Bayswater, Italian Restaurant Guide

“Excellent Italian food and very personable service” have made this unusual venue, on the first floor of a Notting Hill pub, a place of more-than-local interest for more than 25 years. Admittedly it no longer generates anything like the gigantic buzz it once did, but diehard fans say “it’s comforting that it survived the pandemic and the food’s even better post-lockdown”.

2021 Review: “Extraordinarily good pizzas”, “very good negronis” and “no burgers” are served at this bar, which boasts “the style of Mayfair transplanted to Notting Hill”. It’s upstairs from Assaggi, and from the same team, in the former pub they share, and these days seems the less risky bet. Top Tip – “try the truffle pizza in winter and English asparagus with San Daniele ham in summer”.