"Il Cavaliere - unexpected gem in N4!"

A review of Il Cavaliere by Alexandra Mackenzie written on Thursday 4th of June 2009

My husband and I have walked past this modest little italian restaurant about a hundred times and last night we finally decided to try it. Most of the time you have to go north to crouch end or south towards Highbury & Islington to find great food.

Tony, the chef & proprietor totally took my breath away. He prepared the food we ordered to our exact specifications, any way we wanted it...adding flavours or ingredients that we said we liked. I had the minestrone soup, and my husband had a prawn dish for starter which he said was flavoured to perfection - this from a man who usually inhales his food. For our main course, my husband had a truely traditional Italian dish of steak, pate and liver which looked spectacular apon the plate and I had grilled chicken in a chilli/ginger/onion sauce. I have to say that even this simple dish was done excellently. I could really taste the individual flavours that the sauce contained and the chicken tasted as if it had been slow cooked for hours, literally melt in the mouth.

The assortment of vegetables/sauted potatoes were brought to the table and served by hand by the chef to our plates.

I have not encountered such personalised service in a North London restaurant ever before. Such a pleasant surprise. After our meal, Tony sat down at the table next to our to ask how we enjoyed our meal, and we ended up talking about food/culture/travel for a good half hour before we left his establishment. I felt as though we had been invited to his home for a family meal.

Overall, the evening was such an unexpected gem. I recommend this restaurant unreservedly. The interior is nothing special, (a few framed arsenal photos & memorabilia to attract the match day crowds) and the prices are more than reasonable. (Roughly £10 for a main).

Great local secret, and soon to become our local!!

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