Constantia is not spoilt for choice when it comes to great restaurants. In the past year or so, Foxcroft and Chefs Warehouse at Beau Constantia have added to an already great crop that includes two of our current Top 10 restaurants, La Colombe and Greenhouse. However, southern suburbs residents have reason to celebrate again: acclaimed chef Giorgio Nava has brought a signature Italian restaurant to Constantia.

Hand-cut beef ragout – one of the dishes on 95 at Parks’s new menu. Photo supplied.

Called 95 at Parks, the new restaurant opened softly in May with a menu based on that of Giorgio’s award-winning 95 Keerom in Cape Town’s CBD. The restaurant takes over the location of Carne Constantia, Giorgio’s steak offering.

The garden at 95 at Parks. Photo supplied.

“We believe 95 at Parks fills a need for authentic Italian cuisine in Constantia and that our extended menu appeals both to our lunch time clientele, as well as meat lovers with our wide choice of prime cuts,” explains Giorgio. The chef has renovated the period building to lend a more relaxed country feel, with giant 1930s-futurism inspired murals. There’s also a bar, sunny conservatory, private dining room and small outdoor area overlooking the cottage garden.

The conservatory at 95 at Parks. Photo supplied.

The menu will offer many of 95 Keerom favourites, but with the addition of some inventive salads for lunches and a great meat selection. Guests can look forward to inventive salads like a crispy baby calamari version with quinoa, pomegranate, avocado, kale, steamed lentils and fresh greens, and a deconstructed Caprese with burrata mozzarella.

The salmon tartare. Photo supplied.

Alternatively, there are steamed mussels in tomato and white wine; home-made pasta with rich, hand cut ragout; and grilled tuna coated in toasted sesame seeds. Meatier options include Fiorentina T-bone, fillet, sirloin, Karoo lamb, liver with caramelised onion, pork cutlets on the bone, slow-cooked beef short rib and traditional osso bucco. And, to put your mind at rest: Giorgio’s signature chocolate fondant will be on offer for pud.

Giorgio Nava. Photo supplied.

All meals are served with home-baked breads (including ciabatta made from a starter first created in Milan some 150 years ago), olives and seasonal vegetable tempura.

In addition to the à la carte menu, 95 at Parks offers a six-course Italian Experience tasting menu of showstopper dishes at R330 per person.

This is the third in the 95 series; the other, aside from 95 Keerom, being 95 at Morgenster in Somerset West, which is currently closed but set to reopen for summer in November 2017.

The baby calamari salad. Photo supplied.