Three new Woodstock gems with a home feel will make you want to move right in
Woodstock’s vibrant mix of old and new is invigorating, and never more so than when you discover friendly neighbourhood eateries tucked away in beautiful Victorian houses. Here are three recent finds.
Babbo’s
Behind its shaded front courtyard on Roodebloem Road, Babbo’s opens out onto high-ceilinged rooms with wooden floors and a comfortable lounge. Italian owner, Andrea Angiolo sees it as a real neighbourhood eatery, serving locals simple breakfasts, great coffee, home-made pastas and crisp, wood-fired pizzas. It’s just down the hill from his popular seafood restaurant Pesce Azzurro, where he salt cures fresh tuna for the unusual tonnina and bean salad, a speciality of Elba. Other touches of home are his grandmother’s melanzane alla parmigiana recipe, gnocchi made with ricotta and the specially built wood-fired pizza oven. Andrea’s father, Volpe Angiolo, is a renowned Italian artist and his stunning paintings decorate the walls.
Hidden Leaf
Hidden it certainly is, behind a narrow doorway on Roodebloem Road and up a steep staircase, but walk out onto the wraparound balcony and amazing views of Table Mountain and Cape Town spread out before you. Bianca Bezuidenhout and Warren Booysen have created a home away from home in the two comfortable dining rooms with plants and books, dreamcatchers and candles, and the space is just as welcoming for a casual lunch as for an intimate dinner. The focus is on the freshest local organic ingredients cooked simply, be it seared fillet steak, a generous burger (beef and vegan), chicken parmigiana, home-made ravioli or a satisfying vegan cottage pie.
Gather
This serene vegan cafe surprises with its ever so secret location. 196 Victoria Road is a beautiful historic building housing a holistic centre and art gallery. Weave your way to the back and discover an inner courtyard with a Zen-like calm. Open only for weekday lunches, Gather embraces local farm-to-table, plant-based food. Filippa Harrington and Daniela Puccini create a short versatile menu, using the crop surplus from local organic farmers. Fermented foods add zest and crunch to the varied open sandwiches, platters, salads and veggie bowls, and there are tasty baked treats to go with cold-brew coffee.
Babbo’s
021 447 3359
076 941 1014
facebook.com/hiddenleaf.eatery
Words: Kit Heathcock | Images: Kit Heathcock and Supplied
