and coffee satisfying. A nice family meal type of place

Good alternate Mediterranean food, simple old "matured" dining experience. Nice and light meal and enjoyable taste for a lunch service. Well priced and affordable

This place was where my boyfriend and I had our very first date. I was wowed with the warmth of the service. The owner went out of her way to create a specialised dish for me as I was on a vegan diet at the time. This authentic Italian hidden gem is a place that we will forever commemorate the start of our beautiful relationship . Their ravioli romana will not dissapoint!

The typical Italian restaurant- unlikely surroundings, less "feng shui" than a Chinese cool book and more tomato based sauces than anyone should have to endure...ANNNNNNNND I love it :-) Er Buco gives you the typical Italian experience, and consistently does it EVERY time (since I'd first been 10-15 years ago). The meat dishes are always good, but the pizza is what has kept it in business. It's not going to ever be 5/5, but if you are in the area and need some excellent Italian food, by all means stop by

Yay! I've found an Italian restaurant that makes a thin crust pizza that I actually enjoy! The decor is dingy but I won't complain. The waiter was on the ball and fantastic. We had the ravioli soup for a starter which was devoured in seconds. It tasted homemade, absolutely delicious. The pasta was a bit heavy and overcooked but the sauce was excellent. Pizza was just a margarita but that crust was perfect. Will be back soon to try more.<br/>Edit: Must have the snail starter! Very tasty

Our first time here. The service was really good and the pizza was divine. I can't wait to come back for their specialities. The atmosphere is pleasant and relaxing.

We had a great dinner at Er Buco. Our dinner party was huge as we were there for a quarterly club dinner however the staff were on top of everything and made us feel very welcome. The decor is lovely though the restaurant feels a bit sparse. <br/><br/>The waitron staff were efficient and the owner lady, herself, took our food orders. She is a vibrant individual and knows her menu inside out, willing to recommend dishes at the drop of a hat. <br/><br/>I ordered a brinjal Parmesan starter dish (that I intended to eat as a main) which arrived baked much like a lasagne. For a starter it was huge *grin* Deon ordered crumbed chicken schnitzels; our table was given large orders of veg. <br/>The brinjal Parmesan was brilliant as was the chicken. The crumb around the chicken would have caused me to eat twice as much as I should had D not eaten his bit already. <br/><br/>The veg wasn't so great. The green beans were a green grey color and didn't look very appetizing. The perpetual creamed spinach was present which I cannot eat due to an intolerance of some sort (nasty tummy aches). The potatoes, I must confess, were tasty. They tasted like mom's tatties cooked in butter and herbs. I tried to not overindulge. Possibly failed at that. <br/><br/>Now, in an attempt to be well-behaved, D and I share meals. This includes desserts. We both have a sweet tooth and can be quite critical (and voracious) about desserts in particular. We ordered cappuccinos and one tiramisu to share. The portion is small however that is not a complaint. The tiramisu was glorious. We have only had one better and that is a handmade tiramisu by our very Italian friend. <br/><br/>All in all, it really was a nice dinner out and we would love to dine there again. Deon Van Wyk

Heard some good things about this restaurant. Myself and my partner decided to come here for dinner and we were welcomed very warmly by our friendly host. The decor has a very Italian theme to it, from the paintings on the wall to the little model statues on the stands. <br/> <br/>For starters we ordered the butter garlic snails and the Ravioli in Brodo. The snails came served on focaccia which wasn’t what I was expecting, so it was nice to see. The snails were good and we nicknamed this dish, as the snail pizza. The Ravioli was thin and very tasty. I thought the soup was a little plain and didn’t really have a chicken taste to it.<br/> <br/>For mains, we ordered the Spaghetti Marinari and the Messicana Pizza. The spaghetti was full of seafood flavour and came with mussels, prawns and calamari. The pizza was excellent. The topping was spread evenly over the whole base of the pizza. The topping was full of flavour and spiciness one would expect from a messicana pizza wasn’t overwhelming.<br/> <br/>We ended the night with Brazilian coffee and for myself an ice tea.<br/> <br/>I enjoyed this restaurant and will definitely be back.<br/>

We got a warm friendly welcome in. <br/><br/>We ordered ravioli in brodo and snails for starters. The snails was served in a totally different form than what we used to, it was like a snails pizza, wasn't in a white sauce, which was different. The broth I thought wasn't great perhaps I've not had any Italian chicken broth before so I cannot really judge it properly but the ravioli is thin and taste good. <br/><br/>For mains we had a messicana pizza and a seafood pasta (spaghetti marinari). The pasta tasted good with seafood flavor, however, seafood used was from frozen mix seafood packs which is a tad disappointing. The pizza was well made, good flavor and toppings were spread throughout the whole pizza which is fantastic and first I've seen. Delicious. <br/><br/>I ended with a cappuccino, which according to the waiter was Brazilian coffee, great ending to the evening. <br/><br/>

The restaurant looks old school Italian. The staff are all very friendly. Yummy pizza and I recommend the gnocchi, it's delicious! Would stay away from any seafood though, my husband did not enjoy it.

I have been there recently and we had a mixed review. Seems like home cooking ( home made decor too), my pasta was really stoggy but my husbands pizza was good.

Excellent home cooking Italian style. Friendlyt and helpful staff. The osso buco is among the best we have had. We eat there regularly and have never has a bad meal.

My partner and I have been eating at Er Buco on an infrequent basis for years and the standard of the food has remained consistently high! For me the decor and ambience are a little cold, but the service is warm and comes from friendly people who remember your face. The food is unpretentious, rich and delicious Italian fare at a good price. I always go for the lasagna or cannelloni - not the most exciting but gorgeous at this family restaurant.

Always attentive, nice family atmosphere a happy little restaurant and you can't beat the Calzone it's just the Best no one makes it better....Mmmmmm I must go back for more