Bella Casa is tucked away, but is oh so worth the effort of finding. The Italian restaurant has a beautifully paired food-and-wine menu with easy-to-choose options, starters, wood-fired pizzas and even an Italian dessert option or two. It’s truly a hidden gem and one that falls very well in the budget and location options when dining out in Bloemfontein.

Coronation chicken salad with coriander and poppadums. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Cost: R140 average main course
Food type: Italian
Best for: Family meals, corporate lunch or dinner meetings and private parties
Star ratings: Food and drinks: 5; Service: 5; Ambience: 5

Food

The beer-battered fish and chips at Bella Casa. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

The starter portion of mussels in a white wine, cream, garlic and parsley sauce is served with beautiful home-baked bread – hands down a winner – while the nachos (a test for any Italian restaurant) had a flair of true Italian Napolitana sauce, mozzarella, cheddar and salsa.

A great home-made cannelloni with a spinach and ricotta filling comes served with mature pecorino cheese. The chefs truly have found balance in the pizza toppings, with a newfound favourite to be being the Parma ham, preserved fig, rocket and parmesan pizza.

Drinks

Even the uneducated wine novice will be able to pair their food with a wine suitable for the dishes at Bella Casa.

Cocktails being expertly prepared. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Service

The staff are professional, friendly and go the extra mile.

Staff are friendly. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Ambience

Relaxed, private and cosy.

The interior at Bella Casa. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

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