Ciao bella Casalinga

The popular Italian restaurant off Beyers Naudé Drive in Muldersdrift, Casalinga Ristorante Italiano, has left many of its prominent visitors with heavy hearts after announcing its shutdown.

This elegant country restaurant, which took its visitors on a journey of Italian dishes and lifestyle, released a statement on 6 August announcing that the restaurant has been placed under liquidation.

Parts of the statement read: “It is with heavy hearts that our family makes this statement. Casalinga Ristorante Italiano has indeed been placed under liquidation. We want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has reached out to us and our extended Casalinga family at this terribly hard time. The business attributed its shutdown to tough economic times caused by Covid-19 and government restrictions.  The last few years of business in South Africa have been not easy; however, we were able to keep afloat. Then Covid-19 hit and along came the fear of public spaces, government restrictions on the number of people we can serve, the ban on alcohol and then finally the lockdown itself. Then came the loss of business functions, weddings, corporate events, festivals, concerts and more restrictions, the [business could not] continue,” the statement read.

Casalinga was founded by Peter and Jenny De Luca in 1989 when they extended their Muldersdrift home to create a traditional Italian restaurant with a country feel. Over the past 30 years, the restaurant grew to be a household name for its unique offerings. It has also received numerous awards and accolades, including Best Sunday Lunch and Most Romantic Restaurant.

The statement went on to flip the bad news for good – other businesses that form part of Casalinga Organic Farm will continue to operate, such as Leafy Greens Café owned by their daughter Antonia, and the independently owned Green Bean Coffee Roastery. Antonia’s restaurant has committed to honouring all functions and events booked for Casalinga. Her restaurant also committed to employing the bulk of the old staff.

Here are farewell messages previous visitors to the restaurant posted on Facebook:

• Liz McQueen said, “Many years ago my husband drove me from Durban to Casalinga to celebrate a special day. We loved your restaurant. Thank you for some of our best memories. Go well.”
• Sandra Luis Bouwman said: “Such devastating news. I’ll never forget the day I chose Casalinga as my wedding venue! It was the most perfect day and we returned so many times afterwards to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries and other special occasions there. Wishing Jenny and Peter all the best.”
• Nicolette Botha said: “Just last November we had our beautiful wedding at your venue, my dream come true! We have beautiful memories to last a lifetime of our times at Casalinga! We will miss you and wish you well.”
• Susan Olswang said: “Jenny and Peter-  you have given many thousands of people many happy memories over the decades. You built a legend. Wishing you both (and all the family members) all good things always.
• Michelle Cochrane said: “Casalinga has been part of all our lives for so long, we’re very sorry to hear that it?s the end of an era. But, with all change, Leafy Greens has a chance to grow and it still involves the De Luca family. The quiet romantic meals and fabulous functions we’ve had there will never be forgotten.”