Although it’s named after an influential and notoriously volatile Italian painter from the sixteenth century, Caravaggio’s restaurant is a calm, understated option for dinner in the City. Their quality ingredients and first class service epitomise the art form of good dining.

The Venue
Located in the City, between Bank and Liverpool Street, Caravaggio is prime business dining. That said, it’s still accessible for those people who aren’t ‘doing’ lunch or brokering the next big deal, as the service is professional yet friendly.

Located in a 1920s bank, the restaurant retains some of the building’s key art deco features. Whilst the historical figure Caravaggio was perhaps the first painter to capture a dramatic sense of light and darkness in his paintings, this Leadenhall restaurant follows through on his fascination with light, with enormous art deco windows. Although the restaurant is towered by City offices, these large windows let in swathes of natural light to both levels of the dining area. Unfortunately the rest of the decor is not as stylish; the chairs are more like conference chairs than a dining room feature, and the acoustics are a little harsh.

The Atmosphere
The clientele are mostly suited but there are the occasional friends making the most of the central location, too. The restaurant is formal enough for a dinner or lunch meeting, with specialist menus for those who are short on time. Otherwise diners leisurely savour the menu with attentive service from the well-dressed and knowledgeable staff.

The Food
Formally opened by Luciano Pavarotti, Caravaggio serves only the finest Italian cuisine. Chef Faliero Lenta’s menu brings together dishes from all over Italy as well as the lesser known Italian islands. The restaurant uses their own buyer, rather than depending on suppliers, which means they only work with the freshest ingredients.

The menu changes regularly, however there is always a balanced range of meat, vegetable and fish options. The antipasti are generous portions that set the tone for the meal. A starter of poached white pears is served with fine slices of parma ham that has matured for 22 months (£10.25). The saltiness of the wafer-thin ham is the perfect antidote to the fragrant, sweet flesh of the pears. Buffalo mozzarella with grilled vegetables (£9.80) is a cheese lover’s dream, an enormous piece of soft, mozzarella crowned with chargrilled peppers, aubergines and onions. The cheese rips off in shards as only the best mozzarella can.

The second courses are equally abundant, such as a tiger prawn risotto with spring onions (£15.50) and pan-fried fillet of cod wrapped in pancetta, on a bed of sweet pepper ratatouille (£17). The risotto has a nutty texture, with large prawns scattered throughout and an undertone of fennel. The cod also comes garnished with fennel, which gives a light, aniseed complement to the crispy pancetta. More meaty options include 28 day matured Scotch rib-eye steak with watercress salad and balsamic reduction (£19) or sauteed veal chops with butter and sage sauce (£22.50). Side dishes aren’t necessary, but they make a delicious, crunchy indulgence of deep fried courgettes (£3.75) or Calabrian style broccoli (£3.50), fried in garlic and chilli.

For dessert, the rhubarb panna cotta (£6.50) is light and just the right side of sour, served with a berry reduction. The hazelnut and honey parfait (£6.75) makes a thick and creamy alternative to ice cream and the pistachio sauce is a startling contrast with the golden coloured parfait.

The Drink
The wine menu is predominantly Italian, with the Italian wines divided with great precision into northern, central, southern and islands regions. The remaining wines are classed as ‘rest of Europe’ or ‘New World’, and are a smaller, but no less astute, selection. Sparkling Prosecco starts from £28 per bottle or £6.50 per glass. Six wines are also available in half bottles, which is thoughtful option for dinner for two. Magnum measures are also available.

The Last Word
Predominantly aimed at the City clientele, Caravaggio is an established, quality dining room for formal and informal meetings. With handpicked ingredients and faultless service, the focus is on a truly Italian dining experience.

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