With its rich flavours and rustic simplicity, Italian food is one of the world’s most popular cuisines. However, it’s not always easy to find venues which produce authentic Italian dishes, prepared using traditional Southern European cooking methods. Lina by Farro, a new restaurant opening in the seaside town of Hermanus, will be firing pizzas, preparing pasta, and mixing salads the ‘proper’ way, giving locals and tourists an authentic taste of Italy from the South African coast.

The restaurant, which is positioned in the town’s Carriages Centre, will reflect the Neapolitan-style eateries you would typically find on Italian soil. Described as a ‘tiny, cosy spot reminiscent of coastal Italy,’ Lina’s décor and atmosphere will undoubtedly be reflective of the dining experiences you would encounter in locations like Rimini, Genoa, and Sorrento, as owners Alex and Eloise Windebank attempt to create a quintessential Italian ambience for their customers.

Restaurant Characteristics

If you’re unsure what to expect, you can check out classic hallmarks of Italian restaurants in plenty of other contexts. For example, Betfair’s gaming platform, where you can play casino slots for real money, allows members to access Papa Paolo’s Pizzeria slot title, which offers a perfect insight into the sights and sounds of these parlours of gastronomic excellence. Players are welcomed to the game at the restaurant’s front doors, where a green, white, and red canopy (mirroring the colours of the Italian flag) stands overhead.

On entry, they’re greeted by a pay table set against a giant woodfired pizza oven, and will then spin reels containing a handful of relevant culinary-themed symbols, including a pepper grinder, pizza cutter, and the all-important ‘bonus’ pizza box. Whilst the action unfolds, the melodic tones of romantic Italian music, coupled with the jarring sounds of crashing plates and tossed cutlery as waiters go about their duties, provides an accurate backing track to the on-screen setting.

Source: Pexels

If you’re already planning a visit to this idyllic bistro, the earliest reservations are available from late September (although bookings cannot be made as of yet), when Lena’s will initially open for an 11 am-5 pm lunchtime service. The restaurant is currently in the process of acquiring its liquor licence and therefore is hoping to facilitate evening meals soon after its grand opening.

A little more about Lena’s…

The husband-and-wife partnership in charge of the restaurant sought inspiration for its name from an essential Italian cooking ingredient; ‘Lena’ is derived from semolina, a type of durum wheat flour used to prevent pizza dough from becoming too sticky. In their own words, their menu will contain a ‘‘short roster of Neapolitan-style pizzas and Italian-inspired small plates and salads’’

In close proximity to Hermanus’ iconic cliff path, and offering an al-fresco dining area on the ocean-facing pedestrianised walkway outside, Lena’s really taps into the town’s coastal identity and therefore harnesses a perfect blend of Italian and local influence.

Source: Unsplash

Stay in the know

To access news and information about the restaurant, Lena’s social media accounts will regularly release progress updates over the coming weeks. as excitement builds towards the restaurant’s spring launch. Buon appetito!