La Trattoria

After arriving in South Africa in 2013, the Giovanetti family moved to Stanford and opened The House of Don Gelato which was an instant hit with locals and holidaymakers. The family quickly made plenty of new friends in the village and their outgoing personalities meant that there were many delicious lunches and dinners served around the Giovanetti family dining-room table. The traditional Italian recipes were such a hit that, as Lionello laughingly states, “we were forced to open to the public”, in 2016, La Trattoria was born. The table in the Italian culture is the heart of the house and with this ethos in their hearts and minds, the Giovanetti family invite you to La Trattoria to share in their culture and cuisine.

The menu at La Trattoria includes the history of each dish such as the origins, region and year that the cuisine can be traced back to. All pastas and pizzas are freshly made by hand on the premises of La Trattoria in the Giovanetti preparation kitchen, just the way Nona and Mamma used to make it. Only the freshest and finest produce and products are used in the delicious recipes and nothing is frozen, except for the melt-in-the-mouth frozen gelato. A peep in the Giovanetti pantry is a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach and you will discover rosy red tomatoes, fresh herbs, cured meats and mozzarella cheese made by Lionello himself.

Wine is a big part of the La Trattoria experience and this is why the Giovanetti’s have a “don’t bring your own” policy. Although there is a selection of South African wines on the wine list, Lionello prides himself on having the largest collection of Italian wines in the Western Cape - which includes Collebello Toscana, Livio Chianti, Chianti Classico and Volpaia Chianti Classico. There are wines that are only sold at La Trattoria and nowhere else because Lionello enjoys sourcing and then buying the entire batch of vintages that he finds to be outstanding. And, for those who have special wine needs, La Trattoria stocks an organic wine that is sure to please.

There are over 150 flavours of this real Italian ‘ice-cream’ that are forever changing according to the seasons, trends and to demand. Don Gelato creates customized gelatos that have included, artisan-style concoctions such as the popular caramelized bacon gelato.

Don Gelato is available as a dessert option on La Trattoria’s à la carte menu or from the Don Gelato kiosk outside the restaurant in Queen Victoria Street in Stanford. Large quantities are available on order by prior arrangement.