A mussel and pasta dish.
Was the food good? Was it worth it? Would I go again?
If you can answer all these questions, after eating in a restaurant with 100% yeses then you have struck it lucky.
After 5 or 6 visits to Magica Roma in the last 18 months I emerged answering yes to all these questions, but with provisos.
Let’s begin at the beginning, a very good place to start, as Julie Andrews would say.
It was a Monday night. Walk in with a reservation and Magica Roma is packed. It’s 7:30 pm, and the place is heaving to the rafters. Ok, good sign. Locals, couples, business types, groups.
We are seated where we can see all the action.
Owners Ezio and Franco prowl the floor restlessly, ensuring that the waitstaff keep up a solid flow of service to all the tables. Black T shirted staff, all looking like university students, rushed hither and yon with trays and clearing tables.
Most were cheerful and friendly, with ready smiles. I said most.
The decor is unapologetically 1970’s early 1980’s. Chocolate brown carpet, wooden furniture. I suppose if they revamped and let an architect have a go at the design everything would be hard surfaces and so noisy that you could not possibly earwig on your neighbour.
I couldn’t help it, but the two business men behind me discussed every detail of a company they were involved in. Balance sheets, cash flows, profitability. It’s one of the
Classic Italian dishes with fresh ingredients abound at Magica Roma.
things I love about Cape Town; there’s no need for industrial espionage, just sit and listen and you’ll hear everything.
Superb tuna carpaccio and beef carpaccio and a mixed salad arrived. The salad was huge.
Cob and salad arrive. Cob overdone, but that’s easy to let happen. Linguini Montanara, a veal ragu, is superb. Bursting with flavour.
So the food is pretty good, except for my overdone fish. But here’s the thing. You have to really know this menu to be able to order correctly. I’ve had some great dishes, and some disappointing ones at Magica Roma.
I have also been told that it helps if the owners recognize you, as they do with most of the regs, you get a better dish, even a separate recommendation. They encourage, apparently, customers to be adventurous and go off the menu, and let them decide what you are going to eat.
So the food was good. It was worth it, and I’ll go again.
But I’d like to get the menu choices right next time, and I’d even be interested in going on an adventure off the menu. Who do I ask about this? The two boys or a waitress?
Magica Roma
8 Central Sq,
Pinelands, Cape Town.
021 531 1489
Open Lunch 12-2 (Mon-Fri), and dinner 6-10pm, (Mon-Sat).
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Hi Clare
Next time I must take you to Magica, Ezio is one of my best friends. I have never ordered off the menu as he always does us something spacial. We always have fantastic evenings there.
Ciao
Jono
Hi Claire,
great piece!
i have been at Magica Roma once. As Italian (and Chef) i don’t usually like to go to “Italian” restaurants cause, most of the time, are just “pretend to be italian” far away from real italian food!
Magica Roma is like an italian restaurant in Italy , the owners are amazing hosts and i went full on “you decide what i need to eat tonight” and it was great! our pasta was perfect and the main courses well executed.
The tiramisu’ was not bad at all (as pastry chef, i’m always very picky..).
the only thing that REALLY put me off that night was the starter: tuna carpaccio.
i hope was just a mistake, but why on heart was the nice thinly sliced tuna splashed with soy sauce??? Ok that Marco Polo “discovered” China, but this is a big NO NO into italian cooking.
olive oil, lemon juice and fresh herbs, this is the base of italian condiment!
going back soon to Magica Roma, hope they have corrected this “fusion” item to original!
cheers!
Try the Porcini Rissotto next time – not on the menu so you will have to ask!
I believe there’s a new pizzeria opening in Howard Centre. Do you know anything about it?
Hi Rael,
Where is Howard Centre?
Hi Greg,
I’m on the way….
Hi Antonino,
Thanks for the insights. Glad to hear an authentic Italian give a good vote for a fellow Italian. Are you both Northern Italians??
Hi Claire,
i’m from the south, Sicily, Palermo.
I think the owners of Magica Roma must be from Rome.
Rome is still considered “center/south” in terms of style of food: rich, fresh ingredient.
a more rustic style of food compared to the norther part of Italy.
Magica Roma is definitely one of my favourite Cape Town restaurants. I make a point of going there at least once a month. The polenta starters are very nice, as well as the Penne Arrabiata. The food is excellent and the prices a steal.
One of my worst dining experiences of my life in Cape Town.
The food was beyond sub-par and when i mentioned this to the waitress , the chef arrogantly and rudely negated my criticism.
How do you get a fillet wrong ? It was as thin as a minute steak , the presentation was bland and the sauce did not compliment the meat at all.
The chef arrogantly stated that if i want a steak differently made i should have gone to Spur. I confidently told him that Spur could make a better fillet.
Terrible restaurant and for those who have good taste should avoid at all cost.
Had to post after seeing “Miela” post above…
This person OBVIOUSLY has it in for someone at MR, or for the restaurant itself! Why, I wonder?
All their reviews I have seem (on a number of websites) are bollocks!
Magica Roma is simply awesome. Period.