Our Menu

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.

Please order and pay inside. Counter service only, no table service.

Panini

Served 10am – 4pm, not served at night

All our sandwiches are made on our focaccia, homemade 72-hour fermented Roman-style.

Classic Caprese Focaccia PaninoV

R135

Fresh tomato grown with Italian seeds, fior di latte (fresh mozzarella), basil, Italian extra virgin olive oil

Roasted Caprese Focaccia PaninoV

R135

4-hour roasted tomato, fior di latte (fresh mozzarella), basil, Italian extra virgin olive oil

Verdura Focaccia PaninoV

R145

4-hour roasted tomato, chargrilled aubergine, basil, fior di latte (fresh mozzarella), Italian extra virgin olive oil

Prosciutto Focaccia Panino

R175

Wafer-thin prosciutto di Parma (dry cured pork leg from Parma), fior di latte (fresh mozzarella), Italian extra virgin olive oil

Mortadella Focaccia Panino

R150

Wafer-thin mortadella di Bologna (cooked pork sausage from Bologna), fior di latte (fresh mozzarella), Italian extra virgin olive oil

Pistachio Mortadella Focaccia Panino

R189

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

Carciofi Focaccia PaninoV

R115

Italian artichoke hearts, local fresh ricotta, rocket, Italian extra virgin olive oil

Porchetta Focaccia Panino

R155

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.

Fettine Tonnato Focaccia Panino

R155

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

Bresaola Focaccia Panino

R155

Grilled zucchini, a smear of 4-hour roasted tomato, wafer-thin bresaola (Italian dry cured beef), wild rocket, Italian extra virgin olive oil

Rows of Lello's focaccia panini with prosciutto and mozzarella in branded wrapping paper

Tall stack of freshly baked rosemary focaccia slices on a steel counter

How to eat at Lello's: eat family style, order a panino, pasta and a few plates to share. That's how we eat in our famiglia.

Antipasto

Scarpetta Spinach BallsV

R125

5 crispy crumb-coated spinach and ricotta gnudi on a bed of pomodoro sugo

Supplì Bolognese

R95

4 mini Roman-style crispy crumb-coated bolognese risotto balls with a piece of mozzarella inside

Mortadella Plate

R195

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

Prosciutto Plate

R215

A plate of wafer-thin prosciutto di Parma, full ball of fior di latte (fresh mozzarella), extra virgin olive oil

Verdura PlateV

R165

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

Porchetta Plate

R185

A plate of 8-hour cooked Italian herb rolled pork belly, served with Italian artichoke hearts, extra virgin olive oil

Fettine Tonnato Plate

R185

A plate of thinly sliced rare roast beef topped with traditional tonnato sauce

Bresaola Plate

R185

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

Crispy suppli served in silver dishes with a fig cocktail

Lello's family sketch with speech bubbles reading Gnocchi and Prawns, and the kitchen sink

Insalata

Caprese SaladV

R155

Fresh tomato, full ball of fior di latte (fresh mozzarella), basil, extra virgin olive oil

VerdeV

R95

Wild rocket, baby spinach, 24-month aged Parmigiano Reggiano, toasted pine nuts tossed in red wine vinegar and Italian extra virgin olive oil

Fresh caprese with full ball of fior di latte, sliced tomatoes, and basil on a rustic plate

Pasta

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.

Tagliatelle alla Bolognese

R195

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

Conchiglioni al PomodoroV

R155

Nonno Lello's traditional tomato and basil sauce served with small shell-shaped pasta. Finished off with grated Parmesan.

Add housemade stracciatella +R49

Spaghetti all'Amatriciana

R195

Ancient Roman tomato sauce with small pieces of fried guanciale (cured pork cheek) and pecorino Romano cheese

Fusilli alla GenoveseV

R165

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

Takeaway pasta is made with bronze extruded dried pasta

Rows of fresh bronze-extruded spaghetti nests on a floured tray

Table spread of pasta al ragu, salads and carpaccio shared family style

Lasagna

Served all day & night

Lasagna Beef

R195

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

Parmigiana di MelanzaneV

R195

Layers of wafer-thin grilled aubergine, traditional tomato and basil sauce, bechamel, mozzarella and parmigiano reggiano to finish

Golden baked lasagna with layers of fresh egg pasta, bechamel and parmigiano reggiano

Drinks & Aperitivo

Wine

Served from 11am

White (250ml Carafe)

R105

250ml carafe, roughly two glasses of wine

Red (250ml Carafe)

R105

250ml carafe, roughly two glasses of wine

Rosé (250ml Carafe)

R105

250ml carafe, roughly two glasses of wine

Bottle (White / Red / Rosé)

R310

Full bottle of wine

Glass of Prosecco

R95

Small batch Italian prosecco from a family run farm

Prosecco Bottle

R450

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.

Negroni Cocktails

Served from 11am

Negroni

R135

Campari, traditional homemade barrel-aged vermouth and gin

Blood Orange Negroni

R145

Campari, traditional homemade barrel-aged vermouth and gin

Limoncello Negroni

R145

Homemade vermouth, house-made limoncello and a touch of gin

Mi-To (Milano–Torino)

R125

The grandfather of the Negroni. Campari and traditional homemade barrel-aged vermouth.

Sbagliato

R140

Campari, traditional homemade barrel-aged vermouth and Italian Prosecco

Americano

R135

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.

Spritz Cocktails

Campari Spritz

R130

Campari, Italian Prosecco and San Pellegrino sparkling water

Aperol Spritz

R130

Aperol, Italian Prosecco and San Pellegrino sparkling water

Hugo Spritz

R130

Italian elderflower cordial, fresh lime, fragrant mint, Italian Prosecco and San Pellegrino sparkling water, low ABV%

Artichoke Spritz

R135

Homemade vermouth, bitter artichoke Cynar, Italian Prosecco and San Pellegrino sparkling water

Campari Soda

R110

Double Campari served on the rocks with San Pellegrino sparkling water, garnished with fresh orange

Amalfi Spritz

R135

House-made limoncello, Italian Prosecco and San Pellegrino sparkling water

Martinis & Highballs

Espresso Martini

R145

Shaken house-made coffee liqueur with Lello's espresso

Non-Alcoholic & Low ABV

Soft cocktails

Crodino Style Spritz

R115

House-made botanical and bittersweet alcohol-free spritz, served with fresh orange

0% Hugo Spritz

R110

Italian elderflower cordial, fresh lime, fragrant mint and San Pellegrino sparkling water, alcohol free

Liqueurs

Nonno Lello's Favourite Grappa

R79

Veneta

Vermouth on Ice

R89

Lello's house-made barrel-aged vermouth

Limoncello

R79

Lello's house-made limoncello

Fig cocktail on a Lello's aperitivo coaster beside a silver bowl of fresh figs at the bar

Lello's Aperitivo coaster illustration with a classic Vespa parked outside the trattoria

Aperitivo Snacks

Served all day

Italian Green OlivesVVGGF

R79

Italian Artichokes & Italian Green OlivesVVGGF

R79

Mortadella from Bologna & Italian Green Olives

R79

Wedge of 24-month aged Parmigiano Reggiano with a rustic cheese knife

Caffè

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.

EspressoVVGGF

R32

MacchiatoVGF

R35

Italian CappuccinoVGF

R39

Iced CappuccinoVGF

R45

AmericanoVVGGF

R35

BabycinoVGF

R16

PuppacinoVGF

R16

Chocolate Hazelnut Hot ChocolateVGF

R85

Served in a coupe with chocolate and frothed milk separately

Extra shot +R10

Macadamia milk +R12

Cappuccino with biscotti and espresso served on silver tray on terrazzo counter

Lello's is our whole life. We're a family-run trattoria 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.