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Blending old-world Italian style with new-world taste updates at Balducci
16 Jul 2019
Balducci at the V&A Waterfront brings you the best of Italian classics like pizza and pasta, with a twist as innovative new items are constantly added to the menu, like the cheese-burger pizza and lemon salmon-roll sushi - plus, there's a winter lunchtime special if your pockets aren't 'tourist deep'.
Not part of the constant rotation of food-trend-based eateries, Balducci’s has been a firm tourist favourite at the V&A Waterfront for almost 23 years.
That doesn’t mean it’s stuffy and pretentious, though.
A recent renovation by global award-winning architect Stefan Antoni - the man behind the original, PG Bison Award for design excellence-winning solid Cherrywood design when Balducci first opened in September 1996 - means you’re blessed for days with views of the iconic Cape Wheel, Table Mountain itself and the harbour basin out of the clear glass walls.
Don't worry about that winter chill as the inside hums of homely elegance, with luxurious leather seating and a bar packed to the brim with intriguing fresh ingredients and all the staples of those cocktail classics.
Tables were packed, despite the unconventional mealtime of 3.30pm, in mid-Winter – a sure sign that the restaurant’s reputation precedes itself.
It’s authentic, home-style Italian first and foremost, with touches of other flavours such as Asian noodles and sushi and the burgers and signature premium ‘wow’ shakes that Slick Group sister restaurant Gibson’s serves to perfection, or the mouth-watering steaks from Balthazar.
Thinking (and eating) Italian
Having given us a few minutes to peruse all the options he returned with a tray of fresh white and brown bread and soft pats of butter sealed with Slick Restaurant Group paper before taking our order.
My husband opted for the ‘salt and pepper squid’ starter, a plate full of kara-age (stir-fry style) calamari tubes and crispy tentacles, along with slice of lemon, side of lemon hoisin sauce and sprig of rosemary.
There’s lots to choose from if your wine tastes are more specific, rest assured as Balducci has experienced sommeliers on hand showcasing over 100 of the Cape’s finest wines, with 60 available by the glass.
Little wonder they’ve been commended for the fifth year straight by the Wine Spectator Restaurant Wine List Awards for their outstanding dedication to wine.
Switching back to the food-side of things, my husband kept things wine-themed by opted for the signature lamb shank in red wine jus, with a side of polenta.
Full to the gills with squid by then, he was happy to find his portion was just one of the two shanks the menu picture promised, or else we’d definitely be leaving with a doggy bag or two.
The portion was enormous and despite my hunger, I just couldn’t do the serving justice.
Wow-worthy white chocolate cheesecakes and cocktails
Luckily, my ‘dessert stomach’ was still in force as we had eyed all sorts of drool-worthy descriptions on our first run through the menu.
It was a slice of the white Lindt-laced Philly-style cheesecake for me and the signature white Nile chocolate martini’ for him, featuring white Lindt chocolate, Amarula, Cointreau and Nachtmusik.
Balducci's Asian Tapas, Noodle and Sushi Bar. Image supplied
The best part? Balducci is currently running a Winter lunchtime special, which means any non-seafoody pizza or pasta ordered from Monday to Sunday between the hours of 11am and 6pm until 30 September 2019 will only set you back R79.
The 12-piece assorted sushi platter yours for R99 and the 250g grain-fed 28-day matured sirloin, served with your choice of starch or vegetables at R109 – leaving space in both stomach and wallet to add a fancy cocktail or dessert to the mix.
If you join the Slick Restaurant Loyalty programme you’ll receive 10% of the bill total credited to your card, redeemable at any Slick Restaurant, as well as a R200 birthday voucher.
Ending with an even sweeter social responsibility flavour, as part of the Slick Group restaurant family, R10 is added to your bill – and immediately refunded, if you so request – in aid of their ‘Giving a helping hand to someone in the dark’ social responsibility initiative.
This helps Tygerberg Hospital offer corneal transplants to those who need it but wouldn’t otherwise have the funds to afford it.
That’s the Balducci way.
*Leigh Andrews was a guest of Balducci. Visit www.balduccis.co.za or www.balducciasianbar.co.za to make a reservation. You can also follow Balducci’s latest updates on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
About Leigh Andrews
Leigh Andrews AKA the #MilkshakeQueen, is former Editor-in-Chief: Marketing & Media at Bizcommunity.com, with a passion for issues of diversity, inclusion and equality, and of course, gourmet food and drinks! She can be reached on Twitter at @Leigh_Andrews.
