Giorgio Ristorante Italiano

Formerly known as the Leadenhall Ristorante, this business-friendly basement Italian beneath the market is a sophisticated & tidy mix of polished granite, mirrors & potted palms, with a scattering of semi-private nooks tailor-made for client meetings. The menu mixes tradition with innovation, moving from San Daniele ham with caramelised pear to chef’s special chicken pie, calf’s liver with bacon or roast saddle of lamb with an almond crust. A £3 supplement will bump up your bowl of pasta (perhaps fettuccine with fresh crab) to main-course proportions, & the wine list is dominated by Italian names. There’s live jazz twice a week in the evenings, when a more informal menu offers the likes of aubergine timbale with smoked cheese or piquant baby octopus stew with red wine.