Locanda at Villa 47

Monday, May 30th, 2016

Reviewed by James Freemantle

Villa 47 is a new culinary concept celebrating Asian and Mediterranean cuisine within three unique restaurant environments on three separate floors. The first to open is the aptly-named Locanda, an Italian word meaning ‘Inn.’ This spot on bustling Bree Street is the sort of place where you’ll be welcomed in from the rain and treated to something delicious to eat and drink, but there is more to it than initially meets the eye. The décor is subtly put together but still strikingly classy with crockery on the far walls and fresh Italian produce on the shelves directly opposite. Locanda’s spaciousness immediately provides diners with a feeling of comfort, as if they are at one massive dinner party with friends and family. The resulting hubbub is the sort that doesn’t intrude on personal conversations but does allow the carefully-selected music to add a dimension to the experience. A cursory glance across from the open kitchen reveals a separate room containing charcuterie and other authentic ingredients used in this fine Italian restaurant. When the food is served, it is done so by genuinely friendly waitrons with care and attention. The Classic Caesar Salad is superbly done and those with slightly less voracious appetites might easily regard this starter as a satisfying main course. The trend of generous portions is continued in the prawn dishes, something otherwise not seen in too many Cape Town restaurants of this calibre. ‘Food envy’ is simply not a thing at Locanda because of the variety of quality options. There can be nothing more pleasing than a classic, simple dish comprising delicious individual ingredients that add up to more than the sum of their parts. That concept exists on the plates and spreads vibrantly throughout the rest of the establishment.