Lucius

Run by an English chap, with a couple of Italian chefs in the kitchen, Lucius does its best to serve the neighbourhood with some reasonably authentic grub – although it adds haloumi & chorizo to its roster of pasta, pizzas & other familiar offerings. Simple ingredients are treated with respect in dishes such as spinach & blue-cheese gnocchi or spaghetti with anchovies, garlic & tomato sauce, & there are plenty of creamy desserts to finish – from tiramisu to affogato blasted with hot espresso. The food is affordable trattoria fodder, & it’s matched by some painlessly priced international wines. You can round off with post-prandial drinks downstairs, & there’s a pretty little patio/garden for fine days.