Formally opened by Luciano Pavarotti in 1996, Caravaggio is the most
serious Italian restaurant in the City and a firm favourite with the
movers and shakers of the square mile, many of whom are regular customers.
Occupying the imposing premises of what was formerly a bank, all that
remains of the original interior is the ornate high ceiling, with its
splendid Art Deco light fittings. The designer, Tony Thomas has opened
up the space and extended an existing gallery that now runs around the
room at mezzanine level, providing a second tier of tables. A long,
marble topped bar by the entrance provides a convenient holding area
for what is, at lunch times, a very busy dining room and is also popular
with single diners, many of whom prefer to eat at the bar.
Created in homage to a key genius of the Italian Renaissance, Caravaggio
is dedicated to gastronomic excellence, aiming to demonstrate the same
dedication to quality and innovation in the field of food and drink
as the great Italian masters brought to painting and sculpture. Head
Chef Jonathan Lees, has designed a menu that brings together dishes
from various regions of Italy and its islands.
The Manager, Franco Bettini, supervises a young, agile and
sharply-dressed front of house team who are more than capable of turning
around business people in a hurry inside an hour, if push comes to shove.
It's rarely that hectic however, as the kind of clientele Caravaggio
attracts tend to be those who can choose to take as long as they like
over lunch, particularly when entertaining clients.