With a funky, friendly feel and bargain prices, Caravaggio brings new meaning to term cheap and cheerful – still, in turbulent economic times, that’s no bad thing.

The Venue
When you walk in you are dazzled by a clean and spacious taverna-style interior, with classic cake displays and smartly dressed waiters. But at a closer look, you can see the decor looks doesn’t look as expensive as you first think and the waiters are a little more Del Boy than Del Piero. But what’s wrong with a little kitsch on a Saturday night? This place is full of character, with nice lighting and high beams running across the ceiling adding to the atmosphere – far more interesting than the cookie-cut restaurants that dominate most London high streets.

The Atmosphere
The diners are mainly young couples and families, and everyone seems to be enjoying themselves. At these prices it’s not surprising; for a family on a budget, Caravaggio is ideal. In terms of service, things are also good. You usually get what you pay for, but here all the waiters are noticeably warm and attentive, greeting you on arrival and saying goodbye at the end. This small touch makes a big difference.

The Food
OK, this isn’t high-end gastronomy. The menu is filled with Italian classics though there are no pizzas, and unbelievably, all the pasta and risotto dishes cost less than £5. Taste-wise, it’s probably best to think of Caravaggio as the H&M of Italian restaurants, boasting nice designs, but poor materials. The dishes look good, but the quality of ingredients is not as high as you’d find elsewhere.

For starters the prawns and asparagus on toasted bread (£2.95) is a nice idea, though the prawns are slightly blue – off-putting, but not really a problem. The mix of flavours is interesting, the toast soaking up the dressing beautifully, but by the end of the dish you’ll have had enough. The ricotta stuffed mushrooms (£3.95) are again okay; nicely prepared, though the cheese tastes a bit rubbery – less Napoli and more Netto. But still, for the price you could do much worse at a chain restaurant like Harvester or Pizza Hut.

For mains, the meat lasagne (£4.95) also lacks something, looking lovely, but tasting bland. The pasta is well cooked and nicely layered, but the meat sauce is too thin and nondescript, with a tough base. Still, the bechamel sauce is good, and for the low price it seems like a fair deal. For dessert the tiramisu (£3) is good – creamy, with a nice rum-soaked base – though in a predictable way.

The Drink
The very cheap house red (£8.95) is smooth and perfect with the food. There were also a selection of reasonably priced bottled beers (£2.50), and the espressos at the end taste up to par.

The Last Word
In appearance, Caravaggio has all the homely characteristics of a family-run Italian restaurant – so much more rewarding than visiting somewhere like Strada. What you have to factor in is its budget status – the food is very cheap and, while probably tasting better than you’d expect, will not leave you craving more. Still, with a nice red wine added to the equation, you get a fun, friendly evening out and a pleasingly low bill at the end – enough said.

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