CapeTownMagazine.com

Bocca Restaurant in Cape Town

For Moments of Joy. Follow our social channels
for useful news, daily local champions
 
072 350 2062
Ideas Cartel, The Old Foundry, 1 Sand Hill Road, Green Point
www.capetownmagazine.com/subscribe
now@capetownmagazine.com
CapeTownMag
CapeTownMagazine.com
capetownmag

Bocca Restaurant in Cape Town

Bocca has closed. In it now is 'FABLE' and it specialises in (spectacular and incredibly experiential) cockails.

Bocca has closed.

In its place now; 'FABLE' - and it specialises in (spectacular and incredibly experiential) cockails. Fable is fabulous.

 

=== original feature ===

 

For Neil Grant, the brains behind The Old Biscuit Mill’s award-winning Burrata restaurant, food is simply what he does; it’s what makes him tick. And so, the launch of his second venture, Bocca (the name means ‘mouth’ in Italian), on Cape Town’s hip Bree Street, was not about making some grand, ground-breaking statement, but rather about spreading his deep love for cuisine further into the bosom of the city bowl.

More specifically, just like its Woodstock-based sister eatery, the new Italian spot is especially devoted to sharing the celebrated restaurateur’s passion for one particular dish: Neapolitan pizza. Originating from the Italian city of Naples, this style of pizza is quite distinct from what we’re used to in the Mother City and the process involved in creating it is, according to the owner, something of an art. Traditionally, the dough is stretched out by hand (no rolling pins are allowed) and cooked at extremely high temperatures for only 60 to 90 seconds to produce a flatbread that claims an airy, slightly charred crust and a thin, stretchy centre –it’s an option that’s novel even for ardent local pizza fans.

Interestingly though, while the eatery’s signature dish is an authentic Italian favourite, Neil and his business partner Barry Engelbrecht haven’t adopted a very traditional European approach in most other aspects. “It’s a contemporary Italian restaurant, not a classically Italian one,” he explains. “There are hints of tradition, but the focus is on giving everything a modern twist.”

One of the hints of tradition he speaks of is the hulking stone pizza oven that sits proudly as the centrepiece of the double-storey diner – it was hand-crafted by a Naples-based family and is used to prepare both Bocca’s flatbreads and its lunchtime pizza sandwiches (paninis). Then there’s also the laidback continental vibe (the new restaurant was designed to be much more informal and relaxed than Burrata) and the focus on sharing and interaction that’s typical of Mediterranean homes.

“In Italy, the mama cooks and everyone sits around the table and swaps and shares,” says Neil, “so we’re encouraging this sort of family-style dining here.”

But that’s where the references to a bona fide Italian experience end. Rather than sticking to European standards, Executive Chef Annemarie Steenkamp, who worked at Le Quartier Francais’s world-renowned restaurant for five years, has conceptualised an unusual, imaginative menu, with an assortment of innovative pizza topping combinations that are delicious, but as un-Italian as it gets – think poached egg with pancetta, pecorino, leek cream and black pepper or ginger pork sausage with kimchi, spring onions and sesame seeds, for instance. Similarly, many of the other items on the list feature very creative spins (like the spinach and artichoke risotto with vodka stracciatelle) or are entirely unexpected at an Italian eatery (like the zucchini fries or the crispy pork ribs).

And the wine list doesn’t follow conventions either. Put together by vino guru Neil himself (he’s the chairman of the South African Sommeliers Association), the extensive offering is organised by flavour and body rather than varietal (categories include ‘zesty’, ‘rich’, ‘aromatic’, ‘full’ and more), and while there are a handful of reds and whites from Venice and beyond, most stem from our own Mzansi vineyards.

What’s more, the design of the Bree Street haunt reflects the restaurant’s contemporary philosophy. Rather than taking its cue from a rustic osteria that’s coated in red, white and green, the eatery boasts a look and feel that’s sleek and trendy, with pops of blue and orange, an expansive outdoor sundowner deck and large floor-to-ceiling windows that let in lots of light and give guests the chance to take in scenes of the animated CBD streets outside.

So in this way, Bocca offers visitors a decidedly urban dining experience and a handsome environment within which to indulge your own fondness for good food.

Tip: Bocca does not take reservations, so if you want to secure a table for dinner, it’s best to come earlier, at around 6pm.

The Bill: The restaurant is not the cheapest in the city, but then you are paying for quality ingredients. Paninis range from R46 to R63, pizzas go for between R42 and R118, smaller dinnertime plates sit between R30 and R110 and bigger mains cost between R96 and R166 (sides must be order separately); the wines are specifically priced to make them accessible.

Opening Hours: Monday – Saturday: 12pm – 10pm

Corner of Bree and Wale streets | City Centre | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 422 0188

---

If you’re a fan of hearty Italian food, take a look at our overview of other top pizza places in Cape Town.

---

Check out our events section for an up-to-date overview of happenings in Cape Town. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter and if you have a smartphone, add m.capetownmagazine.com to your home screen for quick access on the go!

Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, join our Google+ circle, connect with us on LinkedIn, check out our photos on Instagram and follow our Pinterest boards for updates on what’s happening in and around the Mother City!

Cape Town Events Calendar
December 2023
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31

Christmas Wreath Making Here’s how to spend Christmas in Cape ...

From lunches and carols to markets and meeting Santa

VOOMA! December Zip Zap CircusElectrifying circus show for the whole ...

New acts and performances by ordinary kids with extraordinary feats

Cederkloof Botanical outdoor jacuzziWe just found our next place for a ...

Cederkloof: Cottages with jacuzzi + house with pizza oven

Bombay BrasserieSumptuous Indian set menu for two

10 unique dishes (and MCC) at Bombay Brasserie

mischu breakfast specialWeekends are for mischu

Where else do you get brunch for under R100 in Sea Point?

Rose's Table pop up dining experienceIntimate fine dining in an art gallery

A long-table experience with food, music, wine and art

Cheverells FarmGo for a drive to this apple farm in ...

From fresh food to farm cottages and fine dining evenings

Excentric Hair camera diagnosisHow healthy is your hair, really?

How to get a free diagnosis + R100 off your first visit

Cannibisters weed barCape Town’s very own cannabis club, ...

It's like your friend’s living room, just with 85 strains of weed

Woodstock Brewery beer tastingLocal craft beer tasting even ...

Nine craft beers, small-batch Thursdays + a guide for beginners

Taj Whiskey LoungeIntroducing the Whiskey Lounge

Tastings from around the world, guided by an ambassador

Char'd Grill meat appreciation platterMeat appreciation platter at a ...

3 cuts of meat, sizzling side dishes + epic mad-scientist experience

Mountain MarketAffordable healthy food at this city ...

Organic fruit and veg, smoothie bowls + small-scale clothes

Cheverells FarmAll the seasons of Cheverells Farm

Apple picking in summer and winter stay special

Honeybee Heroes Be a beekeeper for a day at Honeybee ...

Adopt a hive, learn about bees, take a beekeeping course, buy honey

Klein Roosboom tasting caveTaste wine in a cave

Boutique winery with 6 six cosy tasting nooks. Plus platters, picnics + trails

GiveawaysTravel Tips