The San Carlo journey began in Birmingham in 1992, when Carlo Distefano launched the first restaurant. Known for genuine Italian food, an inviting atmosphere, and amazing service, the company now operates throughout the country, including London Road, in the heart of Alderley Edge. Here, diners find a stunning and opulent eatery which cost some £3 million to design, with the overriding theme a contemporary take on traditional Italian garden dining and grand Milanese villas.
Simply put, the space boasts a captivating ambiance and timeless sophistication, whether you’re inside or on the outdoor terrace complete with retractable roof, pergola strung with Italian crystal pendant lights, and open fireplace. The food matches in terms of charm and attention to detail, with San Carlo’s expansive menu more than equal to its reputation. Authentic to the last, options start with the likes of nodini con panna e tartufo (hand-shaped knots of mozzarella with fresh black truffle, served with crostini), arancini with grana padano, bruschetta romana, slow cooked lentil and vegetable, or minestrone soups.
Beyond the funghi piemontese (mixed mushrooms in filo pastry), tuna carpaccio, beef tartare with mustard dressing, and roasted scallops topped with breadcrumbs, you’ll find larger meat and fish sharing boards, a range of Neapolitan flour and Sicilian tomato-based pizzas, and an extensive range of homemade pastas. Slow cooked lamb meatballs, olives and capers in rich tomato sauce, and traditional tagliatelle bolognese are among the highlights. Elsewhere, carne options run from pan-fried chicken breast with white wine, mushrooms and cream, garnished with asparagus, to sliced veal with Parma ham in white wine, sage and butter, and 227g of fillet steak crowned with velvety Gorgonzola cheese sauce. Not to mention larger sharing cuts, like tomahawk. Meanwhile, the pesce range includes some of the very best fresh fish and shellfish in the city— charcoal yellowfin, pan-fried lemon sole, and aragosta lobster thermidor, to name two. Add a renowned wine list and typically tempting Old Country desserts and you should be sold.