If you’re after comforting Italian food in a cosy, convivial atmosphere, The Eatalian fits the bill. Located below Eatery JHB just down the road from Thomas Maxwell Bistro on Parkmore’s 11th Street, The Eatalian is proving to be a popular addition to the suburb’s thriving food scene after opening just five months ago.
The pizza oven as you walk in is welcoming and allows for a huge pizza selection on the menu, along with a good range of classic Italian meat and pasta dishes. Besides dinner, The Eatalian is also open for breakfasts and lunches on most days. If you’re in a hurry, stop in on your way to work for the restaurant’s in-house coffee blend, or pick up some authentic fresh Italian ingredients from the deli. We chatted with co-owner, Fabio Razzino.
Why did you open The Eatalian?
My brother, Marco, and I decided to bring our extensive histories in the restaurant industry together in one space. We wanted to offer South Africa something more than a restaurant, and we wanted to start cooking again like our grandmothers used to: not overcomplicating things while using fresh, unprocessed ingredients.
What made you choose Parkmore?
We know the area well and believe it’s the perfect client base to launch the brand. The location of our restaurant was occupied by a convenience store for two decades, followed by an Indian coffee shop and then a deli. It was then an Indian restaurant which ran for about a year before we arrived.
How would you sum up your cuisine?
Contemporary Italian using classic flavours in new and exciting dishes. We offer four different “food time zones”: cappuccino and breakfast, our deli selling fresh ingredients and ready-made meals or coffee to go, lunch and afternoon light meals, and then our dinner pizza and pasta menu.
What are your signature items?
Our large range of pizzas, oxtail made the Roman way, our Filetto Balsamico and our special Eatalian roast coffee blend.
What’s in store for the future?
We want to build several restaurants that offer The Eatalian philosophy, which Marco and I grew up living. This means not only offering food, coffee and drinks, but also creating a space where we can host meaningful lifestyle conversations, such as our coffee and food tasting events. We want consumers to integrate us into their lives so that they become part of our family.
The Eatalian
011 326 8786
Follow them on Facebook here.
Words: Catherine Black
Images: Supplied
