The Oak SW11

This fourth site from the expanding Out of the Woods Restaurant Group (also behind The Oak in Notting Hill and The Bird in Hand in Olympia) stays true to the successful Mediterranean formula with a large selection of cicchetti, pizzettas and small plates.

Kick off with some crunchy and sweet zucchini fritti or some well-flavoured croquettas made up of sobrassada and Parma ham, ahead of some pasta small plates. We especially loved the rich spinach purée that came with ricotta, lemon and spinach ravioli (kudos to anyone who manages to make spinach the star of the plate). We also liked our beef shin ragu with shaved parmesan, even if the pappardelle it was served on was a tad al dente.

Thin, crispy bottom pizzetta with a generous amount of toppings, are another crowd-pleaser, while desserts play it safe with the likes of polenta cake (so moist it became a bit too crumbly) and a heavenly sticky toffee pudding with salted caramel ice cream.

Friendly and knowledgeable staff offer personal recommendations without being pushy while the high-ceilinged, candlelit dining room has charm aplenty, making The Oak a good bet for romance on a budget.

Despite its pubby name, this neighbourhood joint is all about the food, and serves up a menu of Italian and Mediterranean-inspired dishes. A few minutes’ walk from Battersea Park, The Oak SW11 consists of a ground-floor dining room and counter bar for walk-ins, while there’s also a relaxed lounge area and a mezzanine-level dining room which takes bookings.

Early risers can tuck into a breakfast menu ranging from pancakes topped with crispy pancetta and maple syrup, to a Tuscan take on the full English, which consists of Tuscan Parmesan sausage, pancetta, burrata, poached egg, roasted daterinos, basil and sourdough. Later in the day, diners can tuck into pizzas and a selection of small plates such as grilled octopus with Romero peppers, or polenta chips with Gorgonzola fonduta.

Desserts see a polenta cake served with blood orange sorbet, and a classic tiramisu, while a Euro-focused wine list is found alongside Champagnes and classic Italian cocktails, including Negronis and Martinis.