Address: Old Mill Lane, Bray SL6 2BG

Telephone number: 01628 788500

Website: http://www.caldesi.com/

Date of visit: 28 November 2009

Approximate cost per head: From £15.50 but think in terms of £50 for the a la carte

Comments on wine list/beer: Excellent list. Some very good Italian by region

Summary:
Nearly every restaurant guide and review starts by asking why Giancarlo Caldesi opened a restaurant here when The Fat Duck, Hind Head and The Waterside Inn dominate the landscape. Ok we also have the Riverside Brassiere (Bray Marina) and The Royal Oak (Paley St). And they could be right.

On the day we went, it was quite empty with about 4 tables being occupied.

They have a set lunch at £15.50 for 2 courses. We ended up having 4 courses off the set lunch, had two bottles of Santa Maria (Veneto) @ £31 / bottle, drinks before the meal and coffee. The bill came to £210 for 4 including 12.5% service. Not bad at all.

To start with, we had the antipasti which was essentially slices of  bresaola with a salad. For secondi, we had  pasta in a cunky tomato sauce and for the main dish, a chicken leg in a chilli gravy. All dishes were well presented and very nice. With the main dish, they offered spinach and sauté potatoes on the side. For desert, we had the tiramisu and pannacotta. This is good basic Italian Food. I like it.

The restaurant is bright and tables are set apart with proper linen. We didn’t get a table cloth at The Walnut Tree, Hope and Anchor etc and they were about the same price.

One minor note: The second bottle of Santa Maria was corked. As the waiter poured it straight into our existing glass (had wine in it) without offering a tasting, the aroma was diluted but then, I have been drinking wine for close to 40 years. The waiter could not detect the problem but the manager did.

Eddie