95 at Parks (Previously Carne Constantia)

Saturday, November 4th, 2017

Reviewed by Daniel Cohen

Access and parking are easy. One minute off the Blue Route and you are turning through the very welcoming motor entrance. Even though the restaurant was fully booked and we were among the last diners to arrive for the evening, the atmosphere was calm and welcoming. The house has been tastefully renovated and the layout of the tables leads to a sense of spaciousness when seated. Seating is comfortable and there is enough room on the table that there is no feeling of clutter. Service was friendly but not obsequious. Thankfully, no one came to ask if we were "enjoying our meal". The winelist is comprehensive and interesting, with a range to suit most pockets. We chose the Doolhof Malbec, which was recommended by our knowledgeable waiter. Not disappointed. Our choices were standard Italian fare, penne with tomato sauce and vegetables, (all my dining companion could manage) and for me a local slant on ravioli (stuffed with karroo lamb) followed by liver veneziana with spinach contorno. Affogato to finish. Suffice to say all plates returned empty to the kitchen. All in all, a most enjoyable evening. Admittedly based on a small sample of dishes, my impression is that 95 at Parks offers authentic quality Italian cooking in a pleasant setting at a moderate price. Bravo Giorgio! Ritorneremo a presto.