Ferdinando’s serves South Africa’s favourite pizza, according to diners who voted in this year’s Porcupine Ridge Pizzeria Challenge.
The colourful and quirky Observatory-based restaurant, run by Italian Diego Milesi and his late partner Kiki Bisogno, beat out strong competition to take the title.
Also read: Remembering Kimon ‘Kiki’ Bisogno, an “extraordinary human being”
One of Ferdinando’s best-selling pizzas is the Classic Diavola – spicy Italian salami on a Margarita base. Their signature pizza is the Turbanite, with toppings of grilled baby marrow, homemade caramelised onion jam and feta. But everything on the menu is sensational, including dessert.
Visit Ferdinando’s:
- Location: 205 Lower Main Rd, Observatory, Cape Town
- Website: ferdinandospizza.com
- Contact: 084 771 0485
- Yay: Ferdinando’s welcomes all people and pooches.
The knack for serving award-winning pizzas clearly runs in the family. Gino’s second operation in Stellenbosch, Gino’s, with brother Dom Mazza at the helm, was in fourth spot, while restaurateur sisters Cristina De Almeida and Claudia Lau both made the Top 10. De Almeida’s Edenvale establishment, Piccola Rossa, came in at eighth position and Lau’s Osteria Rossa in Bedfordview nabbed ninth place.
In second place overall was Joburg favourite Gino’s in Robertsham (owned by Gino Mazza and last year’s winner). Enzo Pizzeria Trattoria in Scottburgh made it into 5th position, the first KwaZulu-Natal establishment to achieve a Top 10 ranking. The Top 10:
- Ferdinando’s (Observatory, Cape Town)
- Gino’s (Robertsham, Johannesburg)
- Bardelli’s (Kenilworth, Cape Town)
- Gino’s (Stellenbosch)
- Enzo Pizzeria Trattoria (Scottburgh)
- Caspita (George)
- Lucio’s Pizzeria (Northcliff, Johannesburg)
- Piccola Rossa (Edenvale, Johannesburg)
- Osteria Rossa (Bedfordview, Johannesburg)
- Izzeria (Brooklyn, Pretoria)
Gino’s is a Johannesburg eatery which celebrates its 40th anniversary next year. The establishment’s bestseller is the Chiattona, or “the one with everything” as customers affectionately call it. They also have their signature oval shape, which is a firm favourite with diners at both the Robertsham and Stellenbosch locations. Says Lynton Kaiser of Porcupine Ridge: “We are thrilled that both the South African pizza-loving public and pizza-serving establishments continue to embrace the Pizzeria Challenge. Everyone has their local favourite pizza spot and this just gives patrons the chance to make their support known … hopefully with a glass of Porcupine Ridge in hand! Congratulations to all the pizzerias who were voted into the Top 10 and indeed to each participant, not only for making delicious pizzas, but for harnessing the support of their loyal customers.” For achieving top spot, Ferdinando’s receives a Winner’s Paddle, Porcupine Ridge wine for a year and promotional materials to the value of R25 000.
Also read: The ultimate guide to spending a day in Kenilworth/Harfield
The Porcupine Ridge Pizzeria Challenge also offered consumers the chance to win by voting. Each week of the campaign, a lucky winner was drawn. The Grand Prize winner, Rob Burgoyne, who voted for Bardelli’s in Kenilworth received an EarthFire Pizza Oven and accessories, as well as pizza for a year from Bardelli’s and wine from Porcupine Ridge, all valued at more than R8 500.
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Picture: Ferdinando’s / Facebook
