Review Lupa Osteria Design Quarter - Sandton

Lupa has been at the design Quarter for a while but has been renovated recently. They still have that authentic Italian style and offer good Italian food. There is a lot of room both indoors and outdoors in a spacious seating area. They get busy and there are alway many people but the times we have visited there was always tables. When we visited the seem to have had new trainees as we had a range of different waiters attend to us and the food while good lacked the wow factor.

Wonderful dinner at Lupa design quarter last night. Service on point by our waiter Oneimiso. The floor manager was visible and checked in on us without being intrusive. Best part was the food (isn’t that what is most important?!?). We had pastas, pizzas and desserts and everything was delicious. It was my daughters birthday and she was given a surprise dessert, sparkler included. Perfect way to end the evening.

We had a wonderful experience at Lupa. Our waitor Ethics was polite, friendly and knowledgeable. The food was super tasty and prepared fast. Highly recommend the remus pasta!

If I ever opened a restaurant, I would set service benchmark of Lupa. Excellence at its best. Food was quick, presentable and delicious.

Lupa Osteria Design Quarter – is an upmarket laid back fantastic Italian restaurant settled in the Design Quarter Fourways. The selection of cocktails/ mocktails was amazing. There was such a variety of different pasta dishes and pizzas. I must state for the record, many Italian restaurants that I have been to have been okay, but this place is above and beyond with its taste sensations. Pizzas were also very good and vegetarian options are good. The only negative thing I had was the poor service and even remarked that on the bill. The design quarter had underground and side parking all for free. For the elderly or disabled I would suggest the underground parking as there is a lift that will take them to the 1st floor and from there it is level grounded. I would recommend it for teenagers and above, I don’t think the laid-back ambiance would suit younger children. Well done I will be back, just make sure the service is better.

Truly a beautiful restaurant! A huge thank you to Rodney for the wonderful service , hospitality and attentiveness towards our toddler. The food was fresh, delicious and we will keep coming back! The owners and managers really know what they doing. Congratulations!

The restaurant has a great atmosphere, the staff was super friendly, and the pizza was a very generous portion and absolutely delicious.

My wife and I took a chance on this restaurant. We had never eaten at Lupa before and did not know what to expect. The place was relatively quiet when we arrived, the decor was quite plush, and there were expensive-looking napkins and wine glasses on the table. All of this suggested to me that we were in for an expensive lunch. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that this was not the case. The pricing was reasonable, the service was great, and the food was very enjoyable. A slightly more up-market experience at an affordable price. We will be back.

First of all, thank you to Tracy (our waitress) and Taniun (the manager) for giving us an incredible experience. It was our first visit and most definitely NOT the last. The staff (all of them), the Lupa Rosé wine and the food was incredible. Could not have asked for a better visit. I’d 100% recommend this place to anyone looking for good Italian food. We had a pasta and a pizza (see photos) and we were blown away. The best experience I’ve had in a long time.

Dining at Lupa is always a pleasure! The experience is unlike any other - simply because of the passion, incredible customer centricity and service delivery, as well as the love for food that filtrates from the owner right through to the staff! The atmosphere at Lupa is amazing and paired with the best authentic Italian food which makes for the perfect combo. Thank you Lupa for the excellent service and delicious food, you get 10 stars from me :) Lupa has some awesome weekly specials as well - give them a call or visit, you will love it!

Outstanding service ! Incredibly tasty food ! And a great atmosphere - a definite must !!

Μπράβο, εξαιρετικό!!!

Definately a favorite!!

Fantastic evening as usual

Great specials (we had the mixed platter with meat, seafood, etc), average service (waitress was a little slow & our food was a bit cold when it arrived), otherwise I did enjoy the restaurant. It was very clean & not full, perfect location for a Sunday afternoon lunch. 7 out of 10 😊

Great Pasta<br/>I tried Lupa out for the first time as I have been hearing good reviews about their pasta, and I seemingly cannot fault it.<br/>I went on a Sunday afternoon, there was a live band playing so which created a lovely ambiance. <br/>Awesome laidback restaurant.

Lupa Osteria DQ<br/>We've been meaning to dine at a Lupa Osteria for a while and we can now officially tick it of our list<br/>Not only were management and staff extremely friendly and accommodating ( my OCD for corner seating ) , the food was exceptional.<br/>1/2/3: One of the main reasons I wanted to try @lupa_designquarter is because of what you see in this video. Truffled carbonara served at your table in a torched parmesan wheel , besides it being really cool to watch, it was even better to eat , silky, creamy pasta!<br/>4: Fillet escalope served on gorgonzola and bacon risotto. (Bf is always a steak guy) The fillet melted in my mouth, so tender that he could cut it with a butter knife. He literally did. Best fillet I've tried in a while<br/>5: Italian nachos : crispy 3 cheese ravioli and an arrabiatta dipping sauce<br/>6: Italian cigars: crispy pastry parcels filled with Parma ham, robiola cheese and rocket<br/>If you're in JHB, this place is a must for a perfect date night

Lupa is a fairly consistent mid-range restaurant which delivers a decent quality of food. We've been there approximately five times thus far and have not been disappointed.

Would have loved to give Lupa full marks as my Hake and spinach with parmesan penne was amazing, super delicious and i will come again to have some more.<br/>The fact that they got a order at the table wrong and the inexperience of the staff was very noticeable, lost them a star.<br/>The FOOD is 5 star though.

Diversified menu, good service, good wine list.<br/><br/>The board as a starter is very nice and varied, the pizza was cooked perfectly, tasty and good toppings. The special prawn pasta was also good.

Absolutely amazing service and delicious food. Had my birthday dinner here and I couldn't have been happier. A new favourite spot for me, especially for their pastas 👌

After reading rave reviews about their prawn special and pizzas, we decided to give Lupa a try. Right from the start, service was exceptional. We ordered a pizza, fish, and prawns. After a few minutes, we were informed that there was a problem with the pizza oven and we ordered a pasta dish instead. The fish was exceptionally salty and overcooked. We sent it back and the replacement was absolutely perfect. The prawns was succulent with loads of flavor but the chips lacked texture and taste. The ambiance and outside dining areas are not on par with their neighboring restaurants. We had an average dining experience and will not be rushing back anytime soon.

Lupa is a great place to visit if you are in the Fourways area. The ambience is great and the serving staff is helpful and friendly.<br/>The food is was delicious and especially well worth the price if you get the specials (come with a free beer or wine).<br/>The mexicana pizza was tasty and wood fired cooked to perfection. My friend opted for the prawns special and really enjoyed it.<br/>

Lupa Osteria Design Quarter!! What a delicious lunch! Most succulent prawns we’ve had in a while, and the Prosecco went down really, really well! 🥂 enjoyed it so much that I’ve booked a table for our next visit already! Grant the manager is very friendly and professional , waiters are awesome and efficient! Shhh 🤫....!don’t tell anyone about this Prawn special yummm!!!

Ambiance: Stopped by this beautiful spot because of the lunch special.<br/><br/>Service: The waiter that assisted me was very friendly and helpful.<br/><br/>Food: I ordered hake, as a takeaway. The portion size was generous, was just surprised by the choice of condiments. The food didn't taste wow, but was edible. I'd like to go back to try something else on the menu and have something from the bar.

So we came here for dinner last night. Overall I rate the place a 3/3.5 out of 5. It’s a decent place to eat, but the food & decor were a bit underwhelming. If someone invited me here again, I’d come, but I probably wouldn’t suggest it. Below is a deeper breakdown:<br/><br/>Ambience - 3/5: the vibe was decent, a relaxed place to go on a Friday night. It was probably half full when we got there & it never completely filled up, which can be nice when you’re looking for a place for a quiet dinner which we were. The decor is very pared down - almost looks sparse for such a large space. With so many Jozi restaurants doing well in the decor game this place felt kinda underwhelming.<br/>Service - 4/5: our waiter was pretty good - present, helpful & quick. The food came very quickly which was a bit surprising for a place I thought made their food fresh. Like I don’t mind quick service but when it’s too quick you wonder how freshly made the meals are. I mean even at Roman’s you’ll wait a good 20min for your pizza, but our food couldn’t have taken more then 5-10 min tops? Also, with regards to the service, I’m used to getting that little trio of garlic, chili & Parmesan at Italian restaurants. Here we got the garlic & the chili, and when I asked for parmesan the manager came with this big bowl of parmesan & essentially insisted that he sprinkle it himself. It was the weirdest thing & I honestly did not appreciate it - I would rather get my little bowl of parmesan & control for myself how much I want. <br/>I also ordered dessert which was the chocolate fondant with salted caramel & ice cream. There was zero salted caramel & the chocolate fondant was again very average. I’ve had better-it was a bit too gooey in the centre without enough of the outer cake/crunch. The ice-cream was probably gelato & not ice-cream, because it was very light in flavor - almost too light. Not something I would order again. <br/>Menu - 4/5: the menu options are decent enough. The menu on Zomato is not the same as the one in store, so perhaps an update is needed. The instore menu has better pizza options, but slightly less pasta options.<br/>Drinks - 4/5: decent enough. They had nice enough wines by carafe & their cocktail list was good. I had red wine & my cousin had one of their gin cocktails-very good. They also came around offering limoncellos which was sweet expect for the fact that I was halfway into my pizza. It would have been better to let waiters offer it to their tables once through with their meals & before choosing dessert. <br/>Food - 3/5: below par is the short answer. The long one is that the pizza was very dry. Almost no tomato sauce on the base, only smatterings of mozzarella. I had to wash almost every bite down with a sip of wine. My cousin enjoyed his chicken breast dinner, but I must say the presentation was sloppy, & even his food average.<br/><br/>So, overall I think a 3/5 suits this place best. It’s not terrible, but it’s not great either. It’s just an average place to eat. I wouldn’t suggest it to someone but if I was invited there I might suggest another place even. Really too average for the company which it keeps in that area.

The most disappointing pizza I’ve ever received! Ordered it on Uber eats it came cold, but the pizza itself was terrible! Had a margarita with extra buffalo mozzarella, which you pay an extra R55 for and some slices didn’t even have cheese on them! I asked for it to be served with chili and garlic on the side! I didn’t get any, mediocre at best terrible at worst! For R150 margarita I expected better! I could have made myself a cheese and tomato sandwich that was better! I’ve had their fancy signature pasta at the restaurant the one inside the cheese wheel that was delicious and very rich! But the other pasta was also bang average. Won’t be going there, or ordering from them again! It’s a waste of money!

Homemade pasta is one of the yummiest foods on earth and Lupa makes their own pasta. Food and service are amazing. Even though they no longer have the chicken liver pasta on the menu they still make it for me and it’s incredible.

Lupa Osteria was the destination for lunch today. I was surprised to see the place empty so we could choose where to sit. Starters - Beef Carpaccio with mushroom, parmesan and rocket. Very tasty and recommended. Mains - Calamari and chips. It was good!

Apologies, but this was a very delayed review, my friend whom I had dinner with reminded me about it.<br/><br/>This is also a nice restaurant in Design Quarter, service was prompt and courteous and the food was also good.<br/><br/>For starters, we shared the whole baked camembert which was delicious but it wasn't as "melty" as we felt it should be.  We queried the Manager about it and he explained that because it is wrapped in parma ham and baked, it can't be too "melty" or else it would be oozing all over the plate.<br/><br/>For mains, we had pizza and my Sophie Bear was really good with the gorgonzola & bacon topping.<br/><br/>My friend's Spago was equally delicious too.<br/><br/>Worth a re-visit soon!

Service great. Food delectable. Sangria tastes like more . What an awesome afternoon with a great vibe and even better food. Good value for money. Will definitely be back . Pity I couldn’t upload my video of my carbonara being finished at table WOW

My first experience of Lupa Osteria in Design Quarter was a bit of a mixed bag of opinions. I took a few days before making my mind up as to what my final thoughts was on the restaurant so here goes.<br/><br/>I made a booking at Lupa for two a couple of weeks in advance, when asked what the occasion was I mentioned that it was for an anniversary and requested to be seated at a specific area in the restaurant, and to make it a special occasion by bringing us some champagne when we took our seats at the table, the person taking my booking confirmed and said they will make sure that it is a special evening. <br/><br/>On our arrival we were greeted promptly by a waiter standing outside and I stated that I had made a booking and gave the name I made the booking under. They had a look and walked me to a random table and I explained that I made a booking with special seating arrangements and I was slightly ignored after the fact. Not wanting to start an argument on a special night I proceeded to reign in my displeasure and just have a seat as it was not the end of the world. As a result we also didn't receive our champagne. <br/><br/>We ordered a starter of Italian Nachos & a Garlic Focaccia... The Small raviolis that came with the Italian Nachos were fairly bland but the dipping sauce had a good tomato sauce flavour, the Focaccia was also very bland even for a plain garlic one. By this time we had both finished our first drinks before our starter came and weren't asked for a replenishment and after a good amount of time I flagged a waiter down and requested another round of drinks. <br/><br/>When it came to main meals we ordered the Butternut & Ricotta<br/> Ravioli and the Fettuccine Marinara. The ravioli was very good and the mellow flavors in the ravioli and was complimented well with the Sage Butter sauce. The fettuccine pasta was freshly made and well cooked but the seafood Marinara left plenty to be desired for. Main reason being is that the seafood had a real frozen seafood taste to it and left a bad after taste. I know we're in Joburg and not near the ocean so I'm not being unrealistic, it just doesn't seem that the ingredient quality was the best with the seafood.<br/><br/>At the end of the night we shared a Tiramisu (Delicious) and had a Cappuccino, and all together had a decent night, even though it did not meet my expectations. The overall ambiance of the place was pleasant and the waiting staff was extremely friendly<br/><br/>I am all about second chances so I will consider giving it a try again.

My first visit to the Design Quarter branch of Lupa was indeed a delight. The woodfired pizzas are made to perfection and the dough is definitely of a good quality that's light. We all ordered various pizzas that would see us returning fairly soon! Ambience and service was great!

This is the first time we have been here. The service was good, we shared the medium Antipasto and it was excellent value for money. We need to come again to test the other food to give it a full rating.

Lupa Bedford Centre: if you want good Italian food, go to a good Italian restaurant. If you want mediocre overpriced Italian food, go to Lupo Bedfordview. Does nothing for the reputation of Italian cuisine.

Regular chill spot. Staff is amazing and professional. Love their pizzas as well as their peri peri chicken livers are to die for...yum! I would definitely recommend if you’re around Fourways.

I think this restaurant is definitely overrated. On first impression it looks very nice but they should tell you when you book it’s quiz night! I really don’t think that’s it’s a quiz night environment. If I wanted a quiz night then I’d go to a pub. The food in mediocre and portions are small for the price you pay. We had veal lemone which was underwhelming and calamari which was again not great. More fish and chip shop than upmarket restaurant.

Unfortunately very disappointing for a R105 and R130 pasta. Tasty but very small portions indeed. Was expecting a bit more. Hopefully better next time.

Went to the Bedford Centre branch but it was so good I had to review it somewhere. From the minute we arrived (without a booking) the service was excellent. The food was phenomenal and the waiters were very knowledgeable about the food and explained the specials perfectly. We have since been back quite a few times and it’s been great consistently. I highly recommend the porchetta Friday special!

I love Lupa, had amazing calamari, pizza & gnocchi there...but we went on Friday night and my husband ordered the beef burger - not good at all! The texture was completely wrong for a burger it was like the meat had been blended until it was a fish paste texture! Very bleak about this experience I always recommend this restaurant!<br/>

07.09.2018. Now this place has been on my list for a while. I need to come back and taste the food. A friend and i just had drinks and a catchup. Reasonably priced and tasty. YUM. Lupatini's - Absolute Vodka, Takamaka Rum, Cranberry Juice and fresh Lime.

Everything I could ask for and more. Their buffalo mozzarella caprese salad is simply delicious. Love their pizza. Very tasty tomato soup. Friendly service. Their wine on tap is really good.

Everything there was great actually it was amazing. The service, the attention to detail, to the food. I’ll highly recommend this place to anyone ☺️

Let me just tell you how impressed I am with Lupas. I’ve only ever had take aways from this magical Italian gem. But every time I step in there I feel like a part of the family, I have Dylan to thank for that. He went out of his way to make me orders that are not on the menu. Their attention to detail blows me away, even when ordering from Mr D. If you are in the mood for Italian, definitely pop into Lupas. You will not be disappointed. Cannot wait to bring my boyfriend here for date night.

A quiet place. Food is good, standard pizzas and pastas available but not a huge variety on offee. I ordered a vegetarian pizza, was tasty. Good coffee!

Visited Lupa Osteria Design Quarter on a very cold night. The ambience was great and the place was warm with internal heaters. We ordered pizzas and pastas and all were really tasty. The prawn pasta could have done with a little more salt however it was tasty and the prawns were generous. Desert was amazing. Had the chocolate caramel fondant. It was decadent and gooey with chocolate. Will definitely be back.

I visited Lupa Osteria for lunch. The decor is modern and industrial. The layout is a bit odd as one would expect from a space that used to be home to Primi. The restaurant wasn’t busy as everyone seems to flock to the other two restaurants in the near vicinity - possibly because they have more of a vibe/better outdoor seating.<br/><br/>Italian nachos starter was very yum.<br/><br/>Pretzel dusted calamari starter was nice but didn’t taste any different to a normal fried calamari. <br/><br/>Presentation of the starters was very messy, like things were thrown on the plate.<br/><br/>Parmesan fries would have been nicer if they were cut thinner and served with truffle oil.<br/><br/>Chicken, avo, feta and peppadew pizza was very average and can be compared to a junk pizza. I prefer a thin base for wood fired pizza and this tasted too thick and doughy. <br/><br/>I didn’t like that their bottle Cokes are 250ml but they charge the same price you would pay for a 330ml elsewhere.<br/><br/>Overall an average experience. <br/>

Ordered the Chicken Panini from the lunch menu. 2% chicken (maybe one breast serves 4 people?), 98% soft untoasted white bread. Not impressed with the quality of the food to say the least.<br/>Of the 4 eateries at Design Quarter this one is by far the quietest for a very good reason.

Had a lovely lunch at Lupa Osteria. Our waitress was friendly and efficient and she made great recommendations! Tried the Hot Chic Pizza - base was thin and crispy, chicken well spiced and topping was evenly distributed. Also had the Fettuccine Con Pollo pasta - really enjoyed it! I wasn't too fond of the cocktail menu, but on a plus the drinks prices are relatively affordable. Will return to try other dishes on the menu!

Visited Lupa Osteria at Midstream estate.<br/>It was cold and rainy outside thus the warm fireplace feeling was so welcoming.<br/><br/>The waiter was friendly and service was good.<br/>The food was delicious and i will definitly visit them again.<br/><br/>I had the chicken marsala, very delicious. my husband had the meat lover pizza which was a bit salty but also good.

This was a great night out and overall a very pleasant experience. Staff were very attentive and accommodating. Thoroughly enjoyed the pizza, I highly recommend the No. 11

Superb evening spent celebrating a special birthday with a table of good friends. Food, service and ambiance very special. Each plate of food tasted delicious and even our fussier friends had smiles on their faces! Thanks so much!!<br/>

Wonderful food, fresh home made pasta and interesting combinations of ingredients. The wine selection is great with some special wines that you don’t get in many restaurants, like the Newton Johnson sauvignon blanc . The atmosphere is relaxing with a friendly casual vibe. Everything you need for a great night of feasting with friends or a chilled lunch. Definitely worth a try in my opinion.

Been here a couple of times for dinner. Pizza is excellent always. My partner had the fillet and was very happy with it. Just around the corner from home so a great place to visit on the spur of the moment. Also has outdoor seating which is great when the weather is good. Will definitely keep going back.<br/>

Tonight I decided to grab a quick take away from Lupa in design quarter. Since I wasn’t sure what I craved so I opted for the fillet with avo and risotto. It was absolutely delicious and since it was so incredible there was no time for a pic sorry. The service was quick and friendly.

<br/>We are regulars at the Lupa DQ branch. The staff are always attentive to us. The pizza and Napoli sauce are amazing. Try the gnocchi bologna

The waitress was new, very polite and friendly, eager to please. The food did not disappoint and was presented well, more variety for vegetarians is needed on the menu especially for desserts ! The changes and variations suggested were accommodated.

This place is amazing! The food was magnificent for breakfast! There is spectacular decoration and a modern-like ambiance. I think it is a very good restaurant and I recommend it highly!

Went here on a Monday night, so it was a little quiet, but I really can't blame it as there are very few restaurants that will be busy on a Monday. Overall though, I had a great experience. Our waiter was attentive and friendly, the food was fresh and delicious, and the drinks selection was great! What really sets this place apart from others is the fact that all their pizza and pasta is made from scratch which adds just that extra level of love and attention.<br/><br/>The prices are a little steep, but for the quality of food I recieved, I rate its worth the money! Definitely worth a try!

The kitchen was close to closing hence the ordering process was a tad rushed.<br/><br/>Food was awesome.<br/><br/>Service was ok but then again no real service was required. The waiter was there when called.<br/><br/>Overall a good experience. Would like to visit with more time at some stage.<br/><br/>

I loved everything about this place. <br/>Excellent service and tbe food is AWESOME.<br/>Been to the one in Durban and its just as incredible. <br/><br/>We got lemonchellos as we arrived and ordered thw truffle foccacia so tasty.<br/><br/>Got the Kingklip in the woodoven to die for and u can choose any side u desire. <br/>Great friendy manager and ill keep coming back.

I don’t often eat out Italian. But Lupa I will definitely go back to many times. <br/>Food is to die for. Lovely atmosphere, especially sitting outside, day or night. <br/>Their Bellini cocktail is my go to. It’s so amazing I can’t handle it. <br/>Livers were perfectly done and so was the pasta itself. <br/>A must go to at least once.

The staff are unfriendly and look at you in a rude manner, the service is horrendous. Came here with high expectations because of the other reviews, but have been greatly disappointed. Spent money just to be treated badly by the staff.

This is a really great place to come with a big group on the weekend. Last I was there was for a birthday. I had the mussel starter which was great - the sauce was awesome. Then the Sophie bear pizza, which was Gorgonzola heaven. It’s also really nice having another great restaurant open in the fourways area.

Lovely venue especially for perfect summer days when you can sit outside. Live music outside - perfect ambience. Wide variety on the menu so if you have any special dietary requirements they seem to cater and cover for most. We had so many people come to check up on us that I must say we were actually unsure of who our waiter was - but rather be too well looked after than not at all. Just become difficult when requesting the bill because we didn't know who to look for hahaha. But the food was perfect - no fault there. Replaced pasta for gnocci - it was gorgeous! Nice size portions! Will def return

Today was a good day to have a cocktail 🍸; beautiful sunny skies and live music. I had lunch at Lupa Osteria and was attended to by Innocent; he is a gem. I had lumache - wood roasted snails for starters and Penne Scamorza (prawn tails, smoked chicken, white wine & garlic in a mustard & parsley cream) for my mains and a baked cheesecake. OMG divine 😋 😋 😋. This place is a vibe guys

Dined with 4 of my work colleagues.<br/>Comfortable warm restaurant. <br/>Was not so impressed with my prawns - was extremely salty and overly done - salad was very clumsy and almost looked wilted requested Avo in it but received none. Tomatoe soup was delish - and so was the calamari and gnocchi. Pimms cocktail is refreshing <br/>Service was average.

One day I'm definitely going to visit Italy to try out every pasta and pizza dish on hand. But seeing I'm still in South Africa I'll try out every Italian restaurant here. <br/><br/>Let's start with Luna's decor , it was very smart and inviting. <br/><br/>The food was delicious, for starters I had the snails cooked in a rich Gorgonzola sauce served with toasted ciabatta. I wish their was a little more bread to clean up the cheesy plate. <br/>For mains I had the Penne Gardeneria (veg option as the chicken isn't Halaal) which is Penne with zucchini and deep fried spinach balls , this was absolutely heavenly and rich. My husband tried the Quattro formage which is basically 4 cheeses on a pizza base , he enjoyed it thoroughly. <br/>For dessert we tried the Nutella fondant , the vanilla gelato was below average and the dessert itself was burnt. So quite a disappointment. <br/><br/>The service wasn't too great. The waitress walked pass our table more than 5 x and didn't ask if everything was okay or if we needed anything. I had to continuously raise my hand for attention. <br/><br/>The prices are reasonable.

The service could definitely do with some major improvement. I’ve visited this establishment about four times now and only on one of the occasions was the service satisfactory. The last visit was the worst, which was maybe a bad day to dine out as it was a Monday 🤷🏽‍♀️. The Food: the food has always been great here except again on my last visit I ordered Parmesan chips to go with my duck and the chips were normal chips sprinkled with a little Parmesan, they were cold and very dry to the point where I thought they were just plain stale. Love their spinach, once had it with the chicken breast off the lunch menu and then also ordered the Parmesan spinach with the duck on my last visit.

Started with the usual Bruchetta , excellent, then the Pollo Arretto , the best of the best ! Never had better 😄the service and hospitality can't be bettered ( even by The hosts mother )

Very great atmosphere. The weather allowed us to sit outside. Friendly staff with impeccable service. The food was absolutely delicious! We had the Italian nachos, Sophie pizza, one of the pastas with tiger prawns, chicken, white wine and mustard; for dessert tiramisu was a winner (ask for it even though it's not on the menu). Very good use of flavours, Lupa managed to strike a balance of tastes that worked out wonderfully. What a pleasant surprise, even ended up staying for 3 courses! Will definitely return for authentic Italian soon! 👌🏾

If an authentic Italian experience is what you are after then look no further than Lupa Osteria! Having tried out Osterias in Italy it was an absolute pleasure to be served freshly made pasta and the Limoncello as an aperitif was a lovely touch! Book in advance to avoid disappointment and give the gorgonzola gnocchi a try.

Very good food. The service was prompt and staff was helpful. Liked the options on the menu. Lively place overall. Must visit, esp in the afternoons.

I love going to this restaurant I probably go here once a week for the amazing pizza one of my favorite things is to order the antipasti this time round it was a bit disappointing everything was put on one plate including the focaccia the plate looked squashed iv had this so many times so I saw what was missing or should I say what was being hid. The pink ham was one slice cut in the middle made to look like two slices which was very thin the feta was missing the focaccia looked unappealing coz it was stacked on top of each other. I was very disappointed as I love their food.

Have been to Lupa twice now and loved both visits. Lovely staff, happy atmosphere. Both times I have had pasta and thoroughly enjoyed it. Most recently- the ravioli special which I would highly recommend ! The tiramisu was to die for.

So went over to Lupa for a quick bite! I like the setting very nice & relaxed. The price of the food was also quite reasonable. <br/><br/>Food: <br/>We had a salad for starters, a Parmesan and cashew nut one. It was really salty so that was quite disappointing. <br/><br/>Mains: <br/>We both had chicken pastas which were delicious, the portions are also quite generous. <br/><br/>The menu is well designed it's not overwhelming, there's just enough of everything

Food is great, from starters to dessert. Lots of veg options and unique starter options. Italian donuts were amazing. Service was great too.

The competition between high end Italian restaurants is intense and Lupa certainly does it best to stay ahead of the pack. We loved the Italian nachos - a fun idea and really delicious to boot. The mains were classic fare done well. The lamb shank was melt in the mouth and the cabonara comforting. <br/><br/>We thought the seafood pasta had a very heavy tomato base, overpowering the delicate shellfish flavour and that the fondant was quite undercooked. <br/><br/>Whilst the meal was not offensive in any way, Lupa did not wow us as much as their Italian neighbours down the road.

Delicious Authentic Italian Food with superb service. <br/>Ambience:<br/>This restaurant is where the old Primmi was in Design Quarter. It's fairly new.. opened in Dec 2016. Setting is lovely and cozy with lovely background music - not too noisy. There is a more private section of the restaurant near the kitchen and washrooms. <br/>Authentically Italian with picture frames of Pavarotti and other Famous Italians. <br/>I especially liked the specials written on the chalkboards. <br/><br/>Food:<br/>Delicious, hot and spiced to perfection. We enjoyed everything we ordered from the salad to the tortellini, to the gnocchi. <br/><br/>Drinks:<br/>Well made and prompt service. I loved the attention to detail. <br/><br/>Service:<br/>We were treated so well by Kathy, Dylan and even George the owner introduced himself and was super friendly. We were treating my daughter for her soon to be bday and we were given complementary chocolate mousse ice cream (decadent) without even asking for it!<br/>Pricing:<br/>Reasonably priced - not over priced like some restaurants in the Sandton area. <br/><br/>We will be back here even though it's not in our vicinity. We loved everything about Lupa especially the absolutely amazing service and hospitality!

What a complete surprise...we came here on a whim and it completely blew us away. To start with the service is fantastic and the managers are extremely friendly. The Snails in Gorgonzola is any Gorgonzola's fan's dream and the pizza base is crispy and tasty...best pizza base in Johannesburg. Definitely coming back😊

Amazing atmosphere, staff and well Italian cooking by the best mama... The corkage is reasonable and the food across the spectrum is mouth watering. My new favourite spot.

Last night we dined at Lupa Osteria, and what an amazing experience it was! The restaurant was lovely and warm on arrival, kitted out with plenty of gas heaters to counteract the chilly winter night. The atmosphere was festive. Our waitress handled our table of 11 with the utmost efficiency and expertise. We feasted on antipasto platters before our mains arrived, made up of divine cured meats, olives and cheeses along with crisp focaccia. Of our mains, the duck, braised veal and porcini panzerotti special were to die for! Their pizzas are of top quality, crispy and hot out of the oven. In between mains and desserts we slated our thirst on many a Lupatini cocktail, also enjoying a Chocolate Martini and Limoncello shots. For dessert we tried the Nutella fondants and cheese cake, the latter being a better pick than the former. To top off the night we were presented with some complimentary Limoncello shots before leaving. <br/><br/>Thank you for a wonderful night Lupa! We look forward to our next meal with you!

Since replacing Primi we hadn't visited Lupa's so thought we'd have Saturday lunch. Good decision and thoroughly enjoyed the dining experience. Started with Focaccia bread (basil and tomato) see pic, best I've ever tasted. Mains I had spaghetti polpette (meat balls), amazing but I bit large so diner was sorted. Finished off with Italian donuts, chocolate sauce and ice cream, loved it! Good vibe, friendly staff and good management - will be back!

Came to this beautiful place for my birthday dinner last week! The staff were so friendly and the managers just amazing! Their food is to die for. From their truffle focaccia to their pizza and pastas, even their desert! Just divine! Their pastas are made on site and you can definitely taste the difference - so fresh!! Thank you for the wonderful food, lemon cello shots, and amazing service! It was a great night!!

So glad we decided to try this restaurant. Is becoming a new favorite. The fact the the pasta is freshly prepared makes the experience absolutely worth it.

Such a lovely restaurant. Great service. A really nice menu with some interesting and different drinks as well as food. Will definitely be back.

Superb service. Beautifully done out restaurant. Food was outstanding. Amazing variety and many gluten free and vegetarian options. Cannot wait to return!

Tried Lupa Osteria's lunch specials on Friday and thought they were excellent value for money. My sister had a pasta which she thoroughly enjoyed and I had their chicken breasts with spinach and mushrooms. I wasn't wowed by the chicken and wouldn't order it again but will definitely order off their main menu next time as it looked divine.

The nachos are really good and the accompanying sauce is just the right amount of spicey. They don't have red caps however the good service made up for it. The hot chick pizza was very very good.

Came here for my birthday lunch because I've heard such great things and looked at the menu about a million times and pre planned my order cause it just looked/sounded so delicious. <br/><br/>I was definitely NOT disappointed! The food was incredible, I wanted to savor every last bite. The homemade pasta and focaccia were light, freshly made and definitely didn't make me feel bloated at all! I was surprised since I ate so much - That's the difference between homemade and store bought by the way. <br/>I got the Italian doughnuts with chocolate sauce with a side of vanilla ice cream and the baked cheesecake - HEAVENLY! It was packed with flavor and was presented great. I then got the Irish Coffee to end off the lunch and that was amazing too, Just the right amount of whiskey. <br/><br/>I must say, the focaccia was definitely my ultimate favorite. It was really amazing!! 😍 I even think I dreamt about it that night Ha Ha. <br/><br/>The service was good and very attentive which was lovely. The food came reasonably quick and was still warm. <br/><br/>Everything is reasonably priced so you won't burn a hole in your wallet either! I walked out there feeling very satisfied and happy with life and NOT bloated.😆<br/><br/>I would DEFINITELY, one hundred percent recommend coming here if you love your Italian food and a nice homey vibe as much as I do!

Delicious authentic meal, with great service and nice atmosphere make this place a must try! The pastas were tasty and full of flavour and the focaccia crispy! Leave some space for desserts!

Very disappointing, had a fillet and lamb shank, both meals very average. Would expect a place rated by above 4 to be outstanding!!! Try harder guys!!

Hands down my fav pizza ever. <br/>Thanks for the amazing service and delicious food. I will def be back. <br/>My bf ordered the Caesar salad and it was to die for. Yummy!

The food from starters to dessert was amazing...this place makes 'proper' pizza! Everything delicious and their cappuccino is addictive(should've asked what brand it was)..service was excellent, will definetely be back often

Great pasta; well seasoned and decent sized portions! Definite yes and apparently the pizza is off the chains! The Bomboloni dessert is also a yeah!!!!!

What a devine evening, the pasta was absolutely out of this world, as their pasta is made fresh at the restaurant. What a lovely restaurant with a stunning vibrance

We have now been back to this restaurant on two separate occasions and I must admit it is becoming one of my favourites. <br/><br/>The food here is outstanding and the service is great. <br/><br/>My kids love the Spaghetti Bolognese and grilled calamari starter. <br/><br/>I tried their new Chicken Caesar salad and when it arrived the chicken was crumbed which I was not so sure about ... however it was delicious! The chicken was moist and the crispy bacon bits were incredible.<br/><br/>The kids had the Italian donuts for dessert - with plain chocolate sauce and ice cream! Personally I prefer my chocolate sauce to be a little runny but the kids loved it.<br/><br/>Can't fault the food ... a must try

Lip Osteria is warm and welcoming, and you get a lovely smell of garlic and cheese drifting thro. I enjoyed the Gorgonzola snails...lovely and cheesy. I went for the carbonara which was good but the egg taste was too much. Service was excellent.

I expected so much more given the high ratings. Our reservation was cancelled (despite us not canceling). We got a table near the toilets and a storage corner for old tables and chairs. The wait time for the food was unacceptable - it took well over an hour and some dishes were cold, while others came out at seemingly random times. The food tasted good but my pasta was so past al dente that I could use it as wallpaper paste. Can't say that I'll go back willingly.

Visited Lupa for my birthday dinner and was jot disappointed. I had Pizza which was delicious, a different textured base, which I enjoyed. My partner had the gnocchi which was spectacular and the desserts were knock out. Will definitely be back!

A beautiful restaurant with a lot of attention to detail. Love the setting in the square. The staff was extremely friendly en the service great. Delicious specials of the day to choose from.

First review. Great vibe. Excellent host. Not stingy on the cheese. Service is friendly and accommodating. You can relax and don't feel rushed. Lovely place to spend time relaxing with great food and wine.

Went through on a week night with friends. Service was great, the complimentary limoncello was definitely a nice touch! Great setting and decor.<br/><br/>The truffle garlic bread was one of the best. Between our three pasta options for mains, the porcini mushroom ravioli was the winner.<br/><br/>Will definitely go back to try out the dessert menu.<br/><br/>*****<br/><br/>Following up from my precious review I did actually get a chance to try their dessert on another visit to the restaurant. Unfortunately it was rather average. The nutella fondant is more of an underbaked cake than fondant with not much of a nutella flavour. The sauce that accompanied with bomboloni was rather grainy and the vanilla ice cream just a standard supermarket tasting ice cream.<br/>

New favorite, best gluten free pizza base made with coconut flour. Napoli sauce tastes like it's made in Italy, gnocchi is delicious and not chewy. Lamb shank is also a winner but quite pricey. Many vegetarian options too. Great food and I'd recommend it for a special occasion

Our first visit to Lupa. Felt disappointed to be given the table right in the doorway (worst table in the restaurant), despite making a reservation. We immediately said no to sitting there and manager Dylan found us a table further in, albeit with some doubts as to its possibility. Seated, we waited for service, which was slightly delayed. Waiter Gabriel was a bit shy and inexperienced. He was unable to make recommendations, suggesting the chicken when I pushed him, but unable to tell me what chicken dish, pointing at my menu aimlessly. So we just made our own decisions. The garlic focaccia was amazing. We had "secondi" as mains. My Boyfriend's lamb shank was nice but he has had better. My fillet with avo on the risotto was okay but very dry and unbalanced as a meal. Dry risotto, dry fillet, only two tiny but very tasty wedges of tomato, and an enormous avo on top, with a teeny amount of balsamic glaze. It just needed more moisture to it. The cappuccinos were 10/10. At the end of the meal Gabriel lost interest in us and once even communicated with us whilst walking away from us, assuming we didn't wish to order anything else. We didn't feel compelled to order dessert. We still tipped 15%. We are not enamoured but hopefully I can give a rating higher than 4 when we return for the pizzas and pastas, which seem to be the better bet as a meal choice.

Good but not great. Lets starts with the positives, this place has a great vibe and relaxing atmosphere, open with tables spaced adequately, also loved the "glass box" where you can view how the freshly made pasta. Pizza bases are thin and crispy and the toppings just in the right proportion. Then the not so good, pizzas came to the table bit cold and soggy meaning it had to stand for a while before comming to the table, also if you really want to test the quality of a pizzeria, the most simplistic pizza i.e. The classic margarita needs to be done well, and unfortunately the tomato base is just not packed with the flavor you expect. Lots of good to work on but a few areas that require improvements.

Fantastic food, good service. I recommend this restaurant to anyone who would like a good pasta or pizza. The atmosphere is great as its location is in a vibrant and social space.

Lupa Osteria quickly made it onto our list of one of the Best Italian eateries in Johannesburg!  It opened towards the end of 2016, so is still relatively new, but the pasta dishes this gem turns out is really amazing!  All the pasta is made on site, in the "Dough Room", so you simply can't get any fresher.  Hubby had a pasta dish called - Spaghetti Aglio Olio Pepperoncino - spaghettiwith prawns, lemon, olive oil, parsley, and he absolutely raved about it!  I had a fab vegetarian stuffed pasta – and once again, you can TASTE the freshness of the pasta.  They have a great drinks menu – some delicious cocktails, a good wine selection – something for every taste.  The service was great and the manager was present and conversing with the patrons.  Definitely highly recommended!  

I absolutely love good italian food. Visited Lupa on a busy Tuesday night. We had the Fettuccine Con Pollo and Fettuccine Prawn Carbonara. Both were deliciously fresh. You can really taste the pasta is fresh and the flavors of the sauce were delicate and perfectly balance. The staff are very attentive, knowledgable and accomodating. Also noted the Manager was very hands on and busy around the restaurant throught out the time we were there. The restaurant is quite open in its location but at night the doors are closed and heaters on so it was really lovely and cozy. Worth the visit. Will be back.

Very popular spot at the moment. They make fresh pasta in front of you. We had gnocchi fantasia. It was incredible!!! And the fillet avo stack also good option. The white wine risotto was devine.

Service was extremely slow for a Thursday dinner. We kept getting checked on and complained about the waiting time but still - food only came out after more than an hour of placing the order. A Reservation was made and when we arrived they advised that the reservation was cancelled - this wasn't true but they tried to make up for it with free focaccia for the table. All the food we ordered including pastas, pizzas and calamari and zucchini were good - except the gnocchi came out cold. Calamari and Zucchini fries were nice and crispy and was highlight amongst all the meals ordered. Unfortunately the slow service drops this rating.

Amazing balance of flavours! Pasta has a great texture as they use imported flour and a good crust to the pizza. Nice atmosphere with attentive staff, looking forward to come back to try other dishes. Recommend the meatballs spaghetti and lupa salad!

The food was amazing, the service was great and the atmosphere was relaxed!!! <br/>I would definitely recommend Lupa to anyone.. I will be back soon!