It’s hard to know where to go in Paris when you’re searching for the perfect pizza, pasta or prosciutto. But if you’re stuck between the three, the ever-reliable Al Caratello will cater for every Italian taste with their three branches located on the same street in Montmartre. There’s Pizza Caratello, Piccolo Caratello (offering quicker service and more informal dining) and, of course, the original Al Caratello, which has become a firm favourite among the inhabitants of Montmartre, thanks to its fresh, indulgent pasta dishes and traditional trattoria menu.There’s a real homey, family-kitchen vibe here, complete with charming waiters who bustle between the packed tables, advising regulars on the impressive selection of Italian wines.
We start with a generous antipasti platter (€12.50), filled with an excellent selection of sumptuous smoked meats and olives, plus a refreshing helping of broccoli and carrots. It’s a generous, high quality, incredibly comforting dish, and the main courses thankfully continue in this vein. The moreish chicken and veal scaloppine (€15), for example, is served with perfectly al dente spaghetti and a small but very welcome side salad. The ravioli fellini (€14) is also superb, its decadent truffle sauce providing a decent accompaniment, although a little rich at times. For dessert, the tiramisu (€7) is a slight let down, as its thick cream layers drown out the subtler flavours in the sponge.
We know it’s a ram-packed place and it’s hard to keep track of orders, but slight tweaks to the service would make a real difference to this charming Italian outpost. Because the quality of the food makes it eminently revisitable.