You may not need a private detective to find Ristorante Caprese but you will require to be sharp eyed as you walk up Buchanan Street towards the Royal Concert Hall.

Tucked away in the basement, behind a decidedly shabby exterior, resides the second home of Costanzo Cacace where you shall be welcomed with a warmth seldom experienced in any restaurant and very quickly feel not only at home but that you don’t want to leave.

Costanzo and his family will make this meal and every other you have at Caprese (believe me, you will be back!!) an absolute delight. With an intimate atmosphere, although more in a sense of small private party with people you have never met before who marvel at the antics and showmanship of Costanzo, the atmosphere he creates and the camaraderie he fosters between diners delivers a culinary experience out of the ordinary.

The menu is a delight. With traditional starters like their hearty authentic bean soup, pan-seared king prawns in oil, garlic and chilli. Entres are always full of fresh fish (a Costanzo speciality) like wild sea bass or a beautiful lemon sole off the bone as well as typical Italian fare like spicy Italian sausage and spaghetti or even a magnificent veal T-bone. If you have room, the tiramisu, hand-made by one of Costanzo’s daughters is a melt-in-the-mouth experience I often find to good to order only once!!

As gastronomic contentment prevails, take a moment to consider all the unfortunate souls who decided to go elsewhere for their pre-theatre, romantic night, family get-together, business or just out for the sake of it dinner. They will never learn if they take the chance and brave the steps down to a little cellar of culinary entertainment.

Caprese will leave you feeling warm hearted, well fed, perfectly entertained, never out of pocket and always looking for an excuse to find your way back down the steps. It is an experience you will never forget and wish to return to many, many times.

POST-SCRIPT
Due to a CPO (Compulsory Purchase Order), Ristorante Caprese will soon close. Despite a stoic stance of defiance against a bullying local council and underhand tactics of two investment companies pouring resources at removing one of Glasgow’s most endearing attributes, Costanzo and his family lost a House of Lords motion in favour of the Local Council and the Investment Houses and shall soon close to allow the demolition of the block in which sits the never to be forgotten Ristorante Caprese.

Fear not, if you are too slow, Costanzo has an ace up his sleeve…watch this space.