Bottega Caruso
A charming Campanian eatery in Margate, offering rustic Italian dishes made with fresh, seasonal ingredients and a passion for authentic cooking.
Highlights
Must-see attractions
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From TikTok & Reddit
Best Time
Blue hour photography, calmer galleries
Bottega Caruso
Highlights
Must-see attractions
A charming Campanian eatery in Margate, offering rustic Italian dishes made with fresh, seasonal ingredients and a passion for authentic cooking.
"The food is really gorgeous; seasonal, fresh, and beautifully seasoned with lovely service."
Book Ahead
Reservations are highly recommended due to limited seating to ensure you get a table.
Dessert Delights
Don't miss out on the decadent desserts like the almond cake with plums or the exceptional tiramisu.
Quick Facts
Cuisine
Italian
Price
Mid-range
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences
Authentic Campanian Flavors
Experience rustic Italian food with unique twists, focusing on seasonal ingredients and family recipes.
Handmade Pasta Perfection
Savor expertly crafted pasta dishes, made fresh daily with locally sourced ingredients, praised for their 'al dente' texture.
Cozy Atmosphere and Warm Service
Enjoy a charming dining experience in a cozy setting, complemented by friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable staff.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Menu
Most Popular Items
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Book Ahead
Reservations are highly recommended due to limited seating to ensure you get a table.
Dessert Delights
Don't miss out on the decadent desserts like the almond cake with plums or the exceptional tiramisu.
Ask for Specials
Inquire about daily specials to discover new culinary creations based on seasonal availability.
Quiet Dining Option
Request a table in a separate room for a more intimate and quieter dining experience.
Tips
from all over the internet
Book Ahead
Reservations are highly recommended due to limited seating to ensure you get a table.
Dessert Delights
Don't miss out on the decadent desserts like the almond cake with plums or the exceptional tiramisu.
Ask for Specials
Inquire about daily specials to discover new culinary creations based on seasonal availability.
Quiet Dining Option
Request a table in a separate room for a more intimate and quieter dining experience.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Bottega Caruso is celebrated for its delicious, authentic Campanian cuisine, especially its handmade pasta and seasonal dishes. Diners consistently praise the friendly and attentive service, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. While generally excellent, some reviews noted dishes being slightly on the salty side, and prices are considered on the higher end but justified by the quality.
"I had lunch at this restaurant and everything was absolutely delicious. I started with a mozzarella di bufala served with vignarola — fresh, flavorful, and beautifully balanced. Then I had ziti al ragù di salsiccia, perfectly cooked, hearty, and comforting. To finish, a light and delicious tiramisu, easily one of the best I’ve ever had.
Despite the restaurant being very busy, the service remained friendly, attentive, and efficient. You can feel real passion both in the kitchen and in the dining room. A warm and welcoming place where I can’t wait to return!"
Dominique
"Another fabulous meal courtesy of Simona, Harry and the team. Shout out to Mimi, attentive on the service as ever. The ‘beans and greens’ were as tasty as ever, nicely spiced. Our two pasta mains were amazing - very differently flavoursome - and these guys take ‘al dente’ to a different level! All washed down with glasses of highly sympatico, specially sourced, organic wine. I’d actually booked lunch for the wrong day 🙄 - they were full, but Harry kindly found us a table ‘al fresco’, which turned out to be a very pleasant sun trap… even in March! Well worth the 750 mile road trip from the French-Spanish border. Grazie, e arrivederci 👋!"
John Morley
"We were lucky to grab lunch here before we left Margate and are so glad we did. The food is really gorgeous. I love how it’s seasonal so you’ll never get the same thing twice if you go at another time of year. Everything was fresh and beautifully seasoned. The service was lovely. It was a gorgeous way to end our stay. Thank you!"
Remy Naidoo
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, reservations are highly recommended, especially due to limited seating, to ensure you can enjoy a meal.
Signature dishes include Verdure e fagioli (stewed greens and beans) and various handmade pasta dishes like Ziti al ragù di salsiccia.
Yes, the menu features several dishes that are vegetarian or can be made vegetarian.
Yes, the restaurant is dog-friendly, making it a great spot for diners with pets.
The price range is mid-range, with mains typically ranging from £17 to £21, and desserts around £9.50.
Yes, guests can request a table in a separate room for a quieter dining experience away from the main restaurant buzz.
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This sweet little deli-cum-osteria in the heart of Margate’s old town opens for walk-ins only from April 14 (until mid-May). Enjoy Southern Italian fare, with pasta freshly made every morning.
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Bottega Caruso is a small Campanian kitchen off Margate Old Town Square run by husband and wife Harry Ryder and Simona Caruso. The verdure e fagioli (stewed greens and beans) is a trademark, as is another cucina povera dish, polpette di pane al sugo – eggy-herb bread-balls cooked in the family’s secret tomato sauce. On my visit, the saffron-laced rigatoni with lamb and fennel sausage is the standout, an anthem of Middle Eastern-inspired flavours that resounds with every mouthful.
Best Restaurants in Kent
This small Italian kitchen and shop started out as a pop-up stall at The Goods Shed in Canterbury, selling fresh pasta and Simona’s family sauces. Popular dishes on the menu include verdura e fagioli – a slow-cooked stew of greens, organic beans and smoked chilli – and handmade cavatelli pasta with a meaty Neapolitan ragu comprising slow-cooked beef shin, top rib, pork belly, pork rump, fennel sausages, meatballs and Simona’s family tomato sauce.
The keys to success for Kent's Italian restaurant named among the UK’s best
From their home in the Old Town, owners and partners Harry Ryder and Simona Di Dio have seen the restaurant fast become one of Kent’s most celebrated Italian restaurants, having held a place in the Good Food Guide since 2019. Now the prestigious publication has handed Bottega Caruso an even bigger compliment, ranking it among the Good Food Guide’s picks for ‘Britain's top Italian restaurants’ in 2024.
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