Growing Up 790

A fun little fact you might not know about me is that I grew up in Hout Bay. And I’m not talking about the new-age Hout Bay locals. I’m talking about the 790 Houtbaynians. If you know, you know. The 790 gang, not the 791 gang. I’ve been here through it all. The schools, the longboarding phase (I was absolutely terrible), and one too many dates with surfer boys who still insist the ocean is clean… even now. Safe to say, I’m a Hout Bay girl through and through.

When you’ve been around as long as I have, you become part of the furniture. Which means watching Hout Bay reinvent itself over and over again. Shops come and go. Cafes come and go. Restaurants… well, they come and go even faster. It’s almost become a running joke amongst the locals.



But every now and then, a place sticks around long enough to become part of the community. Massimo’s is one of those places. Yes, it’s recently changed ownership, but the heart of what made it special is still very much alive. The warm hospitality, the generous spirit and, thankfully, the seriously good Italian food haven’t gone anywhere.

“We listen… and we do judge. Gently. But we absolutely judge.”

More Than Just Dinner

What I’ve always admired most about Massimo’s is that it’s never just been about what’s on the plate. Giving back is part of who they are. Throughout the menu, you’ll find dishes that contribute towards local charities, rescue organisations and community projects, proving that sometimes dinner can do a little good too. There’s something really special about sitting down for a great meal, knowing it’s giving back at the same time.

Coming Home

Although I’ve since moved out of Hout Bay, coming back to Massimo’s felt like a little homecoming. There’s something comforting about returning to somewhere so familiar. The faces might change, the seasons certainly do, but some places feel instantly warm. And honestly… what better way to come home than over really, really good Italian food? Which brings me to my most recent visit.

Winter Evenings in Hout Bay

Winter evenings in Hout Bay have always had a certain magic about them. The drive over the mountain, the greenery in the valley, the mist slowly rolling in… it’s one of those places that somehow makes you calm without even realising it.

I arrived just before sunset, which is my favourite time to visit. There was still enough natural light to admire the mountains outside, while inside, the restaurant slowly became exactly what you’d hope an Italian restaurant would be. The lights softened, the pizza oven glowed a little more, and suddenly the whole space felt wonderfully cosy.

The Best Seat in the House

I also don’t think I’ve ever had anything less than genuinely warm service at Massimo’s. It’s not forced or stiff, just people who genuinely seem happy that you’re there, which makes such a difference.

We grabbed a table close to the pizza oven because, as we’ve already established, I have an unhealthy obsession with open kitchens. Give me chefs, pizza dough flying through the air and people-watching any day of the week. The fact that the oven doubles as a little fireplace during winter just makes it even better.

Let’s Start With a Spritz

Since I’m no longer a 790 child but rather a 790 adult, it felt only right to start with an aperitif. Serious question though… does anyone even own a landline anymore? If they do, is Hout Bay still 791? Someone, please let me know. Anyway, I digress. 

I went for the Hugo Spritz after multiple members of the team insisted it was their favourite cocktail. Reader, they were absolutely correct. It was light, floral and ridiculously refreshing. Made with elderflower, Prosecco and soda water, it somehow tasted like sunshine in a glass, even on a chilly winter evening.

Childhood Memories in a Glass

I’ve always loved elderflower because it’s strangely nostalgic for me. It reminds me of lychee cordial that one of my childhood friends always had at her house. Her mom used to buy these giant bottles of the stuff and always mixed ridiculously sweet, which I obviously loved.  These days, adulthood simply means swapping the water for Prosecco. Character development, if you ask me.

Small Plates, Big Personality

As I happily sipped away, thinking life couldn’t get much better, I remembered I was sitting in an Italian restaurant surrounded by really good food. So naturally, it was time for antipasti. Whenever I visit somewhere, I try not to order three versions of the same thing. I want to experience as much of the menu as possible. So without really planning it, every dish ended up representing something different. Meat. Seafood. Vegetarian. Vegan. Then, dessert and cocktails… because balance.

Simply the Best

We started with the seared beef carpaccio. Sometimes the simplest dishes rely entirely on the quality of the ingredients, and this was one of them. Beautifully tender slices of prime beef, peppery rocket, shavings of Parmesan and good olive oil. Nothing too loud or shouting for attention. Just incredibly fresh, buttery beef that practically melted away with every bite.



The focaccia alongside it also deserves a mention because building little bites of warm bread topped with carpaccio became one of my favourite activities. I have the pizza chefs to thank for my lesson on how to construct the perfect bite.

For the Salt & Vinegar Addicts

The Flamenco was my biggest surprise of the evening. Spanish-style cauliflower with capers and vinegar. Now listen… I know going out for dinner isn’t exactly about making healthy choices. But I’m telling you now, I can’t wait to recreate this at home. Why? Because I am completely, utterly obsessed with salt and vinegar. Chips. Popcorn. If it’s aggressively vinegary, I’m interested.

This cauliflower absolutely scratched that itch. It soaked up all that sharp vinegar, the capers added little bursts of salty goodness, and honestly… wow. If you’re someone who reaches for lightly salted chips, this might not be your dish. But if you’re a fellow salt and vinegar addict? Best believe this is about to become my new obsession. Instead of reaching for another packet of chips, I’ll be roasting cauliflower, adding capers, drowning it in vinegar and pretending I’m making responsible life choices. Health is wealth… apparently.

Worth It Though

It also made me realise I’d accidentally built the perfect little starter trio. The carpaccio was fresh and beautifully understated. The cauliflower brought all the bold, punchy flavours. And alongside the crisp, floral Hugo Spritz, somehow the three worked perfectly together. Although… I will say one thing. The more salt and vinegar you eat, the faster your cocktail disappears. It’s exactly the same as movie popcorn. One minute you’re sipping politely, the next your drink has mysteriously vanished… Worth it though.

Has Anything Changed?

After all was said and done, more done than said, but anyway. I took the opportunity to have a little wander around. Purely for research purposes. What I really wanted to know was whether Massimo’s still felt like… Massimo’s. Whenever a favourite spot changes ownership, people always get a little nervous. We all secretly wonder if our favourite spot is about to become completely unrecognisable. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case here. The soul is still very much alive.

The Soul Is Still Here

The pizza oven is still roaring away. Families are catching up over dinner, friends are stretching one glass of wine into two (or three), and there’s laughter coming from every corner. The whole place just feels exactly how an Italian restaurant should. Warm, welcoming and not trying too hard. It’s the kind of restaurant where you stay longer than you planned because nobody’s in a hurry to leave.

The Winter Special We Couldn’t Ignore

Once we discovered that they’re running 20% off all full pizzas and pastas from Monday to Thursday, we got even more comfortable. Naturally, we had to order one of each. Sharing is caring. Balance is the name of the game. At this point, I should probably start printing these slogans on T-shirts… 

Sharing Is Caring

I’ve realised I had a very strange childhood when it came to food. Nobody really told me what half the things on the table actually were. They were simply put in front of me and I happily ate them. Chicken liver pate? Delicious. Taramasalata? Great. Fish paste? Why not. Puttanesca? Absolutely. Looking back, I think I became an adventurous eater without ever realising it. Which is probably why anchovies have never scared me.

Puttanesca Done Properly

So the puttanesca was an easy decision. I went with the penne because if you’re sharing, nobody needs to watch me aggressively slurp spaghetti across the table. Some dignity must remain.

The pasta was perfectly al dente, beautifully coated in that bold and salty sauce you’d expect from a proper puttanesca. Briny olives, capers and anchovies all working together without one ingredient stealing the spotlight. It wasn’t heavy or rich. It just had that wonderful savoury flavour  that somehow keeps convincing you one more forkful is a brilliant idea (which it was).

Garlic Was Absolutely Added

To balance things out, we went for the vegetarian pizza. It had a thin, crispy base and, most importantly, proper large chunks of artichoke. The vegetable toppings were generous without turning the whole thing into a sloggy garden.

Nothing was overcomplicated. Each topping was just simply allowed to do its thing. And thankfully I wasn’t on a date because I added enough garlic to comfortably keep vampires… and potentially a few boys… at a very safe distance. 

Health Influencer Era Pending

Somewhere between the cauliflower, the puttanesca and this pizza, I also realised I’d probably eaten more vegetables at an Italian restaurant than I do on some weekdays. Five-a-day? I reckon I hit about eight. Health influencer era pending.



What I loved most, though, was how well the two dishes balanced each other. The puttanesca brought all those bold, punchy Mediterranean flavours, while the pizza was lighter and more laid-back. Different personalities, same very happy table.

Gut Health Required a Negroni

Since I’m a firm believer in gut health, I decided I needed a digestif. Was a Negroni technically the correct choice? No. Was I going to let facts get in the way? Also no. Sorry Italians! It arrived at exactly the right moment. Bitter, bold and unapologetically strong. It was the kind of drink that reminds you dinner is almost over while convincing you to stay for just one more course.

And since I’d been in such a generous sharing mood all evening… the starters, the pasta, the pizza… I figured I should probably share dessert too. The Negroni, however? Absolutely not. That’s medicine.

We Listen… And We Do Judge

Now listen, if you order dessert at an Italian restaurant and skip the tiramisu, we listen… and we do judge. Gently. But we absolutely judge. Thankfully, we made the correct life decision. It was everything I wanted a tiramisu to be.

Light enough that you don’t immediately regret ordering dessert, creamy without knocking you out, beautifully soaked ladyfingers, just enough coffee, just enough liqueur and a sweetness that knew when to stop. It was simply the perfect full stop at the end of a very, very good meal.

Some Places Just Feel Like Home

Walking out, I couldn’t help but smile. Hout Bay has changed a lot over the years. Places have opened, closed and reinvented themselves more times than I can count. But Massimo’s still feels like one of those places that reminds you why people keep coming back. Really good food, genuinely lovely people and a restaurant that still cares about far more than just what lands on your plate. And if that wasn’t enough reason to visit, they’ve also got Open Mic Mondays running throughout winter… which sounds like the perfect excuse to come back sooner rather than later.



Until next time!