Review Basilico Restaurant - Newlands

Absolute favourite Italian restaurant in the area! Keep going back to order the same thing - creamy leek mussel starter and the basil pesto with chicken. It’s a very popular spot so ensure that you call ahead, especially on weekends.

Iv been wanting to try out this place for a while and was so happy when I finally did. The menu has an excellent selection and the coffee milkshake is delicious!

I only ever have the pasta when I go here and it's amazing. I have never seen this restaurant quiet so rather make a reservation. You don't wait long to receive your food even though they are busy. The portion size means you will either go home with a takeaway or roll out the restaurant.

Always a consistently good experience at Basilico’s. Pizza is fresh and amazingly tasty! Service is a little slow but the setting in the heart of Newlands is a great way to spend an evening or even to pop by for a lunchtime treat! Highly recommended

Recently took my dad for lunchtime pizza. The pizza was delicious and the service was great. I've been to Basilico a few times and the consistency in service and food quality always impresses me. I love sitting upstairs and catching a view of the road and passerby below. (I forgot to take pics, sorry).

Absolutely loved it! The balcony seating gave us a lovely view of the street below and the pasta was delicious (good vegetarian option)

Best tasting pizza I’ve had in a long time. Packed with ingredients - bacon is not diced small and thinly distributed, plenty of whole pieces of bacon per slice. Avo is fresh and generously distributed. Thin, crispy base. Competitively priced. If you’re looking for Neapolitan style pizza this is not it but if you’re looking for tasty pizza made with quality ingredients and well-priced, you won’t be disappointed.

Great environment with great food. They have an incredible lunch special too. These meal options were R85 each.The food was amazing, however we were deeply disappointed in the chocolate brownie and nut sundae. Furthermore, this was definitely a restaurant I'll visit again. Thank you for the excellent service Basilico.

A must try in Newlands, Cape Town! Cosy Italian restaurant with big affordable potions! Great service from a very friendly and efficient staff. They allow you bring in your own bottle of wine too! Make a reservation to avoid disappointment

Loved the experience, as always... I recommend the place to anyone who wants the chilled views after a long day at work! And they are purely generous with the food!

You can never go wrong with Basilico… Either as a quick dinner for two or a family pizza evening, great food, great service, great atmosphere. King Alfred was our waiter and he did an amazing job looking after us…. The Pork fillet was out of this world and beer on tap…. What more do you need to end your week. We will be back!

Great chicken salad. The manager, she is super friendly and always smiling with her bright white teeth. She is awesome. I have been here many times and I never get disappointed. Decided to work her today.

This was such a wonderful find! Tucked away in the corner at Steenberg Village is a well run Italian restaurant that holds tons of character 🌱 From the warm welcome and attentive service, this little gem 💎 is a foodies dream. Fresh herbs 🌿 and chef plated Italian dishes that you'll love. Pizza 🍕 pasta, steaks and vegetables of all sorts to choose from on the menu, with big dessert helpings that would make any Italian mama happy to go back for more.

Consistently excellent waitering service and food quality. A legendary Italian food restaurant that has survived the pandemic because of its all-round excellence and value for money. Comprehensive wine list. Vibrant and modern ambience and soothing mountain views from balcony.

Basilico has its good and bad days. They are rather shy on their cheese for Pizza. Most of the young staff are good. We have also had to wait quite a few times. Steak twice was overdone. They advertise Crumbed Zucchini. Disastrous. The food always appears rushed and poor presentation.

Don’t order the Banting base pizza option. You would swear you where ordering from the kiddies menu. Paying R18 extra to get half the size pizza I ridiculous. Fair enough you have the option but rather inform the customer that the base only comes in small. Having not ordered from your lunch time menu pizza special (which we weren’t informed about) and having paid full price. Was not in the mood in arguing with staff on #reconciliationday. Won’t be back.

Fantastic Food!! Bad service!! I love tipping,but when you are faced with a waiter that looks like he hates life and does not offer any recommendations it is pretty shocking. Our glasses were empty and never were we offerd a second drink. THE food is so good. Why the poor service??

Although we have been here many times before and have always loved the ambiance and food - as we did on this visit too - my primary goal was to try out the vouchers I had just bought on the Entertainer app. I was a bit apprehensive having previously had paper vouchers turned down at other restaurants, but had absolutely no problem - our waitress handled it slickly and efficiently and deducted he cheaper meal from the bill. The manageress does a great job - she is friendly, attentive and definitely in control. The only slip up of our visit was that the waitress forgot to bring my salad so it came a little late. That can happen anywhere and did not detract from the enjoyment of the evening.

As usual, absolutely incredible food and spoilt with the view. Service on upper outside terrace was dismal, introduction to food to bill - sadly bare minimum.

I had chicken and chips which was ok, however the brownie dessert was slightly undercooked, more the texture of a fondant. However it was unbearably hot outside as it was inside. It made it unpleasant. My colleague had the pizza which looked amazing so I’ll come back on a cool day for a pizza. Service was pretty efficient.

My son, two friends and I ate at Basilico last night. Three of us had pizzas and one had pasta. The place was buzzing. Service was great and we had a very friendly and helpful waitron. We also made him feel special. The food too was divine. It was my second visit and I'll be back!

Love this place! Mussels are a must 😍 Always book the high table downstairs by the window as it can get a tad warm in there ..the people who work there are lovely 👌🏼

Had our year end function here. Was very lovely. Just that according to my colleuges, the chicken salad could do with a little more flavour and perhaps have the pumpkin e.g grilled rather than boiled! I had the pasta which was good.

We both had pizza which were not only excellent but also more than enough as we both took home 2 slices in a doggy bag. The service was very efficient and extremely friendly

Service cool. Requests dealt with. A very healhhy end to 1st... i will definitely be back. A few more salads to the menu will be a welcome addition. Lovely.

Great food. Great vibe. Loved it. food is cheap compared to other places

Never had a bad meal or service here, probably why we keep going back 👍🏻👍🏻

Amazing Italian restaurant great service and great food!

Basilico is wonderful for a cosy night sipping on wine and eating tasty and well prepared pizza or pasta. I will definitely come again and again. ! <br/><br/>The service is great and it is clean and tasteful inside.

---Entertainer accepted--- I have been here before and it is breathtaking, warm welcome on arrival staff is friendly and advisable, as we had a meeting opted for pizzas and we thought we could all try each other's my personal favorite was the Turin however as my friends choice the Napoli has knocked the Turin to second place. I was advised that you can have a pizza and a pasta to be entertained, meaning you dont need to have both meals as pizzas or pastas, the chefs choices are also available as part of the entertainer, if you are a beer drinker they have a lovely craft beer on tap, scenery is beautiful all around the ambience is fantastic, smoking only allowed ground floor outside, not on the deck upstairs, I would like to also advise of the lunch specials they have R70 for a pizza with 2 toppings of choice and R70 for a selection of pastas and it is well worth it

Not a fan. Got the margherita and it was about as lackluster as my worst case scenario imagined it would be. Base was both too crispy and soft/underdone at the same time, and there was waaaay too much cheese. I don’t think the base was home made (if it was then good golly I’m shocked), and it’s SO EASY to make pizza dough I can’t understand why some restaurants don’t do it!<br/>I ended up covering it with garlic and chili so I could at least finish it. <br/><br/>Partner got the inferno and there was no heat at all. The meat was not what we expected - definitely not pepperoni or even salami. Looked and tasted more like cabanossi. Ew.<br/><br/>We also got the grilled chicken / butternut salad to share. Worst salad dressing I’ve ever had. Inedible. My partner found it palatable when covered in balsamic.<br/><br/>Do not expect quality Italian here, expect basic food that’s somewhat aware of Italian flavors.

We went to Basilico on a very warm evening and asked to move to a cooler part of the restaurant. The waiter proceeded to tell us that this area was actually not warm at all and we couldn’t move. Besides that the pizza I ordered was very good. I ordered extra rocket and they really gave me my money’s worth with plenty of fresh rocket on top. Just wish the service was a better because we all enjoyed our food.

Loved it! The chicken risotto was excellent, the Creme Brulee was as good as I have ever had. The restaurant was vibey and awesome! The service was great and the staff were very friendly.

What a nice surprise. The place was so quiet but we took a chance. Such good service, delicious food and delicious coffee! And to top it they have lunch specials at R70 a person. So worth a visit! We will be back!

I’m giving Basilico a “3” — it wasnt great it was just okay . Despite how visually appealing the food was it still left me feeling unsatisfied . The lamb pizza stated it had mint on it - literally fresh leaves thrown everywhere .<br/>The Umbria said spring onions - literally spring onions everywhere . Both the mint and spring onion where way to gardeny and overpowering. <br/><br/>The waitress was sweet and hospitable but still slow and nonchalant . <br/><br/>Not sure if I will return - because the pizzas didn’t leave a mark in my memory or taste buds .

Best Italian restaurant in Cape Town. Top quality food and service. Pastas are top quality. Pizza’s are amazing. Staff are friendly. Very good

Possibly my favourite, go-to pasta place in the Southern Suburbs. I can always rely on them to make really authentic, delicious pasta and their quite extensive wine list allows me to pair my food quite well. <br/>I am currently, especially in love with their lunch special, as it is extremely affordable. I had the Alfredo pasta and my boyfriend had the most amazing pulled pork and pickled gherkins pizza- flavours that just absolutely complimented each other. Needless to say, I ate most of the pizza up. I would most definitely recommend this to lovers of pizza and pasta - it is especially great for family dinners or a romantic evening or even just a great place for a friendly get together.

We have been here a few times now and the food has always been good.<br/><br/>Greeted very warmly at the door and the place has a lovely relaxed atmosphere. It felt cozy and warm on a freezing Saturday.<br/><br/>Both of our pizzas were absolutely delicious even though they were quite busy. It is always nice when a restaurant produces good food even when they are busy.<br/><br/>The service was was a bit slow but it was fine, nothing special.<br/><br/>We will be back.

I visited here fairly frequently when I was staying in Newlands. I am a big fan of their pastas especially their ravioli. Pizzas are good. Friendly staff and they deliver.

Good pizza, ordered a vegetarian pasta wasn’t my favorite, my friends really enjoyed the lamb shank. Good wine selection and decent service.

yum!!!! first of all waiter was amazing (unfortunately I forgot his name but I'll be back again so I'll find out for you lol), ambience perfect, with low lighting and the coldplay playlist was just date night appropriate!! I had the prawn, leek and tomato pasta, so yummy. the pasta could have been cooked for a bit longer in my opinion. He had the pulled pork and jalapeno pizza, yum too as he's the pizza fanatic. small, intimate and perfect date spot

Food tasted alright but for what we paid the presentation was seriously lacking. Ordered salads and everything was big and clunky piled on top. The pizzas going past also didn’t impress with looks. Some attention to presentation would help a lot. They also continued to move tables around us which was disruptive

We got delivery from Basilico, and the food was reasonably tasty. I had a vegetable pasta with a tomato-based sauce, which I did enjoy, but I found the pasta a bit undercooked. The pizza base was thin and crispy; it was barely seasoned though, and the crust was pretty burnt. Their menu is completely overpriced, but it is a good quick fix if you’re wanting Italian food, and the portion sizes are generous.

This is an excellent restaurant if you are looking for a Wood Fired Pizza, the only downside is that they are not halaal but the vegetarian offerings are quite nice such as the Margarita. <br/><br/>Thin bases are used so you can enjoy a crispy thin based pizza.

Found this place on the entertainer and decided to give it a try. We ordered a chicken pizza and a seafood pizza. Although pizza base itself was light and really good, the chicken that topped it was dry, bland and thickly sliced. The seafood also had a very fishy taste to it, especially the mussels.

Food was good however the worst service I have had in a long time. It took about 20 minutes to get our drinks and we waited an hour for our food without hearing from the waiter once

Great atmosphere and reasonable food. The lunch special is a particular hit. I had the chicken salad on my recent visit. The salad was very attractive and fresh, but those chicken bits at the bottom were an anticlimax. Still, the pizzas and pastas are normally decent.

Have always enjoyed my meals here. Service is top-class and food always of the highest standard. I usually end up ordering a pizza, which is always generous with its topping and tasty. Highly recommended

Food: Ravioli was okay, the filling could be better. Creme brulee was okay but no wow factor.They have lunch specials, didn't order from the lunch menu but it doesn't look bad.<br/>Service: not bad, friendly. <br/>Environment: Clean and simple. Window seats upstairs are nice. They have a recommendations board which is a nice touch and quite helpful.<br/>Overall: Okay but not excited to go back, probably wouldn't. <br/>

My girlfriend and I squeezed in a quick lunch between classes. We went for the afternoon special. Service was quick, and pizza was really good. They're generous with their toppings. The R65 pizza/pasta special is a real win.<br/><br/>Apart from this, the restaurant is well looked after and comfortable.

Dinner with company for conference event.<br/>A group of 50 of us were seated in the upstairs area, with a set-menu consisting of a choice of yellow tail, pizza or beef ravioli. I had the fish, which was divine and everyone else loved their food too. Dessert was a choice of chocolate and cherry brownie or malva pudding - another round of winners. The attentive service and attention to detail made for a great and successful event.

We had a company dinner here a couple of days ago. Venue is lovely, we had the upstairs area to ourselves. Food was served promptly, we had a set 3 course meal. Loved the starters mostly. Main course was a yellowtail fish. It could have used some sort of sauce but good nonetheless. I'm not much of a sweet tooth so the Malva pudding was too sweet for my liking. Portions are really great and filling. I love their plating too. Overall great first experience :)

I went to Basiliico for a work dinner. The restaurant is at a great location. The ambiance was warm and intimate. The service was exceptional. <br/><br/>The food was just okay. Did not really have anything that I want to try again. The fish was for me abit dry. I really enjoyed the malva pudding

I've been a fan of this pizza restaurant for many years. A quick and easy option if you just want something simple and tasty such as pizza, pasta or other reasonably straightforward meal.<br/>Last night changed my mind. We both had pizzas which were loaded with too much cheese and virtually no tomato paste. Also the avocado add on was very lean...almost more of a decoration than an addition. I do think that at R24 a pop they could serve a reasonable portion. The ham topping on one pizza was surely some of the cheapest looking and tasting ham available. <br/>Service was charming and good and the casual, friendly atmosphere was the same as usual. I just felt the food standard has dropped from our many previous visits...a pity.

My favourite pizza place! Consistently good, thin crust pizzas.<br/><br/>My fave is the Basilico- with avo, bacon and feta. Their gluten free bases are good as well. <br/><br/>Definitely a great place for a casual evening meal.

We went there for a late Sunday afternoon lunch and found it such a pleasant little spot to enjoy some family time. With the beautiful backdrop of the mountain surrounded by the quaint setting of Newlands this was the perfect place to eat. The food portions were generously sized and delicious.

Basilico is a very nice restaurant that caters to just about every one be it a big family or a couple looking for a nice evening the food was ready promptly and our waiter gave us good service all the staff are helpful and attentive even if they are not waiting on you specifically. We have been eating here for a long time and will continue to do so.

Lunch on a Friday even in school holidays seems quiet. I was seated promptly and had my drink and order taken promptly. I chose the signature "Basilico" pizza. It is quite large and I had to leave one piece. The tomato topping seemed sparse and a bit dry, the mushrooms, bacon and Avon portions were all generous but somehow the flavours, except the mushroom) were a bit insipid. It improved slightly with salt and black pepper. It seems like a great venue and maybe next time I should try one of the other dishes!

Restaurant was full so the manager told us to leave. Never been treated so badly by restaurant staff. Love the restaurant but Basilico needs to review the people they've chosen to represent them.

We're here at the moment and we've been so well looked after since we arrived. Johan, our waiter, greeted us warmly at the door and showed us to a table upstairs. The aroma of pizza baking is wonderful inside the restaurant. Johan has been friendly and professional all evening and we've been incredibly impressed with the service so far!

Good location in Newlands village. We were a party of 6 and ordered a garlic foccaccio for the table. It arrived looking rather pale and undercooked. I had the chicken fillet pasta with cream and mushroom which was really tasty. I don't really like creamy dishes so was a little worried but it was light on the cream and the mushroom flavour came through strong. A really delicious dish. My wife ordered a marguerita pizza with avoid, garlic and pecorino which was also really good. We arrived at 8pm to a pretty full restaurant in the downstairs section but by 830pm it was absolutely dead which we found a bit bizarre. Service could be more attentive but the food was great.

I'm so glad I discovered this little gem tonight! We went to Basilico on a whim because it's close to home, but I think I'll be visiting a lot more regularly from now on. <br/>We decided to sit upstairs - the restaurant has a very warm and intimate feel in the evenings.<br/>We ordered the Mediterranean pizza as well as the prawn, chili and garlic pasta (fettuccine). <br/>The pizza was definitely one of the best I've ever had. The base was thin and crispy with a fresh and tasty tomato sauce base, topped with peppadews, onions, feta and olives. The particular feta they use is delicious.<br/>I felt that the pasta could've had a little more sauce (it was just a little bit dry in my opinion), and it was a little bland for my liking - but nothing some garlic and chilli couldn't fix. <br/>Both portions were huge (two adults couldn't finish it) and toppings on the pizza were generous. Food was served within 10 minutes and the staff were really friendly, so big ups to Basilico! There is also enough parking outside. I can't wait to go back and try some of their other pizzas.

I had the chicken and mushroom risotto which was good but nothing too exciting. The prices are a bit on the steep side for what you get. Also had the tiramisu which was really good so overall would recommend for dessert.

I've eaten here many times. Pizzas and pastas are great! The Basilico pizza is my absolute favorite. Waiters and manager are friendly and attentive. They are on the entertainer app as well so even more of an excuse to go.

Since its in the Entertainer again, we thought to give the restaurant another go. The restaurant is on 2 floors; the upper having lovely views over Newlands to Table Mountain. The tables are somewhat close together to maximise on the floor space. It's a little impersonal.<br/><br/>For our party of four we shared a garlic foccaccio to start. It was light, crispy and tasty.<br/>We all had pizza. As there was no avo in stock (only for salads actually) we could substitute for something else similar. I had bacon, mushroom and brie with caramelized onions as opposed to regular onions. The caramelized onions tasted pickled which I didn't enjoy. The bacon and mushrooms were both under cooked and I couldn't taste the brie at all. I didn't finish my meal.<br/>Hubby had the seafood pizza. The toppings were sparse and the pizza edges were burnt.<br/>Our friends enjoyed their meal.<br/><br/>Service was ok, could be more attentive. There is a harried feel as if the goal is to feed people and get them out as quickly as possible. There is no lingering or savouring the meal.<br/><br/>BigJoe

Seated in a charming little spot on the balcony that looks upon the mountains, I had fairly high expectations of the food here at Basilco, seeing as one of my Italian friends had recommended it. My expectations, however, were definitely not met.<br/><br/>Let's dig in:<br/>* I ordered the fettuccine with Norwegian Salmon, which was severely disappointing. The pasta sauce was very average and certainly did not taste authentically Italian, at all! I got the feeling that the sauce was made from a bulk-made base sauce that is just slightly seasoned before serving so that each pasta doesn't taste exactly the same. <br/>* My friend, however, order the pasta with half shell mussels and he enjoyed it. (Perhaps I just ordered the wrong thing? His sauce did look/taste suspiciously similar to mine though. )<br/>* Our waitress was friendly and very helpful.<br/>* I ordered a peppermint tea and was brought a dirty tea cup. Furthermore, just as I was about to use my fork I discovered that it was dirty too! (EWWW! Not okay!)<br/>* The pizzas that were served to the table next to us to didn't look too bad so if you do eat at Basilico, opt for a pizza instead of a pasta.<br/><br/>Overall, I might return for their pizzas, but definitely not for their pastas. And should you decide to dine at Basilico, I suggest sitting on the balcony.

After movies at Cavendish, we had an enjoyable dinner at Basilico - a perfect late spring night, gazing out over the square, stars twinkling above, quiet street below and the appetizing smell of the pizza oven flowing in through the open window. I haven't had a decent Italian meal in ages and tonight was the ideal night for some pizza and pasta delights.<br/><br/>We were seated upstairs at a table alongside the window. The restaurant is a bit squished, with limited space to work with in a small building. But the views from upstairs are amazing, especially if you're seated on the balcony. I think this would be the perfect place to have lunch on a beautifully hot summers day. There's not much atmosphere in the sense that the only ambiance is that of everyone else's chatter and the smell of Italian food in the air.<br/><br/>It was already late and we were quite hungry, so we wasted no time in ordering our food. My better half and I both opted for pastas, whereas my parents decided to create their own pizzas. My father's unique combination of chicken, mozzarella, banana and blue cheese looked deliciously cheesy, but he said that the chicken was quite tasteless and there was very little of it. My mother picked a better combination of parma ham, pineapple and banana, and said that she thoroughly enjoyed it. My salmon fettuccine was delicious - the salmon was soft, the pasta was cooked perfectly and was smothered in a creamy sauce, the peas were fresh and there was a distinct taste of mint coming through. A wonderful, flavorsome combinations that was remarkably fresh and light. My better half's chorizo penne was also good, although, being the meat lover that he is, he would've liked there to be a bit more chorizo in it. <br/><br/>Even with Entertainer vouchers, the bill was still quite high when compared to other, similar restaurants - their pizza toppings are very expensive, so I'd recommend you get one of their ready-to-order pizzas or opt for a pasta instead. <br/><br/>Overall, an enjoyable night! The service was good and quicker than I expected, considering that the poor waiters must be extremely fit, having to climb up and down the stairs while juggling plates of food. Our waiter was very friendly and the manager also made an appearance during our meal, just to check if everything was up to standards. A great place for a catch up with friends, a dinner with the family, or a date with an Italian flare. The pizza toppings are overpriced for the amount and quality that you get, but the pastas are massive portions and well worth it! It didn't blow my mind, but I'd happily come back to eat here again and would recommend it to anyone craving some good old fashioned Italian cuisine.

Great local spot for a decent pasta or pizza. Good service and relaxed atmosphere. We had the spaghetti with aubergine, tomato and zucchini (but replaced zucchini with feta). Portions were huge and value for money!<br/> <br/><br/>UPDATE: Came back again for pasta. My friend had the same as last time, and I had the ravioli - super tasty. We had a lovely evening sitting outside on the balcony with a bottle of the Leopards Leap Chardonnay Pinot Noir which was on special. Service was quite slow.

Driven past this little restaurant a few times and after getting the Entertainer App which offers main meal and lunch vouchers for Basilico, I figured it was time to give it a try. It has a lovely feel-good atmosphere when you walk in, very diner-like with a casual and laid back Italian feel. We sat upstairs at the window which is the perfect seating on a sunny day. The R60 lunch special menu is probably the crowd favourite as it offers a variety of meals at such a low price. <br/><br/>Honestly though, I wasn't blown away by the service or the food. My chicken salad was super average and the kind of dish that looked like it was tossed together in a very slap-dash manner. There was nothing wrong with the ingredients, it was just not a salad I can rave about and I've tasted much better elsewhere. Our waiter was pretty grumpy to put it politely and we waited longer than necessary for our bill, after asking a different waiter as well. I may have had the wrong meal and given the smells coming from the kitchen I probably should have gone for a pizza, for which I think is what they are best known. Happy to give it a second chance but I definitely won't be ordering the salad.

Planned to have a girls night out starting at Basilico unfortunately didn't know I had to make a booking for Saturday afternoon, the staff were friendly enough to squeeze us in before their next reservation however the food took very long to arrive and when it did the waiter very sweetly advised us that we had a limited time left before their next reservation. The beetroot salad was delicious more so than the pastas which were good but not great. Also the wine was good.

Always great food here, but the service can be a bit flaky at times. Avoid a table upstairs at the kitchen as this entering and exiting of staff is disturbing. Pizza great, as well as the pasta's. Usually busy over the weekend, so book... If you are on Entertainer, this ones in it.

Basilico's is a quaint Italian restaurant with delicious pizzas and friendly service. The pasta can be a little bland, but Basilico's makes up for it with light and crispy pizza's as well as tasty salads. Definitely take advantage of their R65 lunch special from Monday to Friday!

Basilico is quite the family restaurant, but at the same time, it reminds me of a casual pub. It's always a good idea to make a reservation, especially for days that the rugby is on. Considering they get quite busy, we were surprised to see such a small number of waitress which made the service SO slow. We waited 15 minutes before the waiter asked us for our drinks order. They also do a lot of take-away orders which just adds to the queue. I had the Mediterranean pizza which was delicious- light, crispy and full of flavor. The penne with red, green and Chilli peppers did sound a bit plain but we ordered it anyway and it was quite bland. Everyone seemed to enjoy the sea food pasta. If the service wasn't so slow, I would have enjoyed it a lot more because the food is really good.

We came here for my mother in laws birthday dinner. It was lovely and warm considering the chilly rainy weather outside. The service was good and friendly. <br/><br/>I had the beef ravioli special which was lovely, the serving size was perfect for me. The others had pizza and a beef fillet dish, everyone enjoyed their meals. We actually ordered some pizzas a few days later as a takeaway. I'm a big fan of bacon and banana on pizza which you can do through making your own pizza. This does work out to be quite expensive which was a pity.

I haven't been to Basilico in AGES & went there the other night with a group of friends. We were so impressed - great speedy service, food arrived quickly even though we were a table of 12. Wine was great & ambiance divine. Will definitely go back!

Overall a bit disappointing time at Basilicos. Granted I haven't gone there in a while but what use to be absolute cheesy goodness seemed to be lacking on my pizza when I went this time. The risotto was well liked at the table and the prawn pasta was a bit crunchy. I'm hoping this was only a once off. But might not test it out again too soon.

Had the lunch special at Basilico today. Really worth it for R60. There a few options, a make your own pizza with two toppings, some pasta's and salads. I had the chicken pasta and Sashen had a pizza with chicken and mushroom. Both delicious and filling. The service is great and the waiters are friendly. Will definitely be back.

We didn't have a great experience at this Basilico this evening. The takeaway queue for the pizzas was insane and the restaurant understaffed so we waited over an hour for our pizzas. <br/>However, that being said, the staff handled it pretty well. Both the waiter and the manager came and apologised to us and gave us two complementary puddings. That's why my rating is slightly better than the rating I would have otherwise given. I suggest that if the pizza oven is too small and can't cope with the orders, maybe enlarge the oven?

A narrow doorway to enter through, but once I did enter, I was overwhelmed by the pleasant Italian aroma emanating from the kitchen. The hostess ushered us in, and seated us immediately. We chose to sit upstairs. The place has an industrial-rustic appearance, but adheres to a cleaner, more upmarket finish compared to other rustic Italian joints. <br/><br/>I was disappointed when I found out that it was not Halal friendly, but I mean it is an authentic Italian restaurant, so I suppose that I should've simply expected it. Fortunately, there are a lot of vegetarian and fish choices, so I did not have major difficulty in choosing something to eat. It just so happens that Basilico runs a lunch special from 12 to 4 pm - at R60 a meal, we were able to select some reasonably priced (and delicious!) things to eat. My dad went with a margherita with pineapple and chilli, and I chose a vegetarian tramezzini. The tramezzini was very stuffed; particularly with a lot of feta - eating it with my hands proved to be quite a feat. I also ordered a chocolate milkshake with my food. This was divine! The crème brûlée was just a treat for dessert - smooth, rich and creamy. The biscotti that went with it was not really to my liking.<br/>The only downside to this lunch-time special is that you are not allowed to share meals. But I don't think that anybody is going to wrap you on the knuckles if you inconspicuously steal a bite from somebody else's meal. Shhh... :')<br/><br/>It's a really great spot to meet friends and enjoy the afternoon. I love this area because there's a few things to do right nearby.

I have been utilizing the lunch time special at Basilico since its inception a few years ago, however, my lunch their today was my first return in a while. This is mainly because Barristers across the road have marketed their lunch time special at a competitively lower price and have a significantly more diverse menu to choose from. Having said that, every meal at Basilico is always a treat. The Pizza really is amongst the best in Cape Town, undoubtedly the Southern Suburbs. All the ingredients are of the highest quality and the portions are extremely honest. The restaurant has a lovely balcony upstairs which adds inherent value to your overall dining experience.

This was my first trip to Basilico. The menu looked extensive - I ordered their lamb shank with mash and my husband had a calamari and chorizo pizza. The pizza was fantastic - I had serious order envy as I was really really disappointed with the lamb shank. It could have been Cooked a bit more and there were no vegetables or anything that came with the dish such as roasted carrots et c. The mash was really lumpy - I left feeling rather down after splurging on a dish I don't think was great. The service from our waiter was great :-)

What a lovely casual Italian restaurant! The food is absolutely delicious and makes for a great dining spot from date night to dinner with the family! The menu has a variety of dishes, pizzas with amazingly paired toppings, pasta and salad. Everything we had was great with excellent service too!

Basilico is a go-to pizza/pasta institution in Newlands - I've been there more times than I can count and have never had a bad moment. <br/><br/>The pizza is always crispy, the steak is well cooked and the pasta is a VERY generous portion.

Really nice space and ambiance. My friend and I both could not decide whether we wanted a pizza or pasta so ordered both and shared it. We had the Fettuccine with bacon, cream and mushroom and it was absolutely amazing. We both really enjoyed it. For the pizza we went for the Basilico, large and flavourful so can't complain.

Stopped here for drinks after work. Table was dirty and service non-existant.... This was my first visit here, definately not even going to try attempt a second round.....

Standard Italian fare, all good and fine BUT more to the point they have a solid wood-topped bar right next to the kitchen with about five seats and bartenders that know when to chat and when to leave you to your lonesome crying-into-your-whisky self, and those are difficult to come by. I'm sitting on one of those five seats, but four - preferably three, so I have that extra 'padding' seat - of you are welcome to join me some time.

This is a lovely, spacious restaurant in a busy part of Newlands. The service is average to good, but what is lacking in service is more than made up for by the food, which is excellent. The portions are very generous and each dish is beautifully presented. I had the lamb rump on a bed of spinach, potato and mushrooms, in a rich brandy sauce. It was delicious.

Valentines day and some upmarket pizza takeaways was the order of the day! Basilico was both super friendly and super speedy with our takeaway pizza! <br/><br/>The magerhita with salami was extremely tasty! Definitely plan on coming back for a sit down meal soon!<br/><br/>Only improvement would be sending a little chilli, garlic, parmesan with the takeaway pizza!

I really love where this little Italian place is situated - in the bustling parts of Newlands.<br/>I also quite like the interior with the double volume space, it immediately makes the restaurant feel much larger but keeps the lovely intimate feel.<br/>The pizza variety on the menu isn't the most expansive, though they are very accommodating to changing toppings to your liking, I still found myself umm-ing and ahh-ing because nothing was quite taking my fancy (the shortage of avo in Cape Town is partially to be blamed though).<br/>The pizzas were nice, nothing wrong about them, but I have had better.<br/>I won't be rushing back, though I would like to return to taste the other dishes!

We tried Basilico for the first time last night and had a lovely evening. We had a foccacio to start and I had the bolognaise pizza for my main. I must say after the hype I heard about their pizzas I was left a little disappointed, as I found mine quite bland, it seemed as if it was literally just bolognaise and peppers, no flavouring. However the other bolognaise pizza taker seemed happy. The pulled pork and lamb shank takers were very delighted and they looked scrumptious. To end off we had an array of desserts and they were all very well done. I had the creme brulee, I would highly recommend. The waiter was very knowlwdgable and also extremely patient and helpful, as it was our first time using the entertainer app. Which was very much appreciated. Very pleasant evening :)

What a wonderful evening out with the family. We decided at the spur of the moment to go out to dinner, driving around we decided to stop in Newlands village. Our original goal was to eat at Barristers,but we had a 9 year old with us. Looking around we saw Basilica, and thought let's go give them a try. <br/>From the friendly greeting at the door, to the amazing service from the staff we were made to feel welcome.<br/>I had the pork fillet, my love had the chicken fillet,my daughter had tagliatelle and my son the the pizza. We were all incredibly happy with our meals. We decided to have dessert....again wow and yummy. <br/>The apple crumble....so worth the diet cheat. My daughter had creme brulee... She's becoming an expert having tried this all over Cape Town... She said the best yet. My partner had the choc mousse which he thoroughly enjoyed.<br/>All over a wonderful evening out. We have a new favourite spot in the south...we'll definitely be returning.

Pizza was really decent the way they prepared the bacon was very delicious cooked to perfection. They not shy with Avo and other portions which is a big plus. A Really friendly host.

We visited at one of the busiest times of year, so it was packed and unfortunately service was slow.  The waitress did apologise and I think she was doing her best, but clearly they should have upped staff to cope with the load.  The food portions were both tasty and generously proportioned. I'd go back again - but when it's quieter!

I had the calamari pasta and it was the best pasta I have ever eaten. I am normally very fussy about pastas but I loved this one. The vibe is great and I will definitely go back just for the pasta.

Cozy neighbourhood Italian fare - great pizzas and pastas. Stay away from the steaks and stick to the Italian. I tried the Turin pizza which was awesome - the bolognese was just brilliant. The rump however was small and overcooked.

I always eat here when I come to Cape Town! They make some of the best pizza's in my opinion! Their pastas are also very good but I somehow always end up eating my standard bacon and mushroom pizza! If you looking for a good Italian restaurant then Basilico is definitely the place to go to!

Our all time local favorite Italian restaurant! Well priced and excellent food!! We went for lunch (no booking) on a Sunday and I had the most delicious spaghetti prawns in a creamy tomato sauce with garlic and chilly ever!! They have a special meal board on display and Charlie ordered a steak with creamy pepper sauce which was grilled to perfection!! Lovely modern kitchen feel to it right in-between the leafy green suburbs of Rondebosch!

What an absolute great decision for a Sunday lunch! Not sure what we felt like on the way there, but when the waiter suggested the lambshank, I was sold. And I was delighted! The slow cooked lamb pizza was just as delicious! The food was absolutely amazing and the service great! Will recommend it to anyone. You are in for a treat! Ashley Young

I'm here at least twice a month, and once you taste their food you will be too! A table upstairs next to the window, is perfect to bask in the warm winter sun, and if you make it there before 4 o'clock, you can treat yourself to their R60 lunch specials menu. My personal favourite is their pecorino and black pepper crumbed chicken fillet, but their pizzas and salads are just as satisfying! If you're in the Southern Suburbs and find yourself craving something hearty, this is the place to go!

We picked this place for a date night and were not disappointed. The front desk staff greeted us politely and showed us a table. My fiancé had the risotto with chicken and mushrooms and I had the spaghetti with half shell mussels. Both dishes were delicious and the portions were huge, I only managed to get through half of mine. They have good wine selection as well. I would definitely recommend Basilico if you're in the mood for Italian

I had one of their lunch specials. I had the ham and mushroom pasta in a creamy sauce. It was tasty and was a good deal (at R60). <br/><br/>Our waiter was friendly and the setup was very inviting. I'd come back.

Basilico is quaint and relaxed. Pizza's are thin and tasty. Good wine selection with excellent service. Fabulous little Italian place in the heart of newlands

They have the most epic pizzas ever. And it went down especially well with the Waterford Chenin Blanc. <br/><br/>I ordered the Rustica pizza, which had Salami and Pecorino shavings on it. I asked the waiter to bring me extra garlic, and he didn’t even judge me. (My friend ordered pasta, which as you can see, was also made out of pure awesomeness.)<br/><br/>I give Basilico a big thumbs up for service, food and overall ambience. It's a must for everyone who loves pizza and pasta!

Love this place. Such a lovely feel to the place with excellent food, especially pizza. Service a wee bit slow at times, but quality always good and I certainly never leave hungry. Keep it up, guys!

I tried Basilico for the first time last night as I was in the mood for Italian. <br/><br/>For supper, we had the spaghetti with prawns and the Turin pizza which was my favourite as the base is exactly how I like it, thin and crispy and there was plenty of toppings. <br/><br/>The service was also good but a little slow. <br/><br/>But overall a good restaurant with lovely pizzas.

Edit edit: decided to give the restaurant another try and I'm glad we did! Best pizza I've had in years. Perfect thin, tomatoey base with fresh toppings and great flavours. The cream pastas were also excellent and they were very generous helpings. Definitely worth the trip, I'd love to try one of the interesting risotto next time. <br/><br/>Edit: I was excited to bring my boyfriend here after the great experience I had last time. The trip was really average! The salad in particular wasn't great at all, the parmesan tasted like it had been frozen and the pecorino was like rubber. Really not a highlight<br/><br/>We had a lovely time here. The restaurant was packed the whole time and everyone seemed to be enjoying their food. The main meals were particularly good, pasta, pizza and meat meals all delicious. The desserts were perhaps a little too sweet unfortunately, but otherwise a lovely meal

This is my boyfriend and my go to pizza place, and frequent possibly once a month. We absolutely love it! Thin crispy bases and a lot of whatever your toppings consist of. The ingredients are always top quality- Danish feta, streaky bacon... yum! The basilico is a definite favourite but look out for the chorizo and calamari too. The service can be a bit slow but the pizza makes up for that.

A lovely Italien place! <br/>The risotto is just amazing! <br/>If you like pizza they are really nice too! <br/>Reserve before because it is a very popular place!

Basilico was my student days, they made and still do make the best pasta in CT. Their sundried tomato pasta is to die for, plus they make the best lamb shank around not to mention frociaccia bread and cheese. If you haven't eaten here, try it you will love it. Talita and Jason run an amazing show.

It is in a beautiful part of Capetown with an awesome vibe and atmosphere, the pizza was off the charts and the menus are creative, they have some really interesting beers (to suit every palate) and have an overall friendly staff, definitely a must see in Cape Town

Great food, lovely atmosphere in the heart of Newlands but unfortunately the service left much to be desired. Un-attentive, distracted and generally just avoiding us was our waiter. We were disappointed :(

Lovely atmosphere. Our waitress, Patience, was well clued up and very welcoming and friendly. Food Good - found the pasta under-seasoned for my tastes but condiments were supplied which was nice. Overall, nice cosy place for a hearty meal.

I dig this place. It's very unpretentious and serves up some great food. I've had many ahmazing lamb pizzas here, but tonight I tried something different (healthier) and was seriously surprised by how good it was. I ordered the trout salad, which came with an actual grilled fillet of fish - I was expecting the ribbons and this was SO much better. It was perfectly cooked and accompanied with some fab little garlicky potatoes, minty greens and tomatoes. So simple, and so tasty. My dinner buddy got her usual - the pear, bacon and brie pizza - and she seemed very happy. I'll keep coming back here, as the service is good and they don't audibly sigh when you whip out your Entertainer vouchers.

Lovely little Italian place with delicious focaccia and yummy pastas! We were there during an international sporting event which was being screened in the bar area. The vibe and atmosphere were amazing!!

I tried Basilico for the first time about a week ago. They have good pizza - I tried the basilico one (their signature pizza), and my dad tried their springbok carpaccio pizza. Mine was much better than his - perhaps because it's the most popular? Our waiter was attentive, and even when I ordered an abnormal drink, he took it in his stride and got the order right. Their tables are a little cramped upstairs, and it sort of feels as if you're a part of a different table's conversation:/ nonetheless, the ambience and decor are nice. I would recommend booking during the weekend - we went on a Wednesday and it was quite full!

We had a family birthday dinner here one Sunday and it was the first time I have been to Basilico- I love Italian food and was not disappointed! The risotto was perfect- and the focaccia very good so the pizzas must be great too.

I had the chicken gnocchi and it was superb, I would recommend it. Good service and lovely atmosphere. Will definitely go back to this spot.

The front of house was terribly rude to me. That and there wasn't enough salt on my pizza were the only downsides to Basilico. On a positive note, our waiter was super friendly, quick and helpful.

The venue's location is very convenient. Expected a bit more after reading other reviews .... The service was not so great...... The pizza was okay..... With so many good restaurants in the vicinity, they need to step it up.

Pretty decent restaurant but I was kinda expecting more especially after the reviews I read. <br/><br/>Was kinda disappointed that I did not have the option of half and half pizza especially coz there were two pizzas that I really wanted to try - Thats what killed it for me. But I guess that gives me a reason to go back there.

Our waiter was fantastic - Valentine's Dinner. I tried the lamb soup with the lamb of course - fantastica! Next time we should sit on that balcony - awesome view over Newlands.

Basilico is lovely: cosy, intimate, traditional and very centrally located in Newlands (though finding parking was a pain).<br/><br/>Meeting up with my girlfriend, we started off with a very simple garlic, rosemary and olive oil foccacia, which was delicious, followed by pastas for mains, and ended off with cappuccinos. <br/><br/>Just lovely overall.

In Newlands, nice nooky place, modern decor, food's good, service is good, Italian cuisine, pasta, pizza etc, spotted Jacques Kallis there, will definitely go back, parking is a problem when there's a rugby game at Newlands, otherwise lovely place, kinda romantic too.

<br/>​Some of the best pasta, pizza and risotto is made here! This place must be like our second home, we love it so much! Warm/cosy ambience, paired with good food and wine! We always sit upstairs along the window side or along the stair case, its just our preference to sit upstairs​ though. Also, the balcony is fantastic on a Summers day for lunch or dinner too, but also very popular, so make sure to grab it before someone else does! They also do a R45/R50 lunch special until 4pm I think, also good food and so worth it!<br/>

This is such an amazing little place. Amazing pizzas and good wine. Booking is essential I've noticed they are always so nice and busy, good service definitely goes a long way. Love this place.

Not quite sure what the issue was, to be honest. I think it might be that the place has a big, chain restaurant feel. <br/><br/>Everything about the place screams franchise. It's certainly well put together but just lacks soul. <br/><br/>The service was fine, very quick and efficient. The food was fine. I guess it's just not my kind of place.

Basilico is an Italian restaurant in the heart of Newlands. Their food is delicious with a great variety of dishes to choose from - prices are affordable and portions are generous. We pigged out with starters (mussels and salad) and big mains (steak and lamb shank) and left with full and happy bellies. The service is fantastic and the restaurant is always packed with people.<br/><br/>This is the perfect spot for date night/family dinners/girly wine catch ups. It’s always buzzing and cheerful. Definitely a restaurant to return to again and again… it’s a winner and you are guaranteed amazing food, vibe and service. <br/><br/>P.S. I must mention that this steak was one of the best steaks the husband has had in a long time and the Lamb Shank literally fell off the bone.

Live nearby for over 5 years now but had never been to Basillico before. Went for the first time the other day and it was fantastic. The food was excellent, didn't skimp on pizza toppings and was very well priced and the vibe was very chilled.

Had an enjoyable evening at Basilico, the food was great and the atmosphere was enjoyable. I had the special of ravioli in a creamy tomato sauce. The pasta was tasty but the pizza looks divine

Had a catchup with a group of friends last night at Basilico. Although, I have been here before for pizza, I gave the steak a bash where I was pleasantly surprized. All in all great, simple menu, good service and an awesome evening.

Good solid menu with many options. interesting and delicious lamb pizza. Otherwise food consistently good but we have not yet been wowed. We are frequent customers who are always left satisfied.

Great place, great food, fantastic service... Definitely going to be going back there as I really enjoy the pizza selection and they seem to impress me every time I go there...

A wonderful feast of Italian delights at affordable prices. My first visit to this eatery and I will definitely be back. Great service by our waitron, Tendai...all round a wonderful family restaurant.

This restaurant is one that I have driven past on numerous occasions without ever going in....so glad we decided to sample it's hospitality. What a lovely place , clearly well supported by the locals as all the tables were reserved for dinner by the time we left.<br/>Our starters and mains were efficiently served by Tendai, a thoroughly engaging waiter who clearly enjoys what he does.<br/>The specials were fantastic value for money and even though we settled for pizzas, they were not your ordinary run of the mill pizzas....They came wih a bit of pizzaz and were enjoyed by all. Tendai politely reminded us that the table was booked for 7pm when he saw that we looked as if we were going to stay. ????<br/>Really great experience and we will definitely not be passing by any longer. ..lots on the menu that requires sampling.<br/>In the words of the legendary Arnie.....I'll be back!!

Enjoyewd the food and service was excellent. Will definitely go back and recommend others. Pizza tasty starters really nice...mussels..cured meat with flat bread.

The best lunch special Ive had in the longest time. R45 for a variety of pizzas, pastas, salads or the crumbed chicken (my personal favourite). Despite the special price, portion sizes are big enough and theres no skimping on quality. A really pretty restaurant with good value for money

Came here on a whim with no expectations. So glad we tried it! <br/>You can make your own pizzas which is a plus, their pizza bases are amazing (really thin and tasty). Also tried the ravioli, not a huge ravioli fan so not a great judge, but it was ok. <br/>Service was amazing! Would come again!

Such great pizza - vegetali from the menu was really tasty with super fresh ingredients as was the make your own spinach mushroom pineapple and egg. There's so many pizza restaurants in Cape Town but for us this one stands out for service and taste. Thanks Miguel we'll come again! Highly recommend!

This is a great restaurant with a great atmosphere. The food is definitely some of the best pizzas I've had in a while. I would highly recommend this restaurant.