Bel Punto
Published: 01 Mar 05
Category: Italian Cuisine
Opened in time for the Christmas season, this chic and spacious venue on the first floor overlooking the Indian Ocean welcomes patrons with sandy feet or in evening glad
rags alike. Half the seating is on the balcony and the remainder indoors
behind huge sliding doors, open whenever possible. White table linen and white
outdoor chairs achieve a clean uncluttered look on decking, cement slab and tiled
floors. The indoor section is livened up with beech chairs. A full bar, an open,
partly glassed-in kitchen and a small sitting area complete the restaurant. Being
so close allows Emmanuel and Vanessa to be on hand in both restaurants within
moments if required, a real plus for a small management team.
The personal challenge of being creative again and presenting the public with the modern, north Italian cuisine is the aim of this move. For chef/patron Emanuel, who never received formal training, the taste is the essence. It has to be the special Italian taste experienced growing up at his mother's side in the kitchen.
The less traditional menu focuses on new tastes with stronger emphasis on fish, seafood, meat and poultry dishes. Pizzas have more pizzazz with toppings comprising rocket, olives, goat cheese or peppadews. Three different types of starter platters for two people or more to share, with all the best Italian antipasti tastes, are fabulous for lunches or could be the perfect backdrop for the late afternoon cocktail session.
Individual starters on my list to try next time are prawn skewers, crab soup and butternut cappuccino with a chive froth. A foreign friend found the complimentary Foccacia con aglio e oregano, a garlic and oreganum bread, a tasty surprise.
The risottos (arborio rice only!) look inviting and don't disappoint in flavour either. My best pasta in ages was the spinach and ricotta ravioli with a creamy basil pesto sauce, delicate and delicious.
A few favourite dishes have been adopted from La Casa Nostra - try the grilled quails or one of the veal dishes, where only real veal will do. The Filetti di Struzzo, Ostrich fillet, is perfect when done as suggested, medium rare, perfectly tender. A welcome innovation is the choice of one complementary vegetable per main course ordered. These are also available as extras from between R10 to R15.
Desserts are recognisably Italian; Tiramisu, Cassata, Baci, a cherry flambé and a rich chocolate and nut cake.
For the light imbibers, the wine by the glass option offers a lovely dry rosé from Longbeach as well as their Sauvignon Blanc and the very drinkable Excelsior Merlot in the red wine department. Bel Punto's wine list is well put together, not only because my favourite blended white, Haute Cabrière at R68, is listed. It keeps good company with amongst others L'Avenir's Vin D'Erstelle at R59, Flagstone Longitude at R69, De Wetshof Nature in Concert at R145 and of course the pièce de résistance, Dom Perignon Champagne at a cool R1 390.
Future plans for Bel Punto are air-conditioning for the interior and blinds and a sunroof for the balcony as well as top-notch wine collection. Wine lovers, watch this space!
Three course dinner: R135.
Opened in time for the Christmas season, this chic and spacious venue on the first floor overlooking the Indian Ocean welcomes patrons with sandy feet or in evening glad
The personal challenge of being creative again and presenting the public with the modern, north Italian cuisine is the aim of this move. For chef/patron Emanuel, who never received formal training, the taste is the essence. It has to be the special Italian taste experienced growing up at his mother's side in the kitchen.
The less traditional menu focuses on new tastes with stronger emphasis on fish, seafood, meat and poultry dishes. Pizzas have more pizzazz with toppings comprising rocket, olives, goat cheese or peppadews. Three different types of starter platters for two people or more to share, with all the best Italian antipasti tastes, are fabulous for lunches or could be the perfect backdrop for the late afternoon cocktail session.
Individual starters on my list to try next time are prawn skewers, crab soup and butternut cappuccino with a chive froth. A foreign friend found the complimentary Foccacia con aglio e oregano, a garlic and oreganum bread, a tasty surprise.
The risottos (arborio rice only!) look inviting and don't disappoint in flavour either. My best pasta in ages was the spinach and ricotta ravioli with a creamy basil pesto sauce, delicate and delicious.
A few favourite dishes have been adopted from La Casa Nostra - try the grilled quails or one of the veal dishes, where only real veal will do. The Filetti di Struzzo, Ostrich fillet, is perfect when done as suggested, medium rare, perfectly tender. A welcome innovation is the choice of one complementary vegetable per main course ordered. These are also available as extras from between R10 to R15.
Desserts are recognisably Italian; Tiramisu, Cassata, Baci, a cherry flambé and a rich chocolate and nut cake.
For the light imbibers, the wine by the glass option offers a lovely dry rosé from Longbeach as well as their Sauvignon Blanc and the very drinkable Excelsior Merlot in the red wine department. Bel Punto's wine list is well put together, not only because my favourite blended white, Haute Cabrière at R68, is listed. It keeps good company with amongst others L'Avenir's Vin D'Erstelle at R59, Flagstone Longitude at R69, De Wetshof Nature in Concert at R145 and of course the pièce de résistance, Dom Perignon Champagne at a cool R1 390.
Future plans for Bel Punto are air-conditioning for the interior and blinds and a sunroof for the balcony as well as top-notch wine collection. Wine lovers, watch this space!
Three course dinner: R135.
By Mechthild Yorke-Mitchell
Address: Shop 7, First Floor, Umdloti Centre, No 1 South Beach Road, Umdloti Beach.
Tel: 031 568 2407. Open Tuesday Dinner till Sunday Dinner. Parking: car-guarded
parking in front of the Centre. BYO: R20
Food: 4
Wine list4
Ambience: 4
Service: 3
Value: 3
