Whether enjoyed as a primo, a main meal or a tasty accompaniment, a successful risotto packs enough flavour to inspire table-wide food envy. In short, no one puts risotto in the corner. If you’re harbouring a craving for this classic rice dish, you needn’t look far – we’ve tracked down five restaurants that serve up a great risotto.

Bellevue Café (Kloof, Durban)

This contemporary bistro whips up a creamy prawn risotto cooked in tiger prawn broth, with six large tiger prawns and a hint of chilli. The dish is topped with fresh rocket and tangy parmesan shavings and costs R120.

Tiger Prawn Risotto at Bellevue Café. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Fumo (Groenkloof, Pretoria)

Italian chef Claudio Uccello offers a selection of risotto dishes, including flavourful combinations like beetroot and gorgonzola, but if you’re looking to sample a traditional Italian recipe he recommends the saffron risotto with veal ossobuco. This dish is priced at R120.

Saffron Risotto with Veal Ossobuco at Fumo. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Mondiall Kitchen & Bar (V&A Waterfront, Cape Town)

We believe Mondiall’s superb Cape seafood risotto is best enjoyed at a table overlooking the water with a glass of chilled white wine. The creamy risotto is cooked in a seafood broth and arrives with fresh prawns, line fish, mussels, calamari, tomato, garlic and basil, and can be yours for R165.

Terra Mare (Paarl, Cape Winelands)

Head chef Thabo Nqadini cooks up a shrimp risotto infused with a flavourful prawn bisque and dusted with rich pecorino shavings. You can enjoy this popular menu item as a starter (R72) or a main meal (R110).

Shrimp Risotto at Terra Mare. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Thomas Maxwell Bistro (Parkmore, Johannesburg)

The mushroom and wild porcini risotto is a house favourite and arrives with rich flavours of parmesan, truffle oil, porcini and black mushrooms. This vegetarian-friendly delight costs R135.

Mushroom and Wild Porcini Risotto at Thomas Maxwell Bistro. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Looking to whip up some risotto magic in your own kitchen? Here’s how to make risotto like an Italian.