Abbiocco Italian Restaurant and Deli — Restaurant in KwaDukuza Local Municipality

ABBIOCCO- Thee most amazing little gem on the North coast . Food you will definitely go back for………and travel for. We went on a Sunday for lunch (bookings are essential) as the chef and owner Alexi does a Souvla on a Sunday. (It’s very popular) I had thee most delicious, thick, ender and flavoursome lamb chops on the planet. Perfectly cooked. For reals. Oh, and the salad dressing, magical, never ever has a side salad tasted so good, I was too embarrassed to ask for seconds on the salad. Next time for sure! My mom doesn’t eat Gnocchi, ever. Shes 82. We are Irish. But a few weeks ago I brought some home after I had ordered the Gnocchi Bolognese for lunch (a very generous portion). She ate my ‘leftovers’ and is now hooked. She ordered it as her main on Sunday, and again, outstanding. She almost finished the lot. The gnocchi is light and almost melts in your mouth. Like little potato cloud puffs. We shared a generous slice of lemon cheesecake for dessert. I have no words, okay maybe two, “taste explosion”. Lunch is served Wednesday to Sunday , and open for dinner on a Friday. You can thank me...

Review of Abbiocco – A Hidden Gem in Ballito

As an Italian, I walked into Abbiocco expecting an Italian chef behind the scenes—imagine my surprise when I met the man behind it all: a warm, passionate Greek gentleman who not only owns and manages the place but also cooks every dish himself.

At first, I was curious—what is this Greek man doing running an Italian kitchen? But from the moment he invited me into his kitchen, we clicked. My wife and I were welcomed like family. It didn’t feel like a restaurant; it felt like coming home.

The food? Outstanding. Every pasta dish was to die for—rich in flavor, made with love, and absolutely authentic. The atmosphere was incredible, and the staff just as warm and friendly as their boss.

If you're ever in Ballito, Abbiocco is a must. Don’t worry about who you are or where you’re from—this man has a heart bigger than his kitchen. By the time you leave, you’ll not only have his personal number, but you'll feel like you're part of the family.

This isn’t just dining. This is an experience. This is home-cooked Italian food with...

An absolute hidden gem.... You feel like you are dining in Italy without flying there. My wife and I found this small antipasto spot in Umhlali purely by chance on Saturday but they were fully booked, no worries one booking made for Sunday and off we went. An ice cold bottle of Chenin and we shared the Caprese Salad to start which had the most amazing heirloom tomatoes and creamy burrata interwined with basil, sundried tomatoes, pesto and freshly homebaked bread. This was followed by slow braised short rib with mushroom and artichoke jus with polenta fries, depth of favor here was unbelievable. A great dish of baby calamari done in chili, garlic and lemon over a bed of fresh tagliatelle was also extremely well prepared. I spotted Vitello Tonato on one of their platters and asked if they could make me a separate small portion to try as you almost never see this on most menus around KZN. Delicious!! Alas there was no room for desserts which all looked amazing but two grappas sealed the perfect lunch. For anyone driving up to the North Coast can highly...