This funny little Italian has been open for a year now and is making serious waves in Ranelagh and beyond. The key, according to manager Carlo Santinelli, is the freshness of the ingredients. "When a meal is ordered, you can see the chef go out of the kitchen, over to the deli and cut up the meat and cheese and use the oven for the bread. Everything is made then and there."

Admirable dedication, and the proof is in the taste. From spanking sandwiches to pasta dishes (try the Mareviglia - linguine with scallops, crayfish and fish eggs, €19,50) and meat and fish specials, this is Italian food as it should be: fresh, imaginative yet classic, and very, very tasty. Awarded Best Americano and Best Panini in our summer guide.