Everyone needs to eat; it’s simple fact. That doesn’t mean eating has to be a chore, though, and Capetonian cuisine has plenty of food that’s well worth the effort. Here are three of the most obscure yet delicious small restaurants in Cape Town, writes Joshua Kearney.
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Borruso’s
A small pizzeria with an exceptional rustic charm, Borruso’s offers an exceptional dining experience at a very competitive price. Situated down an out-of-the way alley, Borruso’s is found at 2 Mains Avenue in Kenilworth, just a short walk away from Kenilworth Station.
Open from 17:00 to 22:00 from Monday to Sunday, the hardest part of going to Borruso’s is finding a parking. Between exceptional staff, good prices, and better food, it is a remarkably easy and rewarding experience.
A majority of their expansive menu is focused on pizzas, catering to every taste from vegans to pescatarians and more – I’m partial to their Salmon Special myself. They also offer a large selection of other Italian dishes if pizza isn’t to your taste. This notably includes a surprisingly exotic desert menu.
Sigree Indian Cuisine
Another small restaurant, this one a family-owned venture specialising in a blend of North and South Indian foods. You can find them at 166 2nd Avenue, coincidentally also in Kenilworth, almost right outside Kenilworth Station.
You can stop in between 12:00 and 21:30 every day except Tuesday. Parking is much more available for those that drive there, and the staff are both welcoming and attentive. Their pricing is also an attractive selling point, especially for how good the food is.
In terms of menu, it has all the staples you’d expect of authentic Indian food: curries, tandoori, dosa, paneer, korma, and more. I particularly love their butter chicken with rice and laccha paratha. They offer them in three main “spice levels”, so you can tailor your food to your tolerance. Beware, foodies: they take “hot” deadly seriously.
Ferdinando’s Pizza
Although it is another rustic Italian restaurant, don’t discount it for lack of variety. A small, family-owned business, Ferdinando’s has been touted as “the best Pizza in Cape Town” in the past – and for good reason.
Situated at 205 Lower Main Road in Observatory, not far from Observatory Station, parking is once again the single greatest obstacle between you and their food. Even then, it’s still well worth the time and effort. Speaking of time, Ferdinando’s is open every day from 12:00 to 21:00, and until 22:00 on Fridays, Saturdays, and Tuesdays.
Their menu contains perhaps the single largest collection of pizzas I have ever seen, catering to every possible taste. Delivered with artisan quality and unparalleled presentation, it’s easy to see how they earned their accolades. Personally, my favourite is their Grizzly pizza.
If you find yourself in Cape Town and in need of something delicious, affordable, and filling, look no further than these three restaurants to get your fill of Capetonian cuisine. Eating may be a necessity, but that doesn’t mean it has to be a chore.
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