This is the 5th time in about 3 years that we went back, and and it actually dawned on me the massive disparity in food quality and attentiveness If youre a local or friend of the owners.The way they make it so obvious for their mates and hover like bees to a honeypot around specific tables actually put me off my food.The food was okay but nothing special and certainly not up to others in the area like Atavola.This "apartheid" is quite saddenning. They need to realize every customer should get the 5 star treatment. Our table lay stacked with empty plates for nearly 10 minutes whilst next table had 4 people fawning over them. There were other such tables which also clearly got the vip treatment.Not sure I will hurry back unless they change their ways...

With a childish thrill of anticipation we were looking forward to the visit at Magica Roma and were badly disappointed. Nothing was like last year. All dishes were made quite undedicated. The seafood pasta dish was not only totally different to what we had last year. Some calamari and some mussels were swimming in an abysmal tomatosoup together with some noodles. We were almost crying! The main was ok but not more. Sad for the long trip to get there. Wanted to talk to Ezio but the other guy (was it Franco) just didn‘t care.

Magica Roma has been a staple of our family's special occasions for more than 30 years: this is easily the best Italian-themed restaurant I know of in South Africa, and is popular enough with repeat customers that you really had better have a reservation. Their menu is not huge, but varied enough to cater for many visits without a repeat - and they do simply brilliant VERY thin-base pizzas! The same four Italian folk have been there as manager / chef / maitre Ds as long as I remember, and are unfalilingly hospitable and interactive.Their other offerings are great, and in fact I usually go near the back of the menu for things like Kingklip Magica Roma, or other fish dishes - because they're superb. Desserts are simple, but decadent - even though I always have the creme brulée, my family and friends have commented favourably on everything else. The wine list is also excellent: Italian wines up front, that are surprisingly affordable (Valpolicella Ripasso...mmmmm...B-), with a great selection of South African reds and whites that are also not marked up ridiculously.The ambience is also simple, yet happy: Italian-themed pictures, wine bottles, garlic - and waitrons are all smartly decked out in white or black shirts, black pants and aprons. They are also all well acquainted with the menu and wine list. The place is popular enough that it is full every night it's open, and I have never had a negative interaction with anyone there.And I saved the grappa trolley till last: this is a thing of wonder; more grappas than I have ever seen in one place, and Marco the Verona-born grappa expert to advise you. Advice: a couple of grappa selections, then Uber home!

It was our best Italian Restaurant in Cape Town. Not any more! The Vitello Schnizel had more crumble than meat (much more). The fish of the day, a Kabeljou usually a delicious juicy fish, was dry and had no taste. The pasta and fish was swiming in a lake of oil! The Don Pedros were extremely sweet and the cassate, I had to send it back. Never again!

What an unbelievably wonderful experience! We booked Magica Roma based on a recommendation from our travel company. It was a 10 minute cab ride from our hotel on the waterfront into a beautiful neighborhood. We were immediately greetedBy Marco, an Italian gentleman with such graceAnd poise. We had a lovely conversation while we picked out the perfect bottle of wine. Franco then came out to meet us to talk about our preferences and what he could cook for us and we were hooked. We put ourselves into his capable hands and decided to go with whatever he recommended.First we had an incredible antipasto plate with the most delicious flavors and treats for the senses. The calamari was cooked perfectly, the caprese salad had a twist with added avocado, and the Parma was superb. Although we thought it was enough, we then moved on to plates of sole meunière on the bone and the local kob fish cooked to perfection with some pasta, chili pepper and olive oil. Our mouths watered and the food was the best we could remember in aVery long time. Marco and Franco, along with our server, Sarah, were so attentive andtook extra care with us (orAt least made us feel that way) all the while the restaurant was filling up with the regular local crowd. We had an amazing eveningAnd felt so special and privileged to have this dining experience. I highly recommend Magica Roma and hope to get the chance to come back soon!

This restaurant has excellent food but two unusual quirks, which make me very reluctant to visit. Firstly, the one owner, Enzio, always walks through the restaurant greeting and stopping to talk to certain patrons but completely ignores the rest of the patrons. Whether the ones he talks to and provdes personal service sometimes, are friends or regulars, what this does is create a feeling of "apartheid" where the ones he ignores can feel like second-class patrons, not even worthy of a 'Hello'.Secondly the tables are so close to one another (i.e. so many are squahed into their limited space) that one cannot even turn sideways in case one is then eyeball-to-eyeball with the stranger at the table next door. And if one's own group does not talk to one another without a break, one lands up listening to other people's conversations all the time. One's own space is non-existant in this overcrowded restaurant.The food is very good but I don't believe it outweighs the cramped environment. There are other restaurants that deliver excellent food, where one feels some element of privacy.A good restaurant is more than only good food.

Nothing beats a meal with good friend(s) with Magica Roma's Ezio Biaddi's as host recommending authentic Italian food. It is like having the chef at your table. Our tagliatelle porcini was superb. Great menu, wine selection and warm, personal service.

A hidden gem well worth the visit. The [personal attention of the owners highlights the care which is taken with the food here. The meal was excellent and the ambience was great. Service was top notch, but as a visitor I found it a bit warm inside.

I wish people could be more accommodating. Staff not educated, food over priced for what you get. Decor... Old age home. Waitress and manager was so stressed out ... Not a relaxing evening.

Another excellent meal and good Italian wine. You can't go wrong at this popular eatery.Good service, jovial atmosphere. Good solid Italian food.