Il Cavaliere in Hackney

Great little authentic Italian run by Antonio, has some great life stories to tell and makes a mean home-cooked dish.

The food was very average and expensive for the quality. Portion sizes are generous. The fried squid was over cooked and dry and the sea bass tasted old and not fresh. Service is not fast but all aspects were done by the owner so he was trying his best.

Lovely experience, great food and made to feel welcome from the start. Antonio is a perfect host and will definitely come back again if visiting Finsbury Park!

The food is delicious and the service is extremely nice (The house-wine they have is sooooo good)

What a lovely place. Antonio is a superstar...he was by himself and miraculously kept on bringing us the most delicious food - a lot of which came from his allotment. He even got me eating rhubarb which is unheard of. It was my birthday and I was on crutches and he was so kind. If you're in a rush, don't come. If you want to be treated like you're in a Calabrian family's house and love grazing on fab food and wine...this is for you

Never been to a place closer to an Italian restaurant as this, you honestly feel like you are in Italy. Same genuine approach and passion to cooking and looking after clients. The owner is a very good host, something that has been lost in todays London catering industry. High attention for ingredients and this is reflected on the tasty food.

Great dinner, real attention to detail and ingredients. Will definitely come again!

Fantastic food, interesting and different choices. The apple cake was my favourite. Antonio was the perfect host.

It was quiet but the owners charm, generosity, good fresh cooking and attention definitely made this an excellent choice

Super bon restaurant, plat copieux servis chaud, chef super gentil et tout fais maison je conseille

I really recommend Il cavaliere. Fresh food in a welcoming environment for an affordable price. Risotto with porcini mushrooms was delicious and the portion was really good! Try out the torta di mele as well with the mango cream on the side, it was really tasty!

Delicately cooked swordfish with fresh herbs. Bread with a delicious crust on it. Such a warm welcome from the proprietor/chef who looked after us wonderfully. It was a cold December evening which made this especially nice. I'd take the lighting down a fair bit as a suggestion.

This is the best Italian restaurant I have found in London. Everything is exceptional! The produce is fresh and home grown in the chef’s allotment & the chef is friendly and welcoming. You owe it to yourself to try the food here! A small piece of Italy & Italy hospitality in Finsbury Park 👌🏽

6 of us went to Il Cavaliere for a birthday celebration and it was fantastic. Quality of the food was exceptional with nice service. Would highly recommend.

Locale gestito da italiani, molto accogliente e caldo. La pizza è veramente buona e l'impasto è lievitato correttamente.fortemente consigliato

Booked this restaurant 2 months ago as flying across from northern Ireland for a weekend. When we arrived it was obvious it was shut. Tried contacting them via phone and email. No answer. Extremely poor customer service. Will not be back.

What a lovely meal we had, Antonio was so friendly and the food was delicious! The vegetables are home grown and very tasty. We had the spaghetti with artichokes and veal Definitely go for the Gavi wine! Will be back, thank you!

I booked having seen the good reviews online and the good value prices advertised on their website. Annoyingly, these prices are not accurate and dishes cost considerably more. For example, Veal Milanese is advertised as £11.50 but when you get into the restaurant it's actually £15.50. Weirdly, on our way in I noticed that it was advertised outside as being £13.50. What I thought would be a good value meal turned out to more expensive (but not as good) as our local Italian restaurant. It was frustrating that we'd travelled there on the pretence of a bit of a bargain only to end up paying more than our regular place. Price aside, the food itself was OK but nothing special.

Excellent as always. We had a fantastic private Birthday party tonight. Planned and perfectly executed by Antonio and the team. Well done, and thank you..

This was the best meal we have had in months. Antonio was lovely, very attentive and cooked beautifully. Fantastic service and such a lovely evening!

Amazing food! Great, authentic food and a very friendly chef Antonio!

Very tasty, friendly staff, will definitely come back again. Many thanks

Antonio seemed to be everywhere when we arrived for dinner. He was in the kitchen, greeting us, serving tables, but neither the food, the wine, nor the service suffered. They were instead incredibly tasty, delicious and attentive. Everything about the evening was fantastic, and we'll most certainly be back

Family run Italian restaurant, serving fresh authentic dishes. Felt like home, we will definitely be back.

Brilliant Italian food, never had a bad meal here. Recommend highly.

The food was absolutely amazing. You could tell the ingredients were very fresh and we had some really good recommendations for dishes. It's a very pleasant atmosphere where the chef comes by to talk and get to know which dishes would be a good choice. I would recommend trying this place out, its a hidden gem.

Amazing restaurant! Super friendly owner. Food was amazing with all ingredients grown or sourced locally - tasted amazing, wine was equal! Can not recommend highly enough!

£15.50 for four tiny cuts of meat that barely resembled lamb. Add £4 for the kind of vegetables you'd expect from your nan. Outrageously overpriced.

Absolutely fabulous restaurant, with a delicious and authentic Italian menu. Antonio looked after us from the second we walked through the door, ensuring a superb dining experience. I could not recommend a better place to dine.

Antonio is an amazing chef, I won’t be going anywhere else! If you want real authentic Italian food this is the place to go!

The most authentic Italian food outside of your home kitchen and the best pizza I ever had. This one of the best Italian restaurants in London if you want a taste of Italy in London this is the place to be. It is a small family run business with freshly made food.

I meet friends in this nice place quite often! This is the best place to have a bite. I go to this spot at least once a month. The food is very good, the staff is welcoming and the charge is reasonable. I enjoy going in this restaurant over a nice dinner.

Fantastic service! The food is to the roofs

I eat here a lot since I work close by. I must say the service is always excellent and they keep the place well organized regularly. Rates are affordable and they serve generous portions.

Amazing restaurant, authentic food, generous portions and all freshly made! The owner is really nice, was very flexible and even changed some of the ingredients to suit out preferences, and always makes us feel very welcomed!

Awesome Italian food made on site that is a real authentic taste of Italy. Friendly staff, great selection of beers wines and spirits. Vegetarians catered for. Hreat place to visit of you're in Finsbury Park.

(Traducido por Google) Dándole estas 5 estrellas porque el propietario, Antonio, también es el frente de la casa, el chef, el servidor, el barman, y se las arregló para ofrecernos una deliciosa comida, mientras entablaba una gran charla :) Llegué un viernes por la noche invernal y tenía los raviolis de espinacas (mi favorito del lote), filete de ternera, pollo cacciatore, panna cotta y tiramisú. Las porciones eran grandes ya un precio razonable. Antonio también prepara el postre, ¡el tiramisú estaba muy bueno! Give Antonio es un espectáculo de 1 persona cuando el restaurante no está completamente reservado, es mejor no venir si tienes prisa o esperas un servicio rápido. (Original) Giving this 5 stars because the owner, Antonio, is also the front of the house, the chef, the server, the bartender - & he managed to get some delicious food out to us, while engaging in some great chat :) Came on a wintry Friday night & had the spinach ravioli (my favorite of the lot), steak fillet, chicken cacciatore, panna cotta & tiramisu. Portions were big & reasonably priced. Antonio makes the dessert as well - the tiramisu was very good! Give Antonio is a 1-man show when the restaurant isn't fully reserved, it's best not to come if you're in a rush or expect fast service.

(Traducido por Google) Buena comida y vino y el dueño fue muy amable! Definitivamente vale la pena una visita. (Original) Good food and wine and the owner was really friendly! Definitely worth a visit.

Buen restaurante italiano en Finsbury. El servicio fue muy atento los dueños italianos nos trataron de fabula . Estubimos durante el partido del Arsenal. Evitar antes y después de partidos del Arsenal está repleto.

The food in this restaurant was absolutely outstanding; everything we tried was delicious without fail. The restaurant is at a rather unassuming spot on Blackstock Road, and so I hadn't actually noticed it before (even though I have lived in Finsbury Park for over two years) but we will definitely definitely be coming back here again. Antonio was such a gem and made our visit really special. Would definitely recommend a dinner here; also really good value, and big portions!

Posto molto accogliente il proprietario e chef Antonio davvero una persona speciale. Come antipasto ci ha fatto una porchetta fatta da lui con tagliata di finocchi e come primo spaghetti al pomodoro fresco del suo orto. Pasta De Cecco al dente da non perdere. Prezzo corretto.

Nice kebabs and falafels. The Turkish looking guy is very friendly and accomadating.

A really great moment at this restaurant! The food is delicious, home made and the owner so sympathetic. We loved both the dinner and the chat we had with him. It worths definitely a stop.

We loved it here- Antonio figured out what we liked and tailored our meal around it. It was delicious and we will 100% be back! Besides the food being great, the restaurant has a lovely family feeling to it - and the prices were extremely reasonable x

I went here with my family to celebrate my birthday and everything we ordered was fantastic. The service was also exceptional and the owner is lovely too. I plan to come back very soon.

Our friends who live nearby were excited to take us to Il Cavaliere and we can understand why. The chef takes his time to understand your tastes and preferences. His recommendations from the specials board were amazing. A truly great experience.

Had a lovely meal here which included veg freshly picked from the owner's allotment

Outstanding authentic Italian food. Does a vegan penne mix using vegetables from his garden, fully recommended

Great place to eat, freshly cook meals, warm atmosphere, friendly staff. I ordered Seabas with prawns, it was delicious.

Delicious food, they never dissapoint

Amazing Italian food, Antonio is a lovely host, the specials of the the day he suggests are usually incredible. Feels like home here. Highly recommended.

Fantastic food, well worth the price. Antonio is a wonderful chef and also has lots of stories to tell.

Great food, attentive staff, relaxing evening

It was a foul wet and windy night and there was not much good in the world. Ubtil I ate the chicken ravioli. All the food was amazing. Antonio, the head chef, is a lovely and interesting man. The place deserves more love.

We came on a Saturday night and the place was dead which was a real shame. The food and service were great. Antonio the chef and the waitress were both really good and the value for money is excellent. We were given homemade bread and tapanade for free to start. The mushroom starter and chicken ravioli were standout dishes. If you live locally then give it a go as it's an excellent local restaurant which needs support.

Tried this restaurant before an Arsenal game, because of the good reviews. Can only think I went on their off day. Average food, and even allowing for pre football rush, the service was very slow. Added to that, it seemed expensive for what we had. Two decent starters, two over cooked mains, and two glasses of house red - £70, incl service. Unlikely to make a return visit.

One of the best resteraunts in the area, I'd highly recommend

Fantastica serata ottimo cibo tradizionale con quel che bella sorpresa dallo chef...fantastiche persone ed ottimo prezzo.

Fantastic food and a great chef/manager who paid so much attention to us. Such a great experience, we'll definitely be back for some authentic Italian food!

Cannot fault, very tasty pasta, very welcoming! Breaded camembert for starter and ravioli with a cream cheese sauce for main. Banging.

We visited il Cavaliere for a birthday dinner for one of our kids and has a fantastic time. Nothing was too much trouble, various dietary requirements were easily and happily met. The food was fantastic . We had a variety of starters which ranged from freshly cooked crispy squid, awesome garlic prawns to more traditional Parma ham and melon. The main courses were just as fantastic. Lobster ravioli, Squid Spaghetti, and a terrific traditional Carbonara. Other Pasta dishes were tweaked to the individual needs of the customers. Nothing was too much trouble. Every effort was made to make this a special event for us. The food was fantastic and the service was just as great. Only one comment the lights need to be dimmed a bit, it was a little bright for a super restaurant. I would definitely go back again and so should you !!

Really good homemade food. It takes a while to get served but worth it

Nous étions 8 et avons choisi de passer les deux dîners de notre weekend touristique dans ce restaurant italien : Bon accueil, super service, repas de très bonne qualité (pour ne pas dire excellents, et nous avons goûté beaucoup de plats !!) et tout ça à un prix défiant toute concurrence. Nous recommandons sans hésitation ce chaleureux restaurant familial. En bref, nous nous sommes régalé ! Merci à toute l'équipe d'avoir contribué à la réussite de notre weekend, nous vous souhaitons une très bonne continuation !

Great food, good range of classic dishes on the menu, fair prices, very nice staff and a professional service.

Fantastic. Fresh cooking. Out of this world. Its the only Restaurant we use. And they are so friendly. Nothing is to much for them. You know when you go there you will have a wonderful meal and it's good value for your money.

Excellent authentic Italian meal, had with family for a birthday celebration. Antonio and co were very hospitable. Looking forward to my next visit!

The food here is always fresh and served with great portions. The staff are always friendly and Antonio, the owner will always make you welcome. The menu is extensive and the pizzas are great!

Simple and delicious food, the owner and his wife are perfect hosts.

This place is amazing! The food is top notch, and the owner and chef (Antonio) are very friendly and interactive. I would say without a doubt that this is one of the top 10 restaurants I've been to in my 30+ years. Their prices are very affordable, especially given the food quality and presentation. You will leave feeling like family.

Proper Italian, low noise..good food!

Very good home cooked food had a choice of food for everybody

This is a real gem - a nice family run restaurant serving good food in a relaxed atmosphere for reasonable prices. The service was very attentive.

Looked on google and found this restaurant The food was home cooked and excellent right down to the pudding And the bill was surprisingly reasonable The service was good and attentive This was a hidden gem in Finsbury pk

Excellent service and proper homemade Italian food!

Great food at reasonable price, the owner is very friendly and chatty and loves his food and his wine, a lovely neighbourhood Italian.

Found this place by chance but wow so good. Looked after us with lovely food and great service. Friendly prices, nice wine and great food what more could you ask,!

Everything about this restaurant is superb, the food is absolutely phenomenal and authentic, the home made ravioli with butter and sage is a must try, the best I’ve had anywhere in the world, including Italy!

Great food and service. Athmosfare superb. Antonio is the best chef ever.

Besøkte restauranten etter Arsenalkamp 8.april. Nydelig mat og personalet var imøtekommende og serviceinnstilt! Vil absolutt anbefale om du er i området. Kommer garantert tilbake neste gang!

Svært god mat med ordentlig italiensk smak! Fantastisk betjening som gjorde hele middagen veldig personlig og koselig. Både servitørene og sjefen selv tok seg tid til å snakke med oss og tilpasset maten. Det var veldig godt og alle 8 personer var svært fornøyde!

Veldig god italiensk mat, service og kjøkken! Godt selskap av sjefen sjøl, gjor alt veldig personlig. Hyggelig og blide

Superb authentic simple Italian food. Nothing too fancy and excellent value. Be sure to order the house red wine, it's great!

Amazing food. Very pleasant experience & great vibe

Friendly and warm atmosphere... and the food is deliciously out of this world

Lovely food, lovely staff and good prices

Petit restaurant, isolé entre Finsbury Park et les commerces du coté d'Arsenal station. Emplacement pas idéal donc, et pourtant ... cuisine excellente, les pates sont justes exceptionnelles, les prix sont très doux et les portions généreuses. Antonio est en cuisine et fait le service (sauf les jours de match, quand il y a un peu plus de monde). Super sympa, prends le temps de discuter.

1 star is overrated match day at the Arsenal over priced menu with no pizza funny Italian!

Una joya escondida! Usted caminaría sin darse cuenta de que era un restaurante, ¡pero qué experiencia más increíble! Tuvimos una maravillosa botella de rojo recomendado por el chef según nuestros gustos y una ganga a los 22 años. Teníamos los langostinos y calamares para empezar, tan frescos, sorprendentes pero simples sabores. Tuvimos la carbonara y un tagliatelle de marisco (el nombre propio se me escapa), mi amigo pensó que la carbonara era lo mejor que había probado. He pasado mucho tiempo en Italia trabajando y este restaurante ofrece una experiencia genuina, el propietario y el chef son del sur de Italia y también conocimos a su encantadora hija e hijo, ¡una experiencia llena de familia!

We love the personal treatment guests receive from owner and chef Antonio. We love the outstanding home-made food. We love the fact that you can have a great night out with friends without spending over the odds.

Una experiencia increíble en una joya escondida. Antonio es un anfitrión maravilloso, preparó una hermosa comida para nosotros. Un entrante de tomate y mozzarella con deliciosos aderezos y hojas de ensalada. Nuestra elección de comida principal fue la pasta (de su elección) vestida con un pato y hongos porcini. Muy destacado. El rojo de la casa era un hermoso y suave Cabernet Savignon chileno, y terminó con café. Todo esto en un ambiente agradable y acogedor, manteles prístinos y servilletas reales, con los sonidos de Andre Boccelli en el fondo, nos serenata. Antonio, muchas gracias por hacer de este un día muy especial para Cheryl y Maria. A mi abuelo le hubiera encantado saber que la leyenda de la familia Jefferies vive en Il Cavaliere.

Very good food, especially the dessert (excellent profiteroles), in a nice jazzy atmosphere. Service was great. And the value for your money is really good. Definitely recommend.

Visitado en 8 o'clock el viernes por la noche con mi marido y dos niños. El lugar era tranquilo, pero rápidamente nos hicieron sentir bienvenidos. Entrantes era fantástico - el ravioli dar era el más sabroso, más deliciosa pasta, sagiest que he tenido en años. Y pollo cacciatore asimismo Saltimbocca fabuloso. Tarta de Limón y Panna Cotta eran tanto casero y precioso. Excelente comida, propietario encantador, noche en conjunto fabuloso. No puedo recomendar lo suficiente! ! !

Amazing food staff are grate just have to wait a lil for the food but still amazing

A real authentic Italian. Great food from Calabria. Chef Antonio makes and brings the antipasti ingredients all the way from his native Italy, a sign of true dedication to authentic organic and natural Italian food. I had a dish not on the menu which Antonio specially prepared of mussels in pasta, beautiful. The staff are friendly and chatty you feel like your in your ol' Mama's house it's so warm. Definitely recommended.Watch out on Arsenal match days as they get full up. They put on a reduced menu too.

Siamo stati ieri sera a cena e ci siamo trovati molto bene. Il titolare ci ha accolto con molta ospitalità e ci ha intrattenuti piacevolmente. Ha cucinato un'ottima ed abbondante pasta alla carbonara. Antipasti calabresi molto buoni, accompagnati da un pasto di oliva della casa offerto e davvero buono. Amari offerti. ..che cosa volete di più? Complimenti!

Pizza scadente troppo olio chissà L impasto e formaggio disgustoso per via del prezzo 7 pounds. Qui la pizza nemmeno regalata

Really good food and friendly staff, but no atmosphere when I went weekday evening. Maybe better on a more popular day. Decor pretty basic. Great value

Mi familia y yo fuimos a Il Cavaliere en el día de la madre, la comida era absolutamente increíble. Antonio es un increíble chef, nos encanta la comida italiana y de haber cenado en muchos restaurantes, pero ninguno he venido cerca de éste.

Comimos en el pequeño restaurante el viernes y no nos cansaremos de recomendarlo. Antonio, el dueño, es muy amable y es un gran chef. La comida estaba recién preparada por Antonio él mismo y fue la mejor comida italiana que he tenido en mucho tiempo. Muy buena relación calidad-precio. Los vinos de la casa también eran buenas.

Myself and my partner have visited a few times now. First time was for a leaving meal where my friend was able to specially select her own menu of all her favourites having lived above the shop for 3 years. The service was amazing and I was craving the food for months after. Each time we have been the food and service has maintained it's quality and due to the welcoming embrace from the owners we have friendly chats and laughs which always makes it a plesant experience. Authentic Italian food and hospitality. Of course I will visit again... it is a given!