Paul's review of Il Convivio

Belgravia is spoilt for choice when it comes to Italian restaurants, but il Convivio is the one I find myself returning to most often. The room is a well designed space, with the rear half of the restaurant sitting under skylights and the front being a clean, modern front half that is refreshingly well lit.

The menu doesn’t change too often, but there is plenty on there worth trying. Starters are mostly safe choices like mozzarella and tomato or carpaccio of beef or tuna. The home made pasta is better, the black spaghetti and lobster being excellent and the tagliatelle with hare ragu is also enjoyable. I agree with a previous reviewer though who said the food isn’t hot enough. It isn’t. Main course of beef fillet with cep mushrooms and red wine sauce was well cooked although the fat cut chips it came with weren’t great. Osso buco was well seasoned and a hearty dish.

I’m not really a dessert fan, but the white espresso ice cream is very good. The wine list is a strong point and, shockingly, there is even some value for money to be found in there (along with a few high priced shockers).

I have been a few times recently and some visits have been distinctly better than others, but on a good day it is well worth a visit.