TOP 10 BEST Restaurants in South Africa - Updated October 2024

La Mama Restaurant

87/100 (552 ratings)

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Italian

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Accepts Mastercard

Table Service

Accepts Visa

Wheelchair Accessible

Private Dining

Serves Alcohol

Wine and Beer

Parking Available

Free off-street parking

Highchairs Available

Full Bar

Digital Payments

Accepts Credit Cards

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Mid-range

"From the friendliness of the staff and owners, the greetings from Richard and Michael, the response on the face book page to the absolutely delicious..."

Brigitte Gerhardi

"Feels like I have gone back in time . Lovely family style restaurant with heart and soul will recommend to..."

John Radford

"Amazing classic home style Italian food every time :) The best In JHB by..."

Robert Purdon

"A fantastic restaurant We have never been disappointed with the food or the service. A great place to go to...."

John Ostrom

"Still the same but slightly tweaked for the better menu been supporting them since the mid 70 's consistency is the key and they have successfully..."

Janine Scorer

"Good old fashioned italian food, with a consistent quality and a tried and tested menu. To the new owners - please dont try and change anything -..."

Cheryl Wagner

"A lovely experience. The new owner's passion is a delight and the chef shares his experiments. I will be back and back and..."

Nina Venjakob

"Amazing place! Beautiful people, best service and delicious..."

Zelda Venter

"After seeing all the reviews and reading the La Mama story we went for dinner last night. A wonderful experience - we will spread the word and be..."

Ashleigh Ingram

"We had a wonderful evening. Love the new refurbished decor. The food and service was fantastic as always. Definately not going to wait so long to..."

Jana Brink

"Love the food. Very romantic atmosphere . Stunning..."

Mariaan Jonker

"Had the best PIZZA in SA today...Wow will be trying something different from menu DAILY....This restaurant is..."

Annie Baxter

"A hidden GEM.... go go go! The experience is amazing and the food... oh my word, the..."

Gabrielle Pool

"My favourite haunt - Great atmosphere. Brilliant food. Excellent service. Matthew's cocktail adventures. Love it time and again. Cherry Kisses..."

Jolene Poore

"Amazing food. Simple but authentic vibe! Away from city stress! True flavour. My mama makes lamb like..."

Annunziata Tina Sorrentino

"La Mama is our local Italian restaurant. We have been going there for years. By the time we enter the front door, our favorite bottle of wine and..."

Fran Stafford

"La Mama really is a hidden gem. It's a quaint small restaurant with furniture fit for the middle ages. The staff are knowledgeable, friendly and very..."

Chev Nagiah

"Chef been working the kitchen for 18 years ? I gotta check this out!Its olde worlde charm is a delight. Waiters are dressed as waiters, the..."

Dirtdiver

"My grandparents ate here almost every Sunday. I joined them a few times.Now Richard Baloyi who worked there for over 30 years is the owner...."

Daniel Friedman

"Truly amazing pizza and they are one of only a handful of Italian restaurants that make a fantastic lasagna. The pizza crust is authentic and..."

Shaun Gunning

"The service was decent and friendly. It's not the best ravioli I've ever had but it was perfectly pleasant. Wine list is decent. Not an ideal..."

Joshua De Klerk

"Great venue for old style Italian dishes. Had a very nice veal my wife had. Calamari.Service was attentive and.food good. Parking is plentiful..."

Greg Marcia

"This is a truly special and precious restaurant for #KevFabFood. This gem started off in Blairgowrie and I remember going there as a child and teen..."

Kevin Barrie Levy

"My husband and myself returned to eat at La Mama this evening, after not being there for quite some time. I'm happy to say that the food and value..."

Lornabarenbrug

"I have no words but here goes anyway. Calm, down to earth atmosphere. Friendly staff, gorgeous food. The service? Stuff that great movies were made..."

Boitumelo Tumi Lebona

"I love this place. I'm not saying this because I know the owner personally. I had a sea food linguine. And my oh my was it..."

Boitumelo Treatzz Moyo-Lerumo

"Visited La Mama last night with my fiancé for date night. What a lovely cosy Italian restaurant serving up delicious food. We began our..."

Tamara Reddy

"What a gem! Well trained staff and a superb menu. Had a thrilling true Italian meal! Slow homemade food with top class ingredients! So thrilled to..."

Theunsinkablemommybrown

"Good food with good service. Place have a nice 'old school' feel to it. They still have the same menu as many years ago, which is a good thing...."

Pieter Greeff

"A little gem 💎 hubby and I were on a date night and he found this place open on a Monday ! Yummy pasta and pizza. I Dong normally eat pizza but..."

Julia Pyle

"The most authentic Italian restaurant in Joburg.The food is always excellent, the hosts relaxed, experienced and attentive and the mood and..."

Indy

"Awesome little Italian restaurant with proper Italian dishes. Amazing service and great food! The owner pays special attention to each table. The..."

Jessica Notelo

"La mama is such a great restaurant, not only is their food absolutely delicious but their service is always spot on! Definitely a firm favorite in..."

Bronwyn McPhail

"I have been trying to get my boyfriend to come here for a while and so we decided to have a lazy, overindulged Sunday. We were greeted by the..."

Nasheetha Singh

"What a superb little gem hidden on a busy street in Ferndale... from the welcome to the farewells we were made to feel welcome and at home... the..."

Jalapeño Popper

"The food and atmosphere is awesome, I highly recommend the peri-peri chicken and the zabaglione cooked at the table adds to the atmosphere and is a..."

Iain Busschau

"Excellent food, excellent service - the downer: the exorbitant prices. Coming here is always associated with a heated debate of price vs quality. But..."

Kat

"Amazing place. Great food, very fresh and exquisitely made. They serve home made pasta, and use old italian recipes. Good service too. Definitely..."

Marlene Gill

"We had dinner at La Mama last Saturday evening. The servicewas excellent and so was the food. The owners were very accommodating as weonly..."

Adri Naudé Wolff

"Just the perfect evening. We were looking for an Italian meal so I googled it and La Mama came up with a very good rating. It didn't not disappoint..."

David Ryan

"A top-notch blue cheese gnocchi, and we've had them all. Intimate atmosphere and great house wine. Engaging staff, helpful and informative...."

Nick Daunt

"Great Service, Good Food, Definitely be back!@ 5 ⭐️. We will definitely be back, there is so much more on the menu to try ......... to be..."

William Bester

"Can't believe that a restaurant that has been in existence for so long has never crossed our radar!The restaurant is secure, warm and inviting. Our..."

Adelle

"This is our local favourite! Serving the best mussels in joburg and tasty pizzas, pastas and varying specials like trout, lamb shank, baby chicken..."

Wendy Naidoo

"Wow this special place is amazing great food great waiters great host thank you for all the care and love u put in the food. Definitely a place..."

GMan

"My husband has been coming to this restaurant since he was a child. Not a lot has changed decor wise over the years but the food is good traditional..."

Claudia McGregor

"Lovely dinner at La Mama last night. The food was really delicious and the service was fantastic too! Great to see the restaurant so busy on a..."

Tiffany

"I very seldom go back to restaurants because of the fact that Joburg has loads to offer and so many areas to visit. From time to time however, when I..."

Love.Life.Daley

"I am so happy that I finally got to try La Mama. The atmosphere is very welcoming and you instantly feel at home. Service was excellent and the food..."

Ria Fraser @CityFlavours

"Our favorite spot for a quiet and intimate dinner, La Mama is special. The most yummiest italian meals in Jhb, we love Chris and his magical little..."

Candi Make Up

"Being Italian myself I have certainly had my fair share of Italian food and my wife and I were looking to try out a different Italian spot for..."

Italian Foodie

"An unexpected delight!La Mamas is a cosy little spot with friendly and efficient staff ,a good wine menu & most importantly, great food...."

Nicola Veitch

"I've been a fan of Italian food all my life and have eaten at MANY Italian restaurants in SA and Italy and this place can hold a candle to the best..."

Derika Walstra

"Quaint restaurant in Ferndale! Great lunch and dinner spot! Service is great and food is fresh! Food: I ordered the seafood pasta and my date..."

Mmule

"I like the old style friendly and efficient dining experience , stuck away in a unfashionable part of Ferndale but that adds to its appeal , had..."

Owen Tennant

"In an unexpected hidden location but what a gem of you enjoy traditional Italian home made pasta and pizza. Had the best seafood pasta ever , sauce..."

Michelle Branco

"Weil my oh my, what a pleasant lil place. A warm greeting upon arrival, very efficient and friendly service throughout and excellent dishes from..."

Geoff Simmons

"I absolutely love this place. The food is also spectacular and the service is impeccable. I love the mussels and the steak in peppercorn sauce...."

Maegan

"This is a hidden gem. The place is not fancy, the decor is dated but I think that's what gives it its appeal. The owners are Italian so rest assured..."

Chanel White

"La mama is low key and relaxing. Management makes an effort to say hi asks what you feel like and provides suggestions. Service is good! Food is just..."

Lisa

"We celebrated my friend's birthday at La mama. It is such a cute little place and it has a lovely atmosphere. The menu has a goid variety. It's a..."

Princess Bubblegum

"I always check hidden gem on my Zomato App! This time in Ferndale! La Mama is the cutest Italian cuisine hidden in Randburg! The..."

Likers Of Things

"La Mamas is a gem in a very strange location, but a gem all the same. We arrived on a loadshedding day and although we hadn't booked they made a..."

Carole Craggs

"A group of my work colleagues went to La Mama for dinner. It is a really beautifully decorated little place! A real hidden gem. I ordered the veal in..."

Stephanie Courtnage

"This is an absolute hidden gem. I am so fussy when it comes to Italian food but this restaurant never disappoints!!! The owners are super..."

Trudi Smith

"Incredibile, fenomenale, meraviglioso!! A hidden Italian gem in the heart of Ferndale...food so delicious it can only be described as beautiful. A..."

Kat :)

"Hidden away in Ferndale is this fantastic restaurant. Chris and his staff provide excellent service with amazing Italian cuisine. Will definitely be..."

Pierre

"What a great little Italian restaurant. Wonderful hospitable service and lovely food. Very homely!!!! Sangria and Pizza to die for... What more could..."

Farrah Rymer

"What an absolute diamond in the rough! We have been back here over 10 times. They are open during load shedding and the whole menu is good to go....."

Brett Stevens

"Been here a few times with my wife, great place with great food, service could improve slightly. That's the only little frustration I have is the..."

Chris Badenhorst

"I can't help it. I have to give this place a 5. Yes, it's a biased review - because we've been going to La Mama since I was a little kid, following..."

Jenny Sarah Coulson

"La Mama, true "Mama" style Italian food! Simply delicious! It is hidden in a small shopping centre, but do not let this discourage you, it is war,..."

Amy Lara Baxter

"Not the Ritz, but imagine a little Italian town and a bistro, and well , this is it, consistent food quality and excellent waiters, friendly owners..."

Nicolas Brett

"Excellent food at this little hideaway. We ordered a fish special which was excellent. Decor is quaint but a little dated. Great find in an unlikely..."

Mlekena

"Awesome service, vibe and epic food! Tomatoe and white wine mussels starter to die for paired with a wolftrapp red, greatest food for a chilly..."

Melissa Cutler

"Read the reviews and had to try it. Loved the ambience, it was not showy but homely. The manager went out his way to make us feel comfortable even..."

Niklesh Badhur

"I have been eating at La Mama's for decades going back to the days it first opened in Bramley, serving the best pizzas in Johannesburg in those days,..."

Food Lover Deluxe

"This little Italian restaurant has a cosy atmosphere and great service. The pasta is made from scratch and the ingredients are fresh. I ordered the..."

Liza Richard

"Cute little restaurant in the middle rand burg, not an ideal location. Very pleasant service and family run. Pasta is all home made and has a unique..."

Philip Tillman

"Great little Italian Restaurant. Really enjoyed the Rabbit that I had. Also tried some snails as well the Lasagne which were also very well done...."

Brendan Nelson

"What a great restaurant. Generous portions of delicious food, personalised by Chris the owner. A wonderful Saturday lunch experience. Will definitely..."

Anthony Sawma

"Awesome Italian restaurant. Had an unexpectedly good time there and was really pleased with the entire meal, from our starters, pasta mains and an..."

Jaco De Wet

"Definitely one of my favorite restaurants! Service is superb, the food is wonderful and easy of all they are open on Mondays which have allowed us to..."

Cheryl-Ann Carr

"What a pleasure to find an involved owner! Makes all the difference. Great winelist - veggies were fresh (WOW spinach) - reasonable prices -..."

Fiona Storevik

"I absolutely love La Mamma. We are Friday night regulars. I love the simplicity of the place, and the above par quality of food. We have noticed it..."

Megan K

"Fantastic small restaurant in Ferndale, with authentic Italian food. The place is quite small, and the decor is very old fashioned, but that's part..."

Ryan Smit

"Impressed with this small hidden restaurant great service and equally great food. Had a pizza tonight which was great and need to come back for their..."

Robert

"La Mama is warm friendly and yummy...its like home away from home with wonderful service. The food isnt fancy but its tasty and satisfying.have to..."

Kersti-Lee Stevens

"Chris, Sam and Joe always welcome us with open arms. They are 'our resturant' because of the excellent quality and consistency. I have yet to have a..."

Louise Van Der Bijl

"Visited La Mamma a couple weeks ago.Our aim was to taste their pizza. My Neapolitan friend and I are always searching for authentic..."

Sergio Michele Acquisto

"This is our family hangout. The favorites are: spaghetti carbonara (BACON or rather PANCHETTA!!) , the baby chicken( done in the pizza oven and..."

Marijke Louise

"This place has a lovely cosy atmosphere and I recommend the liver and onions,ask for rustic mash with..."

Nati Celliers

"La Mama is out of the way and hard to find, unless you know where to look, which is one of the things that I find makes it so special! Its ambience..."

Lauras World

"Good authentic Italian food with nice warm hospitality. What is so nice is it is very old school. Highly recommend..."

David Woodcock

"Nice old school Italian restaurant. They have a huge wood fire pizza oven in the restaurant which cooks everything from the fish to the lamb to the..."

Jon

"Nice quaint Italian eatery! Excellent food, friendly staff. Good value for money. Regular..."

Alan Johnson

"Love this place! Interior a little old-school but the service and food is ALWAYS top-notch. Hosts (esp. Chris) are great and pay attention to detail...."

Kat Koebke

"I've been coming to La Mama since I was a little tyke of about 6 months old, from their old premises in Blairgowrie to their current restaurant in..."

Chloe

"Absolutely love this little Italian restaurant. My parents went to the old outlet on the restaurant moved to ferndale. This means I'm talking about..."

Sarah Cameron

"Fantastic little Italian restaurant with consistently great food. The friendly host will run through the days specials for you before taking your..."

Greer

"This little restaurant is an absolute gem and we go there often. The staff are fantastic and Chris is an excellent host - nothing is too much hassle...."

Dave Keating

"Homely restaurant with amazing food and excellent service. Traditional Italian menu with lots of favourites rarely found elsewhere. The Parma pizza..."

Claira Cain

"Really nice place. Great food. Friendly staff. It was their competition who was closed recommended this place. Thank..."

ikc

"Such a lovely restaurant. The waiters always look so smart and are so friendly and efficient. Lovely and delicious traditional italian dishes with..."

Margot Uys

"Nice Italian old fashion restaurant. My favourite is the schnitzel. The pizza is also fantastic. If you want you can also sit outside on a terrace...."

constance belfi

"Excellent meal, once again. We have been going to La Mama for almost 20 years and the food is as better as ever. The waiters are so friendly and..."

Fran Stafferd

"Classic hospitality that is completely lovely combined with phenomenal cuisine and a beautifully relaxed atmosphere. Thank you for being a gem for..."

Leanne Williams

"Staff and management that sincerely care. While the restaurants will check on you because the manual say so. One can tell that they care from the..."

Prashanth Gokaran

"What a hidden gem! It is so quaint and lovely with the best service I've ever seen! The waiters are dressed handsomely and are pleasant and..."

Chev Reddy

"An old Joburg mainstay that's been around for decades. Despite my table of 10 being the rowdiest guests last night, we were still treated with the..."

Justin Render

"Homely place with delicious food and secure parking. very friendly waiters and good table settings. may want took at their wine list a little and..."

Martin Koch

"Excellent food. Nice ambience. Wonderful attentive waiter, Joseph, remembered us from our first visit some 2 months ago and returned my wife's..."

Cobus van der Walt

"Amazing food, lovely atmosphere, authentic no pretense. Consistently excellent service and outstanding food. This gem of a restaurant deserves all..."

Barbara Helm

"A brilliant little Italian restaurant that my family have been coming to for decades. The food is great and the service is always warm. We love..."

Guy Wilding

"One will never make a mistake to dine at La Mama! I know them for many years and their meals have always been perfect. Long live La Mama and it's..."

Fritz Schoeman

"This place is a treasure. Seriously, you need to try it. Terribly authentic (though I notice the elderly couple who've run it since its beginnings in..."

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Brigitte Gerhardi

John Radford

Robert Purdon

John Ostrom

Janine Scorer

Cheryl Wagner

Nina Venjakob

Zelda Venter

Ashleigh Ingram

Jana Brink

Mariaan Jonker

Annie Baxter

Gabrielle Pool

Jolene Poore

Annunziata Tina Sorrentino

Fran Stafford

Chev Nagiah

Dirtdiver

Daniel Friedman

Shaun Gunning

Joshua De Klerk

Greg Marcia

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Lornabarenbrug

Boitumelo Tumi Lebona

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Theunsinkablemommybrown

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Julia Pyle

Indy

Jessica Notelo

Bronwyn McPhail

Nasheetha Singh

Jalapeño Popper

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