Ferdinando’s Pizza is quirky and colourful and it also serves the best pizza in the Mother City. That’s according to diners who voted the establishment into fourth spot in this year’s Porcupine Ridge Pizzeria Challenge.
Owner Diego Milesi is delighted with his place in the Top 5, after taking the No 1 spot last year and representing Cape Town in the rankings.
“I am really happy we have done well again. My mission has always been to bring passion to our chefs and get them to love what they are doing; it isn’t simply a job. Our team’s mission is toi make people feel at home at our establishment and that’s why we are also pet friendly. We have always wanted to bring the best Italian food – made with passion and consistency – to our customers and this recognition once again gives me a lot of confidence that we are doing just that.”
Simple is always best for Italians, he says.
“More and more people are getting passionate about pizza. Pizza should look and taste great but it shouldn’t be fancy; it is people’s food and makes them happy as they eat together and talk about life.”
Milesi says that the classic Margherita is one of his favourite pizzas although acknowledges that there has been an increase in sales of the seafood pizzas this year.
“Our Manuela Loca has a tomato and mozzarella base with prawns, mussels, calamari tentacles, squid and parsley.”
Milesi has also been hard at work on a chef’s special menu after having spent some time this year travelling around Europe.
He pays tribute to his loyal fanbase: “I’ve always said that running a restaurant is not a business, but a lifestyle. You have to fit into the requirements of your area and community. At Ferdinando’s Pizza we always try to do it with a smile on our faces. It’s a place with a vibe and quality food without being pretentious. We try and show the love for what we do in our food.”
The Top 10 in this year’s Porcupine Ridge Pizzeria Challenge are:
- Gino’s (Robertsham, Johannesburg)
- Osteria Rossa (Bedfordview, Johannesburg)
- Gino’s (Stellenbosch)
- Ferdinando’s Pizza (Observatory, Cape Town)
- Mooiuitsig Kombuis (Groot Brakrivier)
- Piccola Rossa (Edenvale, Johannesburg)
- Corlies Italian (Somerset West)
- Julia’s Eatalian (Potchefstroom)
- Lucio’s Pizzeria (Northcliff, Johannesburg)
- Enzo Pizzeria Trattoria (Scottburgh, KZN)
Ferdinando’s Pizza is located at 205 Lower Main Road, Observatory, Cape Town. Tel 084 771 0485 to book.
