Classic Caprese Focaccia PaninoV
R135Fresh tomato grown with Italian seeds, fior di latte (fresh mozzarella), basil, Italian extra virgin olive oil
Order and pay at the counter. We offer trattoria style relaxed sit down and takeaway
We use local and Italian produce to create our traditional Italian menu. From our 72 hour fermented Roman style focaccia panini to Mamma Turilli's homemade dolce, we've curated through our nostalgia.

Served 10am – 4pm, not served at night
All our sandwiches are made on our focaccia, homemade 72-hour fermented Roman-style.
Fresh tomato grown with Italian seeds, fior di latte (fresh mozzarella), basil, Italian extra virgin olive oil
4-hour roasted tomato, fior di latte (fresh mozzarella), basil, Italian extra virgin olive oil
4-hour roasted tomato, chargrilled aubergine, basil, fior di latte (fresh mozzarella), Italian extra virgin olive oil
Wafer-thin prosciutto di Parma (dry cured pork leg from Parma), fior di latte (fresh mozzarella), Italian extra virgin olive oil
Wafer-thin mortadella di Bologna (cooked pork sausage from Bologna), fior di latte (fresh mozzarella), Italian extra virgin olive oil
Housemade stracciatella cheese (the heart of the burrata), wafer-thin mortadella di Bologna (cooked pork sausage from Bologna), our 100% pistachio paste, Italian extra virgin olive oil
Italian artichoke hearts, local fresh ricotta, rocket, Italian extra virgin olive oil
8-hour cooked Italian herb rolled pork belly, Italian extra virgin olive oil. Yes, that's all. Why? Served the traditional way, the heated flavour and fattiness of the porchetta is perfect on our focaccia.
Thinly sliced rare roast beef topped with traditional tonnato sauce (mayonnaise made with capers, anchovies and tuna) and wild rocket, Italian extra virgin olive oil
Grilled zucchini, a smear of 4-hour roasted tomato, wafer-thin bresaola (Italian dry cured beef), wild rocket, Italian extra virgin olive oil



5 crispy crumb-coated spinach and ricotta gnudi on a bed of pomodoro sugo
4 mini Roman-style crispy crumb-coated bolognese risotto balls with a piece of mozzarella inside
4 mini Roman-style crispy crumb-coated mushroom risotto balls with a piece of mozzarella inside
An Italian charcuterie plate with wafer-thin slices of 8-hour cooked porchetta, prosciutto (Parma ham), mortadella from Bologna, coppa from Emilia Romagna, Italian olives, 4-hour cooked tomato and a square of our pizza al taglio
An Italian cheese plate with sliced pecorino romano from Rome, fontina from the Aosta Valley Alps and 24-month aged Parmigiano Reggiano from Emilia Romagna, served with Italian olives, 4-hour cooked tomato and a square of our pizza al taglio
A plate of wafer-thin mortadella di Bologna, full ball of fior di latte (fresh mozzarella), extra virgin olive oil
Add our 100% pistachio paste +R45
A plate of wafer-thin prosciutto di Parma, full ball of fior di latte (fresh mozzarella), extra virgin olive oil
A plate of 4-hour roasted tomato, chargrilled aubergine, chargrilled zucchini, Italian artichoke hearts, extra virgin olive oil
Add full ball of fior di latte (fresh mozzarella) +R75
A plate of 8-hour cooked Italian herb rolled pork belly, served with Italian artichoke hearts, extra virgin olive oil
A plate of thinly sliced rare roast beef topped with traditional tonnato sauce
A plate of wafer-thin Italian-style cured beef topped with rocket, 24-month aged Parmigiano Reggiano
Add Italian artichoke hearts +R35
Add 72-hour fermented Roman-style focaccia +R25



Fresh tomato, full ball of fior di latte (fresh mozzarella), basil, extra virgin olive oil
Wild rocket, baby spinach, 24-month aged Parmigiano Reggiano, toasted pine nuts tossed in red wine vinegar and Italian extra virgin olive oil
Orange slices from Citrusdal, Italian extra virgin olive oil, salt and a generous amount of freshly cracked black pepper

Served all day & night
Fresh homemade bronze-extruded pasta made with Neapolitan Caputo semola di grano duro flour and Tuscan Acqua Panna water. We have chosen specific pasta shapes that marry well with our sauces.
100% beef bolognese, a Roman-style beef mince ragù made with Italian tomatoes and red wine, slowly cooked for hours. Finished off with grated Parmesan. We serve it the traditional way with tagliatelle.
Swap for spaghetti if you wish
Nonno Lello's traditional tomato and basil sauce served with small shell-shaped pasta. Finished off with grated Parmesan.
Add housemade stracciatella +R49
Ancient Roman tomato sauce with small pieces of fried guanciale (cured pork cheek) and pecorino Romano cheese
Our homemade fresh basil pesto made with pine nuts, studded with potato and green beans. Finished off with grated Parmesan.
Change to gluten-free pasta +R35


Served all day & night
Layers of our homemade fresh egg pasta sheets, slow-cooked (100% beef only) bolognese, lathered with bechamel and adorned with mozzarella and parmigiano reggiano to finish
Layers of our homemade fresh egg pasta sheets, hearty mixed vegetable sugo, lathered with bechamel and adorned with mozzarella and parmigiano reggiano to finish
Layers of wafer-thin grilled aubergine, traditional tomato and basil sauce, bechamel, mozzarella and parmigiano reggiano to finish
Nonno Lello made his cannelloni with savoury crepes which makes it lighter. Filled with fresh ricotta and spinach, topped with pomodoro sauce and a small amount of bechamel.

Mains, served all day & night
Slow-cooked tender beef shin bathed in a rich tomato sauce. Served with patate e cipolle (Roman rustic smashed potato and sautéed onion mixed together) and a humble iceberg salad.
Flame-grilled lamb loin chops marinated overnight in rosemary and garlic. Served with patate e cipolle (Roman rustic smashed potato and sautéed onion mixed together) and a humble iceberg salad.
Fillet medallions cooked in a rich Italian Marsala wine sauce. Served with patate e cipolle (Roman rustic smashed potato and sautéed onion mixed together) and a humble iceberg salad.
Fillet medallions cooked in a rich lemon sauce. Served with patate e cipolle (Roman rustic smashed potato and sautéed onion mixed together) and a humble iceberg salad.

Mamma Turilli is the dessert queen of Lello’s. She has been perfecting her recipes for more than 20 years.
Homemade mascarpone, dark roasted coffee and Italian savoiardi
Crisp pastry shells filled with whipped ricotta and candied citrus
Crisp pastry shells filled with whipped pistachio ricotta

Served from 11am
250ml carafe, roughly two glasses of wine
250ml carafe, roughly two glasses of wine
250ml carafe, roughly two glasses of wine
Full bottle of wine
250ml carafe, roughly two glasses
Full bottle of prosecco
We don't offer corkage. Instead we pour a curated selection of local, small-batch wines that change with the seasons.
Served from 11am
Light, crisp Italian pilsner from Lombardy, 300ml
Traditional pale lager made with Alpine water from Biella, Piedmont, 300ml
Our beer selection is entirely Italian, in keeping with everything else we serve.
Served from 11am
Campari, traditional homemade barrel-aged vermouth and gin
Campari, traditional homemade barrel-aged vermouth and gin
Gin, Cinzano Bianco, Cocchi Americano and a hint of local pomegranate juice
Homemade vermouth, house-made limoncello and a touch of gin
The grandfather of the Negroni. Campari and traditional homemade barrel-aged vermouth.
Campari, traditional homemade barrel-aged vermouth and Italian Prosecco
Campari, traditional homemade barrel-aged vermouth and San Pellegrino sparkling water, low ABV%
Our liqueurs are crafted slowly and carefully in the traditional Italian way: infused, rested and bottled by hand.
Campari, Italian Prosecco and San Pellegrino sparkling water
Aperol, Italian Prosecco and San Pellegrino sparkling water
Italian elderflower cordial, fresh lime, fragrant mint, Italian Prosecco and San Pellegrino sparkling water, low ABV%
Homemade vermouth, bitter artichoke Cynar, Italian Prosecco and San Pellegrino sparkling water
Double Campari served on the rocks with San Pellegrino sparkling water, garnished with fresh orange
House-made limoncello, Italian Prosecco and San Pellegrino sparkling water
House-made fig leaf liquor, balsamic vinegar, Italian Prosecco and San Pellegrino sparkling water
Shaken house-made coffee liqueur with Lello's espresso
A savoury, velvet-textured Martini crafted with starchy pasta water
Housemade fig leaf liquor and housemade vermouth shaken with gin
Freshly squeezed orange juice, double shot of Campari over ice
Veneta Grappa, fresh lime, Italian ginger ale for a spicy finish
A savoury porcini-infused brandy stirred with our housemade barrel-aged vermouth and a dash of orange bitters
Our housemade limoncello shaken with fresh lemon and egg white for a silky, tart and refreshing finish
Soft cocktails
House-made botanical and bittersweet alcohol-free spritz, served with fresh orange
Lello's house-made barrel-aged vermouth and Italian wooded tonic water, low ABV%
Italian elderflower cordial, fresh lime, fragrant mint and San Pellegrino sparkling water, alcohol free
Veneta
Lello's house-made barrel-aged vermouth
Lello's house-made limoncello
Lello's house-made coffee liqueur


Served all day

Our cappuccino are Italian style made with a single shot of espresso and about 125ml of perfectly tempered milk at 75°C. No extra hot coffee.
Served in a coupe with chocolate and frothed milk separately
Our dark roast espresso topped with ice, Italian tonic water and a slice of orange
Whipped frozen coffee mousse from Italy with a dusting of cocoa
Extra shot +R10
Macadamia milk +R12

Lello's is our whole life. We're a family-run trattoria and espresso bar right here in Cape Town, built on roots that trace back to Rieti — a small town just outside Rome where our nonno Lello was born. We're completely obsessed with quality, sourcing the best local and imported Italian ingredients we can find. Drop by for 72-hour fermented Roman focaccia panini, fresh bronze-extruded pasta, our signature dark roast Italian espresso, or a couple of artisanal Italian cocktails.