San Carlo Leicester is an Italian restaurant at 38–40 Granby Street in the city centre. Its polished dining room and attentive service work equally well for a casual lunch, pre-theatre meal, business gathering or special evening out.
Regional Italian cooking guides the menu, with seasonal ingredients used across antipasti, fresh pasta and wood-fired pizza. Seafood and grilled meat dishes extend the selection beyond familiar pasta favourites, allowing diners to keep a meal simple or explore several courses.
Lunch and pre-theatre menus provide structured two or three course options at selected times. The restaurant is a short walk from Curve Theatre, making those menus especially practical before a performance or for an early city-centre dinner.
A private dining and events room accommodates larger celebrations and corporate occasions, with cocktails and wine completing the experience. Vegetarian and some adaptable dishes are available, but guests with allergies or dietary requirements should speak to staff before ordering.
Address: 38–40 Granby Street, Leicester LE1 1DE, England
San Carlo – Leicester Menu
Bruschette e Pane
Green Olives
from Puglia
Selection of Italian Bread
served with sundried tomato and black olive tapenade
Bruschetta Romana
toasted Altamura bread with chopped Sicilian Pachino tomatoes, garlic and olive oil
Focaccia
Sea salt, olive oil and rosemary flatbread
Garlic Bread with Garlic and Sea Salt
Garlic Bread with Tomato
Garlic Bread with Cheese
Garlic Bread with Tomato and Cheese
Antipasti
Insalata di Bufala & Parma ham
Buffalo mozzarella, parma ham & beef tomato salad with crostini, rocket & pesto
Insalata Gamberi & Avocado
Prawns & Avocado salad with cherry tomato, cucumber & red onions in a lemon dressing, with green olive pesto
Insalata Tricolore
avocado, beef tomato and mozzarella di bufala
Cozze all Arrabbiata
fresh mussels in a spicy tomato sauce with chilli and garlic
Cozze all Marinière
fresh mussels in a white wine, shallots, cream and parsley .
Melanzane Al Forno
A classic Sicilian dish, layers of aubergine, Grana Padano & tomato baked in the oven
Carpaccio di Manzo
thinly sliced raw fillet of beef with mustard and mayo dressing, Grana Padano cheese and rocket
Gamberoni Fritti
tempura king prawns dressed with a spicy mayonnaise
Chicken Caesar Salad
Chicken Breast salad with Caesar Dressing and Sardinian Carasau
Calamari Fritti
deep fried squid with fresh chilli and tartare sauce
Burrata
Burrata from Corato in Puglia served with
Mozzarella in Carrozza
popular in Southern Italy, fried mozzarella in breadcrumbs with a basil and tomato sauce
Gamberoni Luciana
king prawns with garlic, chilli, tomato, a touch of cream and toasted Altamura bread
Avocado Bernardo
avocado with prawns, scampi and lobster served with Marie Rose sauce
Gamberoni alla Diavola
tiger prawns sautéed with garlic, fresh chilli, white wine and toasted Altamura bread
Cocktail di Gamberetti
tender Norwegian prawns, crispy romaine lettuce with Marie Rose sauce, garnished with a prawn crevette
Insalata di Avocado
Avocado with beef tomatoes & red onion in a pomegranate dressing
Frittura di Pesce Portofino
deep fried calamari, prawns, scampi and scallops served with tartare sauce and garlic chilli mayonnaise (minimum 2 people, price per person)
Antipasto
San Carlo Antipasto
start your meal the true Italian way! Our chef will prepare a large plate of antipasto representing the regional tastes of Italy (minimum 2 people, price per person)
Pizza
Our Pizza is made with Neapolitan flour and Sicilian tomatoes
Margherita
tomato, fior di latte and oregano
San Carlo
tomato, fior di latte, Parma ham, rocket, Grana Padano shavings
Burrata
tomato, fior di latte, vegetarian ‘nduja, roasted tomatoes, whole burrata and basil pesto
Diavola
tomato, fior di latte, spicy Calabrian sausage, onions and chilli
Pollo e Rosmarino
tomato, fior di latte, chicken, mushrooms and rosemary
Prosciutto & Funghi
tomato, fior di latte, ham & mushrooms
Calzone Pollo
folded pizza with chicken, garlic, spinach and fior di latte topped with tomato sauce
Calzone Salsiccia Piccante
folded pizza with spicy sausage, tomato, fior di latte and chilli
Pasta
Gluten free pasta is available upon request
Risotto Gamberi & Asparagi
Classic Risotto with king prawns, Argentinian prawn & asparagus in a mascarpone cream
Trofie pesto & stracciatella
Trofie pasta with pesto, pine nuts & stracciatella cheese
Penne Arrabbiata
Short tubes of pasta in a spicy tomato sauce with chilli and garlic
Rigatoni alla Norma
the most popular pasta dish in Southern Italy, with aubergine, tomato, basil and garlic, topped with pecorino cheese
Spaghetti Puttanesca
olives and capers in a rich tomato sauce
Tagliatelle Bolognese
original Bologna recipe with slow cooked beef ragú
Spaghetti Carbonara
pancetta, egg yolk, Grana Padano cheese and cream
Penne Pollo e Gamberetti
penne pasta in a creamy sauce with chicken, baby prawns and parsley
Tortellini Panna e Prosciutto
fresh pasta filled with spinach and ricotta in a ham and cream sauce, petit pois and Grana Padano cheese
Spaghetti Gamberoni Piccanti
thin spaghetti with king prawns, hot chilli, anchovies, capers, olives, fresh parsley and San Marzano tomato
Our Famous Spaghetti Frutti di Mare
with clams, mussels, prawns, garlic and tomato
Lasagne Emiliane
Fresh layers of pasta with slow cooked bolognese sauce, baked with béchamel, mozzarella and Grana Padano cheese
Ravioli all'Astice
ravioli filled with lobster and crab meat in a light creamy and pink peppercorn sauce with baby prawns
Ravioli Tartufo
handmade ravioli filled with pecorino cheese and truffle, with a cream, Grana Padano and truffle oil sauce, topped with truffle
Tagliolini all’Aragosta
San Carlo’s most famous pasta dish with lobster, brandy, tomato, peas and a touch of cream
Risotto San Carlo
Carnaroli rice with porcini mushrooms, cream and white wine wrapped in Parma ham
Gnocchi Sorrentina
Classic southern Italian gnocchi baked with tomato & burrata cheese
Gran Pasta
In Italy, we always share huge plates of pasta (minimum 2 people)
Our Famous Spaghetti Frutti di Mare
with clams, mussels, prawns, garlic and tomato
Carne
Meat
Suprema di Pollo Principessa
pan-fried chicken breast with white wine, mushrooms and cream, garnished with asparagus
Pollo Milanese
flattened chicken breast in breadcrumbs pan-fried, served with rocket and Pachino tomato
Mains
Scaloppa alla Milanese
classic veal escalope pan-fried in breadcrumbs
Scaloppine Signor Sassi
veal cooked in cream, brandy, mustard seeds and mushrooms
Agnello Toscana
Lamb cutlets with Barolo red wine, rosemary and sunblushed tomato
Filetto al Pepe Verde
8oz/227g fillet steak with a brandy and green peppercorn sauce
Tournedo Rossini
8oz/227g fillet steak, crouton based topped with paté and Madeira wine sauce
Pollo Marinato
flattened chicken breast, with caper, butter and lemon sauce
Rib-Eye Steak
12oz/340g aged 28 days, served with garlic butter or béarnaise sauce
Fillet Steak
8oz/227g aged 28 days, served with garlic butter or béarnaise sauce
Tagliata Di Filetto Di Manzo
8oz/227g fillet steak sliced and served with fresh Italian dressing
San Carlo Mixed Grill
steak, lamb cutlet, chicken breast and Tuscan sausage. Charcoal grilled
Filetto di Manzo and Aragosta
8oz/227g 25 day aged fillet and whole native lobster served with zucchine fritte
Contorni
side orders
Zucchine Fritte
fried courgette sticks
Patate Fritte
french fries
Patate Arrosto
Patate Arrosto with bacon, onion and rosemary
Spinaci
sautéed spinach with garlic oil and chilli
Tenderstem Broccoli
with garlic and chilli
Insalata di Pomodori Siciliani e Cipolla
tomato, red onion, oregano and olive oil
Rucola e Grana Padano
rocket and Grana salad
Insalata Mista
mixed salad
Pesce
For the best selection of fresh fish and shellfish in the city
Lemon Sole with Clams and Asparagus
pan-fried lemon sole with sautéed clams and green asparagu
Coda di Rospo “Aurora”
fresh monkfish in garlic, white wine, cream and cherry tomato sauce
Capesante San Carlo
scallops with white wine, garlic, lemon and breadcrumbs
Sogliola
grilled Dover sole served off the bone, finished with gremolada dressing
Aragosta Thermidor
lobster thermidor (English mustard, tarragon, Parmesan cheese and cream finished under the grill
Branzino Grigliato
charcoal grilled whole sea bass
Salmone Prosecco e Gamberetti
pan-fried salmon cooked with Norwegian prawns and Prosecco sauce
Aragosta Grigliata
grilled lobster served plain
Aragosta Grigliata with garlic butter
Dolci
desserts
Meringata alle Fragole
Our amazing meringue cake with strawberries
Millefoglie
crisp and delicate puff pastry layered with Chantilly cream
Torta Pistacchio
Sicilian pistachio cake
Torta Setteveli
chocolate and hazelnut cake
Tiramisu
Traditional Tiramisu
Panna Cotta
traditional Italian dessert served with fresh fruits
Crème Brûlée
traditional crème brûlée
Coppa di Fragole
vanilla ice cream with fresh strawberries served with whipped cream and a touch of meringue biscuits. Enjoy this sweet with a complimentary glass of Moscato D’Asti
Dolci San Carlo
a selection of mini bites (2 people)
Formaggi
Formaggi
our hand-picked and exclusive to San Carlo cheese selection from Campania and Sardinia served with Chianti jam, white fig jam and Altamura bread.
Desserts
Selection of Ice Creams and Sorbets
choice of 3 scoops. Strawberry (128 kcal), vanilla (133 kcal), chocolate (137 kcal), hazelnut (162 kcal), pistachio (159 kcal) (kcal per scoop)
Affogato
vanilla ice cream with espresso
Coppa San Carlo
Ice cream served with hot chocolate and Italian biscuit