Il Menu
Thesen Island · Knysna
Il Menu
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Il Menu
Thesen Island · Knysna
Benvenuti
Fifteen years ago Silvana left Perugia, in the heart of Umbria, and made South Africa home, bringing with her a love of Italian food, family and the tradition of gathering around the table.
For Silvana, food has always been about more than what is on the plate. It is about long lunches, busy family tables, laughter, conversation and those special moments that somehow always seem to happen over a good meal.
Our menu brings together the flavours of Italy with the dishes our customers have come to know and love. Homemade pasta and pizza sit alongside fresh seafood, flame grilled meats and comforting family favourites.
Our food is generous, uncomplicated and made to be shared and enjoyed.
Primo
Fresh wild local oysters, hand-picked along our coastline and served with fresh lemon.
Homemade toasted bread topped with fresh diced tomato, garlic, oregano and extra virgin olive oil.
Fresh mozzarella, tomato and basil, drizzled with homemade pesto and extra virgin olive oil.
Crispy golden risotto balls filled with slow-cooked beef ragu and mozzarella, served with homemade pomodoro and Parmesan.
Pan-fried chicken livers in a rich tomato, garlic and chilli sauce, finished with white wine and served with toasted homemade bread.
Sweet seasonal melon wrapped in thinly sliced Parma ham.
Layers of aubergine, homemade pomodoro, mozzarella and Parmesan, baked until golden and finished with fresh basil.
Patagonian calamari tubes filled with prawns, spring onion and cashew nuts.
Thin-cut lamb chops flame-grilled, brushed with rosemary oil and finished with fresh lemon.
Creamy fresh burrata with thinly sliced Parma ham and extra virgin olive oil, served with warm Focaccia Classica.
Fresco
Creamy Danish feta, olives, tomato, cucumber and red onion, tossed in a balsamic dressing.
Fresh rocket, creamy avocado, shaved Parmesan and toasted pine nuts, finished with our house lemon vinaigrette.
Crisp cos lettuce tossed in our homemade Caesar dressing with Parmesan and crunchy croutons. Add grilled chicken R45.
Grilled chicken breast with avocado, toasted almonds and mixed leaves, finished with a honey and rosemary dressing.
Grilled halloumi, crispy bacon and avocado on mixed leaves, finished with balsamic glaze.
Mixed leaves, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, olives and shaved Parmesan with house Italian vinaigrette. Serves 2 to 4.
Grilled prawns and crispy calamari served over mixed leaves, finished with a sweet chilli and lime dressing.
Fatto in Casa
Pomodoro, Arrabbiata, Pesto, Alfredo, Bolognese and Pasta al Pollo are served with your choice of penne, spaghetti, gnocchi or homemade tagliatelle.
Classic Italian tomato sauce with garlic, extra virgin olive oil and fresh basil.
Pomodoro sauce with garlic, extra virgin olive oil and a touch of chilli.
Homemade basil pesto with garlic, nuts, Parmesan and extra virgin olive oil.
Creamy Alfredo sauce with ham, mushrooms and Parmesan.
Traditional slow-cooked beef ragu with pomodoro and aromatic herbs.
Tender chicken breast and mushrooms tossed in a rich creamy sauce.
Fatto in Casa
Egg, Pecorino Romano, pancetta and freshly cracked black pepper.
Layers of pasta with slow-cooked beef ragu, creamy bechamel, mozzarella and Parmesan.
Golden pan-fried gnocchi in a creamy Gorgonzola and white wine sauce, finished with brown butter and fresh spring onion.
Gnocchi with succulent prawns and smoky chorizo in a creamy tomato and garlic sauce with a hint of chilli.
Homemade beef meatballs in a rich pomodoro sauce, served with creamy burrata and fresh basil.
Prawns, mussels and calamari tossed in a rich pomodoro sauce with garlic and fresh chilli.
Dal Forno
Rosemary, garlic and extra virgin olive oil.
Feta or mozzarella, garlic, cracked black pepper and extra virgin olive oil.
Tomato sauce, mozzarella and fresh basil.
Tomato sauce, anchovies, capers and a touch of chilli.
Tomato sauce, mozzarella, spicy salami and fresh chilli.
Tomato sauce, mozzarella, ham and mushrooms.
Tomato sauce, mozzarella, mixed peppers, mushrooms, artichokes and baby marrow.
Tomato sauce, mozzarella, ham and pineapple.
Tomato sauce, mozzarella, bacon and banana.
Dal Forno
Tomato sauce, mozzarella, ham, mushrooms, artichokes and olives.
Tomato sauce, mozzarella, seasoned beef mince, mixed peppers and chilli.
Tomato sauce, mozzarella, bacon, feta and avocado.
Tomato sauce, mozzarella, Gorgonzola, Parmesan and creamy feta.
Tomato sauce, mozzarella, chicken, Peppadews, feta and avocado.
Tomato sauce, mozzarella, ham, bacon, Italian sausage and salami.
Tomato sauce, mozzarella di bufala, Parma ham, rocket, fresh cherry tomatoes and shaved Parmesan.
Tomato sauce, mozzarella, Parma ham and fresh creamy burrata.
Tomato sauce, mozzarella, prawns, mussels and calamari, finished with fresh chilli.
Dalla Cucina
All burgers are served with hand-cut chips.
A generous stack of grilled seasonal vegetables with melted cheddar, caramelised onion and rocket, served on a toasted brioche bun with house mayo.
Flame-grilled chicken fillet marinated in our house peri-peri sauce, served on a toasted Portuguese roll with caramelised onion.
Crispy buttermilk chicken breast with grilled pineapple and melted cheddar, served on a toasted brioche bun with caramelised onion, rocket and house mayo.
Homemade beef patty topped with crispy bacon, avocado and cheddar, served on a toasted brioche bun with caramelised onion, rocket and house mayo.
A generous 300g homemade beef patty topped with melted cheddar, tomato relish and gherkins, served on a toasted brioche bun with house mayo.
Secondi
Old-school beer-battered hake served with hand-cut chips, fresh salad, lemon and house tartare sauce.
Fresh mussels steamed with garlic, white wine, thyme and onion, finished with a touch of cream and served with warm toasted bread and hand-cut chips.
Tender Patagonian calamari, fried or grilled, served with hand-cut chips, fresh salad, lemon and house tartare sauce.
A generous selection of prawns, hake, Patagonian calamari and mussels, served with hand-cut chips, savoury rice, fresh salad and lemon butter.
Secondi
Old-school beer-battered hake with six prawns, served with hand-cut chips, house tartare sauce and garlic butter.
Old-school beer-battered hake with crumbed Patagonian calamari, served with hand-cut chips, fresh lemon and house tartare sauce.
200g matured beef sirloin with six prawns, served with hand-cut chips and garlic butter.
Fiamma
Half chicken marinated in traditional peri-peri, flame-grilled and served with hand-cut chips.
300g matured beef sirloin, flame-grilled to your liking, with hand-cut chips, Parmesan mash, roasted vegetables or salad. Mushroom, pepper or cheese sauce.
250g matured beef fillet, flame-grilled to your liking, with hand-cut chips, Parmesan mash, roasted vegetables or salad. Mushroom, pepper or cheese sauce.
Della Casa
Tender pieces of chicken simmered in a rich, creamy tomato and butter curry sauce, delicately spiced and finished with a touch of cream. Served with fragrant savoury rice.
Tender chicken and peppers in a creamy peri-peri garlic sauce, served with your choice of a warm bread bowl, savoury rice or hand-cut chips.
Chicken breast layered with Parma ham and sage, pan-fried and finished with a white wine butter sauce, served with creamy Parmesan mash and seasonal vegetables.
500g pork ribs flame-grilled and basted in our house barbecue sauce, served with hand-cut chips.
Three French-trimmed Karoo lamb cutlets, flame-grilled and served on creamy Parmesan mash with seasonal vegetables, finished with a honey, balsamic and mint glaze.
300g matured beef fillet skewered with peppers and red onion, flame-grilled and served with hand-cut chips and house chimichurri.
Sliced grilled beef sirloin over fresh rocket with shaved Parmesan and extra virgin olive oil, with hand-cut chips, Parmesan mash, roasted vegetables or salad.
Accompagnamenti
Mushroom, pepper or cheese.
Per i Piccoli
Golden crumbed chicken strips served with hand-cut chips.
Pasta tossed in our traditional slow-cooked beef ragu.
Grilled chicken burger served with hand-cut chips.
Beef burger served with hand-cut chips.
Tomato sauce and mozzarella.
Tomato sauce, mozzarella, ham and pineapple.
Per Finire
Espresso-soaked ladyfingers layered with creamy mascarpone and finished with a dusting of cocoa.
Classic baked cheesecake served with seasonal berry coulis.
Vanilla custard topped with a crisp caramelised sugar crust.
Warm chocolate fondant with a rich molten centre, served with vanilla ice cream.
Warm pizza base generously topped with melted Nutella, perfect for sharing.
Come hungry. Stay awhile.
Benvenuti da Silvana
Buon Appetito
All prices in South African Rand
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Allergies
Tell your waiter before you order. Several dishes carry nuts, dairy, shellfish or gluten, and the kitchen will talk you through what can be adjusted.
Prices
All prices are in South African Rand. Oysters are charged at the going rate and change with the catch.
Larger tables
Nine or more of you? Give us a ring so we can set the long table properly and take the order ahead of time.
A Tavola
Pick a date, a time and how many of you there are. We will hold the table and see you on Thesen Island.
Thesen Island, Knysna