Il Caclio Restaurant, London – Review

Nestled behind Oxford Street (London) is Il Caclioǽƒ?ªƒ?an authentic Italian restaurant with an extensive menu that is truly second to none.

The atmosphere is welcoming and cosy, while the chandeliers, white tablecloths, and swanky bar add touches of chic and elegance that only the Italians can pull off.

Greeted by a friendly hostess, the unmistakable scent of truffles was one of the first things we noticed upon being seated, and we were pleased to find that truffles were incorporated into several dishes on the menu. Diners are truly spoiled for choice at Il Cacioǽƒ?ªƒ?the range of homemade pastas, risotto, chicken, meat and fish dishes made deciding what to order off the menu difficult.

The service was incredibly friendly and helpful, recommending popular dishes (pasta with porcini mushrooms and truffles, which I can only assume to be a house favourite). Armed with a delicious bottle of Chianti, we kicked off our feast with bruschetta with a truffle cream ǽƒ?ªƒ? an Italian favourite with a delicious and sophisticated twist ǽƒ?ªƒ? coupled with a selection of cured meats, including 24-day aged Parma ham – incredible!

For our mains we opted for salmon cooked in tomatoes, capers, and olives, which was rich, yet fresh and tangy, with a slight kick, as well as a perfectly cooked rib-eye steak. We couldn`t resist getting a side of pureed potatoes with shaved truffles on top, which were light and airy and a great compliment to both dishes. I`m a stickler for presentation and Il Calcio certainly didn`t disappoint.

After our mains we were greeted by a plate showing the dessert options, all of which were mouthwatering. We decided on the tiramisu and the mascarpone cheesecake – again, two Italian classics. The tiramisu was by all accounts one of the best ever yet and the mascarpone cheesecake was rich without the bitterness you often get with cheesecake.

We topped off our dining experience at Il Calcio with cappuccinos and Limoncellofor a split second, we felt like we were in Italy!.

To sum up – Il Calcio is a step way above your average Italian restaurant. Totally authentic in terms of quality of food, service and visitor experience. Whilst it isn`t the cheapest Italian in town, it is definitely reasonably priced and we`re sure you`ll agree. What a find!