Succulent and rich, with layers of al dente pasta sandwiching soft mince, cheese and béchamel sauce, it’s the ultimate comfort food.

Every family has their own special recipe – although my mother’s is the best, naturally. Some cooks include a glug of wine, grated carrot or a couple of bay leaves; others sprinkle in parmesan, gorgonzola or mozzarella to add another dimension. In case your mother (or grandmother, father, or any other relative skilled in the art of lasagne construction) is not available – or you need a break from making it for your own kids – we’ve tracked down some restaurants serving lasagne. From traditional saucy beef to butternut, chicken or wild mushroom, there’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser for your family on this list.

Pretoria

Caraffa Restaurant
Have: the beef lasagne made from layered pasta sheets, bolognaise, béchamel sauce, parmesan and mozzarella cheese.
Price: R58

Il Bar Italiano
Have: the Pasta Vegetariana made with lasagne sheets layered with roasted vegetables, brinjals and mozzarella cheese sauce for R72.
Or: the Lasagne Bolognaise made with pasta sheets layered with bolognaise sauce and parmesan and mozzarella sauce for R76

La Cantina
Have: the beef lasagne made from homemade sheets of pasta, bolognaise, béchamel sauce and mozzarella
Price: R65

LM in the East
Have: the beef lasagne, made with a secret tomato-based bolognaise sauce, béchamel sauce and baked in the pizza oven.
Price: R69

Villa Paolo
Have: the bolognaise lasagne made with pork mince, beef mince, fresh pasta, carrots, celery, tomato and béchamel sauce with nutmeg and mozzarella.
Price: R55

Villa San Giovanni
Have: the beef lasagne made with beef mince, tomato, mozzarella, parmesan and béchamel sauce.
Price: R72
Or: the vegetarian lasagne made with carrots, baby marrow, broccoli, spinach, tomato, mozzarella, parmesan and béchamel sauce.
Price: R69

Joburg

Ciao Baby Cucina
Have: the lasagne made from homemade pasta sheets, beef and béchamel sauce.
Or: the chicken lasagne made from homemade pasta sheets, chicken, gorgonzola cheese and red, yellow and green peppers.
Price: both R65

Piza e Vino
Have: the lasagne made with beef mince, onions, tomato, parmesan, mozzarella and lasagne sheets.
Price: R68

Durban

La Pizza Pazza
Have: the beef lasagne made with layers of fresh pasta sheets, bolognaise, béchamel sauce, creamy tomato sauce, mozzarella and parmesan.
Price: R67

Roma Revolving Restaurant
Have: the beef lasagne made from sheets of pasta, bolognaise, béchamel sauce and mozzarella.
Price: R70

Spiga d’Oro
Have: the chicken and mushroom lasagne made with pasta sheets, strips of chicken, mushrooms, cream and béchamel sauce.
Or: the beef cannelloni, which is a rolled lasagne made with beef mince, sheets of lasagne, béchamel sauce and bolognaise.
Price: both R49 (medium); R59 (large)

Trattoria La Piazza
Have: the beef lasagne made with layers of pasta and bolognaise sauce.
Price: R54

Greater Durban

Al Firenze
Have: the beef lasagne made with homemade pasta sheets, Napoletana, bolognaise, parmesan cheese and béchamel sauce.
Price: R59

Olive and Oil
Have: the vegetarian lasagne made with pasta sheets, baby marrow, carrots, celery, spinach, brinjal, peppers, mushrooms, cheddar, mozzarella, vegemal (vegetable stock) and béchamel sauce.
Price: R75.95

Remo’s
Have: the beef lasagne made with fresh pasta sheets, béchamel sauce, beef mince ragù, red wine, stock, tomato, mozzarella and parmesan.
Price: R75

Cape Town

A Tavola
Have: the meat lasagne made with veal mince, extra virgin olive oil, rosemary, sage, bay leaves, red wine, homemade pasta and béchamel sauce.
Price: R80

Al Dente
Have: the beef lasagne made with homemade pasta, béchamel sauce, bolognaise sauce and parmesan cheese.
Or: the vegetable lasagne made with homemade pasta, béchamel sauce, bolognaise sauce, seasonal vegetables and parmesan cheese.
Price: R95 per kilo.

Bacini’s
Have: the lasagne made with minced beef made into meatballs, layered with mozzarella cheese, béchamel sauce pasta sheets.
Price: R55

Carlyles on Derry
Have: the chicken lasagne made with free-range chicken and roasted vegetables in a curry sauce, and sprinkled with fresh coriander.
Price: R60

Casa Labia
Have: the beef lasagne made only for specials (it’s not offered on the menu). It comprises 100% pure beef, spinach lasagne pasta, pancetta, béchamel sauce, parmesan cheese, mozzarella, peeled tomatoes and spices.
Price: depends on the special

La Masseria
Have: the beef and pork, plain beef, or mixed roasted vegetable lasagne, all made with béchamel sauce, bolognaise sauce, and tomato. Or: the tuna, butternut, chicken and thyme, or wild mushroom lasagne.
Price: beef and pork, beef, chicken and roasted vegetable lasagne R60; wild mushroom R75; butternut and tuna both R50

La Perla
Have: the lasagne made with beef, béchamel sauce, bolognaise sauce and cheese.
Price: R95

Posticino
Have: the lasagne made with layers of beef, béchamel sauce and topped with mozzarella cheese.
Price: R64 
Or: the chicken and mushroom lasagne made with layers of chicken and mushroom, béchamel sauce and topped with mozzarella cheese.
Price: R64

Trattoria Luigi
Have: the famous beef lasagne made with four layers of homemade fresh pasta sheets, topside mince, carrots, celery, onion, white wine, red wine, imported Italian Napoletana sauce and béchamel sauce.
Price: R79

By Katharine Jacobs
Research by Kelly Pluke
Images: Villa San Giovanni, amrufm, Pellesten and Johan Bryggare.