Dining by candlelight at Ritrovo (JO KROMBERG)

He gives me a huge bear hug. "It is great to see you again!" So Fortunato greets us, co-owner of one of the best restaurants in the world in my opinion. Ritrovo was established in 1995 as Tshwane-Pretoria's pre-eminent authentic Italian restaurant, an award winning, five-star dining experience.

The ambience is relaxed with soft music and lighting and it is suggested that we try the signature wine called Nick and Forte's Artscape – so we decide on the 2012 Sauvignon/Chenin Blanc blend. It is simply excellent, with a very fruity nose and it lands crisp and dry on the palette.

Forte, as he is affectionately known, tells us about the specials. "You know what? I'm going to get you a bit of everything!" he announces before going off to tend to his other guests.

Before us arrive fresh scallops in a white wine, apricot and basil sauce. The scallops are cooked to perfection and the delicate sauce enhances these little morsels magically. We are also served lamb kidneys flashed in the pan with Marsala wine and their own pan juices bound with double cream and a touch of Dijon mustard. Suffice it to say I could live on this stuff for the rest of my life...

Mains come in the form of veal chops prepared the Milanese way, with a herb crust. The veal is tender and still slightly pink and the flavours join in harmony like the chorus of Carmina Burana. I choose the Pemba Bay cob, freshly flown in from Mozambique, perfectly crisp on the outside but cooked tenderly on the inside, as fish should be, with a beautiful lemon butter sauce, finished with toasted almonds.

A bold explosion of berry flavours is Nick and Forte's Epicentre red wine, accompanying the main courses. It is a blend of cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and cabernet Franc.

We retire to the relatively newly created late-night jazz room upstairs (an experience in itself) for desert. The summer Pavlova with its citrus fruits make my eyes roll back in my head with delight.

Ritrovo is an absolute gem where the service is fit for royalty and the food is unsurpassed. But best of all, Fortunato might just serenade you. He is a trained opera singer and every now and then Ritrovo has music evenings where Forte himself sings to guest in his beautiful tenor voice. So if you find yourself in Pretoria, go there!

Contact:

+2712 460 5173

103 Club Avenue, Waterkloof Heights

Pretoria, South Africa

S 25.791472 E 28.253263

http://www.ritrovo.co.za/