The Hills Eco Golf Estate is the location for Carlita’s, a light and airy restaurant that serves a mixture of Portuguese, Italian and South African food. Eat Out critic Hennie Fisher investigates one of the most picturesque settings in town.

Fast facts

Best for: Out-of-the-city functions for groups with a picturesque view
Cost: Average price main course is R100
Corkage: R50
Serves: Portuguese and Mediterranean
Star rating: Food 4, service 4, ambience 4

Food

It’s generally a good idea to get a couple of starters to share when visiting a restaurant serving Mediterranean-style food. At Carlita’s, this selection included chicken livers, grilled calamari, deliciously spicy Portuguese chorizo, all of which could be mopped up with soft floury Portuguese rolls and olive oil.

Dishes are served on a great selection of contemporary hotel crockery, and the side sauces are absolutely delicious, home-made and fiery versions of what you can expect to enjoy with this style of food. Considering that the establishment caters for a captive audience, it’s great that the kitchen has expanded its offering to include baguettes with fillings, several options for breakfasts and tea time, as well as a children’s menu. Main items include deliciously smoky grilled chicken, espetadas, bacalhau, oxtail, a mini bunny chow (reportedly a huge favourite), and the decadently meaty Francesinha Deluxe sandwich, which comes with rump, a variety of sausages and melted mozzarella.

Chicken and prawn combo served with sweet potato fries at Carlita’s. Photo by Hennie Fisher.

Drinks

There’s an array of non-alcoholic beverages, including excellent espresso-based drinks, milkshakes and smoothies. For something with a little kick, try a don pedro, or the favourite of owner Carla Chryssanthou’s dad, the Espresso 1920, which is a shot of espresso served with a shot of 1920 Portuguese brandy. Also recommended is the Carlita’s Kiss, made from a shot of coffee liqueur with a cream head, for a delicious ending to your meal. Craft beers include The RedRock Brewing Company’s Rusty Trigger, Storm Rider Pilsner and Nine Inch Ale, as well as some interesting Portuguese wines such as Casal Mendes and Grão Vasco Dão red.

Inside at Carlita’s. Photo by Hennie Fisher.

Service

The team of courteous young waiters is capable and manage to negotiate the affluent new South African in all their guises, from glamorous kiddies’ parties to older couples of two as well as many larger groups. The waiters are competent and able to respond to customer needs. At this stage it is still best to phone when arriving at the main gate of the estate to gain access.

Ambience

The main restaurant opens onto a spacious patio that steps down onto the well-maintained lawn that runs all the way down to the edge of a dam. It is a picturesque setting, which begs for balmy days out in the shade. The outside tables should fill up first on beautiful Pretoria days, even though the inside is also light, airy and modern, with a tasteful mix of furniture and styles. A few banquettes adjoin a large bar, while exposed rafters, high ceilings and a pale colour scheme contribute to a sophisticated atmosphere without being too formal. This is essentially a restaurant in the estate clubhouse, so people also come for gym and other activities, which makes for a vibey atmosphere.

Inside at Carlita’s Restaurant. Photo by Hennie Fisher.

And…

Carlita’s has hosted a number of smaller weddings and events, for which the location and venue are well suited. Pitching a marquee may well make this into a sought-after location for a larger function, too. The team is in the process of opening a small deli adjacent to the restaurant, which will sell home-baked breads and deli items. Carla currently operates another restaurant in the west of the city, where she makes a delicious roast suckling piglet upon request, and she might not need a lot of convincing to do the same at her new venue.

Eat Out critics dine anonymously and pay for their meals in full. Read our editorial policy here.

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