Da Paolo

With black-&-white photos lining the walls & a red rose on every table, Da Paolo is an Italian restaurant from a generation gone by. Sadly, what may have passed muster 20 years ago doesn’t really cut it in the culinary stakes these days – witness ‘bland bruschetta’, crab & avocado cocktail smothered in seafood sauce, or veal escalope served with ‘over-cooked, function-room vegetables’. However, generous helpings & fair prices still ensure a regular stream of tourists & budget-conscious workers: the smart ones play it safe with the likes of Parma ham & melon followed by a plate of pasta. What’s more, if it’s a sunny day & you’re just after a glass of Prosecco & some grissini, the alfresco tables on pedestrian-only Charlotte Place are hard to beat.