Strada Earl's Court

A reliable choice if you’re looking something a tad ‘more exciting’ than Pizza Express, Strada’s position among the big boys of mid-market eating is thoroughly deserved. Good-quality pizzas sit alongside the usual pastas & salads, but it’s the meat & fish dishes that separate this chain from its close competitors – perhaps roasted Italian pork sausages on rosemary-infused borlotti beans with grilled polenta & Swiss chard or Puglia-style fish stew (clams, mussels, red mullet, squid, prawns, white wine, tomato & herbs). Antipasti & well-made risottos complete the food offering, with prices geared towards family eating. The key to Strada’s success is consistency, with charming rustic interiors & generally efficient service, although recent reports suggest that standards out front might be slipping.