Caraffa Restaurant — Restaurant in Gauteng

And again: Great service, atmosphere and food! And Great people. I've heard of Afrifrans before, but tonight I experienced Afri-talio or Afritalio at Caraffa. :)

I came to Caraffa for the first time tonight (I brought my family), and it was cozi, friendly, professional and full of character – not just a restaurant, but a warm experience.

I love the interior decor and ambiance; beautiful small areas, paintings, oak barrels, facebrick walls (I counted 13 round pillars I think, a wood-fire pizza oven which also boasts a superb T-bone steak being wood-oven made, which I'll have to try next time!

We had Pizza's, Red wine, Tiramisu, and Pavlova, which was tastefully prepared and presented.

The restaurant is well positioned between Menlyn, Garsfontein and Waterkloof and Brooklyn, just off the N1 highway, though it feels like you are in a small Italian town, when inside.

From the friendly hostess, to the waiters and service staff, I definately rate Caraffa's service 5 stars. Thanks guys.

I can imagine lunch also being a winner here, due to its location so close to Garsfontein, Menlyn, Waterkloof, Brooklyn...

I would recommend Caraffa for any dinner, but I must say, it looks like an amazing option for a date night as well.

Attention Meat Lovers! Ask for the Wood Fire Pizza Oven T-bone steak! Wow wow.

(It is important that we support venues as these, especially in the current times we are in.)

Try Caraffa and you will not be sorry! I recommend Caraffa to anyone looking for a...

Valentines day... Set menu

Arrived at 5.55pm and only managed to order our food at 6.30. The starters (Springbok bruscetta) arrived before 7pm and was tasty. Small portions as it seemed I got the tail end of the french loaf.

Waited 1 hour and 10min for our mains (medium rare rump with garlic and chillie). When it arrived, the steak looked almost boiled. Grey on the top, no char, no love. Unfortunately the thicker part of the steak was blue, I could not eat that.

Dessert was also prompt (I believe they needed to clear the table for the next lot of bookings) and was very good - Orange cake with muscadel on the side.

Usually a great experience but I believe they overbooked for the day and it showed in their food as it seemed very rushed. I think our order may have been forgotten and then quickly thrown together.

The manager on duty did not care for our opinions on the steak which was meant to be the star of the show.

Our drinks waiter (Okkie) was amazing and apologized a few times for the wait and dissatisfaction of the steak.

I will give them another try as their oven roasted sirloin was amazing the last time I tried it, also prepared the same way as the rump on valentines day but miles apart.

Maybe reconsider how many tables you can actually manage in a night, Caraffa. Good food takes time which you did not have enough of on Valentines day...

This experience was not worth a total...

Food - 5/5 I ordered the "Conchiglioni di parma" and it was divine. It took no more than 10 minutes for the meal to arrive once ordered, which is really quick. The portions are large enough for the average person - the starter was large enough to share. They offer a large selection of dishes and some daily specials which you can enquire about on-site.

Service - 5/5 The staff are very friendly, quick and professional. They keep your glass full and they are very quick with your orders. Making a reservation is quick and easy - they are not difficult to get a hold of at all.

Atmosphere - 5/5 The atmosphere is perfect for a romantic date night. They have live piano music on Tuesdays and Saturdays which adds to the romatic Italian setting. With dimmed lights, candles and well curated decor, it really feels like a little restaurant in Italy. The restaurant is very clean and neat (including the restrooms).

Price - Mid-high I paid ~R700 for a meal consisting of a starter, two pasta mains, a bottle of wine, a bottle of sparkling water and a hot drink (including a 15% tip). Their prices are not too expensive, but definitely at the higher end of the middle spectrum. Their complete menu is available on their website and it reflects...