Carluccio's Presents: Opera A Tavola

When you think of dinner then the opera, you don't think of both at the same time... Am I right? Well Carluccio's have some dates where both are combined and I fortunately got to experience one for myself in their Peterborough venue. Welcome to Opera A Tavola.

Tucked away behind the town square church, this Carluccio's venue is a mix of the old and the new with an al fresco dining area- perfect for brunches or warm summer nights. With the restaurant closed to the general public for the evening, we had the luxury of aperitifs and pre-dinner drinks outside and in the foyer of the restaurant.

The food for the night was a custom set menu for the evening and promised "an evening of good food, wine and music". I wish I could tell you what exactly each dish was but in all honesty, I didn't note down what each course was! What I can tell you is it was delicious and each course was wonderfully presented, inviting you try everything. See for yourself...

Now onto the opera... You're probably thinking this was at the end of the evening? Oh no! Your evening was accompanied by the music which was in between the food; giving a nice break to each course and the perfect accompaniment to a glass of wine.

 
The singers circulated the room so every diner got a good view during the evening and each piece had a story to tell. Being a novice in opera knowledge, it was nice to hear some pieces that I actually recognised. In all honesty though, it initially felt rather bizarre to have strangers singing to me mid-dinner, never mind full blown opera. If I told you I didn't get the giggles initially, well, I'd by lying!

Each course was warmly welcomed by my tummy with each dish being something I wouldn't typically choose but was pleased to try. The opera grew on me as the evening progressed and it was lovely to see everyone listening contently to the music. The night was sold out which goes to show how popular it is and how much everyone enjoyed it. I would note however that on this particular evening, Chris and I brought the average age down considerably, with no one in their late 20s to early 30s being present other than us. Regardless, this shouldn't stop anyone from attending and enjoying the evening whatsoever.

We finished the night with coffees and carriages at 10:30 pm which was perfect for a Tuesday evening.

Opera A Tavola was a truly unique experience and one that I've not come across at any other restaurants. Carluccio's have certainly got it down to a tee with their exquisite food and talented opera singers for the evening, making the whole experience a delight for the senses.

If you're looking to treat an opera lover to a evening of food and music, this would be perfect! I'd also recommend that you book in advance as tickets sell out fast! Would I go again? Perhaps not. Purely because I didn't appreciate the opera as much as the other guests but as far as food at Carluccio's goes, I'll definitely be returning for their authentic Italian dishes.

Have you been to Opera A Tavola?