Fodor's Expert Review Casa Labia

Sitting atop fynbos-covered hills overlooking the magnificent False Bay surf, this Italian-inspired restaurant serves tasty and well-priced meals in the opulent setting—think gold-coffered ceilings, Venetian wallpaper, and marble fireplaces—that once served as home to South Africa's first Italian ambassador, Count Natale Labia. The weekend breakfasts are lovely, with treats like the grilled polenta, or the casa frittata, and the lunch menu features hearty dishes like slow-cooked beef ossobuco and pea risotto and a selection of pasta dishes and many inviting desserts. Friendly staff encourages you to linger amid the English arts and crafts and Italian rococo mash-up, the effect of which is mellowed by a sun-filled courtyard overlooking False Bay's gorgeous blue horizon.