Inside Paradiso

Gentle Café Paradiso in Kloof Street is one of our favourite restaurants.  It is part of the Madame Zingara group.  On a cold day we like to sit inside close to the fireplace.  In summer it is wonderful to sit outside in the beautiful tranquil garden where one has an excellent view of Table Mountain.  We are always reminded of our Spaniel, Luca, when we sit outside, as it was his favourite restaurant as well.  Yes, pets are welcome at Paradiso.  The kiddies have a special menu. There are projects for children like baking cupcakes or making their own pizza while their parents are having lunch or dinner.

The open healthy sandwiches are a joy – roast veg, goat’s cheese & basil or Camembert, onion jam & rocket with prosciutto, etc.  The pasta is handmade; they churn their own butter, whip up their own creamy mayonnaise and of course, they make their own bread daily.

In summer we like to order the veg or meat antipasti with lovely crisp wine.  On the veg antipasti menu are grilled veg, artichokes, peppadews, pepper relish, bocconcini, pecorino, olives & caperberries.  On the meat antipasti menu you will find prosciutto, coppa, salami nostrano, pecorino, bocconcini, olives, caperberries & rocket.  The winter buffet is a feast as well.  We often bring guests to the restaurant.

But we each have a favourite meal at Paradiso.  Deon loves (and orders it again and again) the free range rosemary chicken with quinoa & feta, fresh tomatoes & a soft herb salad for R95 and I love (and order it again and again) the penne with rocket, grilled chicken, basil pesto, mushrooms and cream for R75.  Some day we will try one of the other dishes, such as linguini puttanesca with capers, anchovies, olives, tomatoes & prawns; or the line fish which changes daily or maybe a grilled calamari & feta salad, with crème fraîche & lemon vinaigrette; or …  Real paradise.

Penne with rocket

Deon’s favourite

Johan and Paula visiting

The view outside