The story begins with the Bertorelli brothers opening an eatery with five tables and a kitchen in the early 1900s. They served British fare to taxi drivers who liked the meals and were intrigued by what the brothers cooked for themselves - homemade, authentic Italian dishes.

This resulted in the opening of their first outlet, serving Italian cuisine, on Charlotte Street, in 1913. While each branch varies in size and décor, the quality of food and service remains the same. Some also have a cafe section, separate from the dining area, where it is possible to grab a cup of coffee and a quick bite.

In true Italian tradition, the menu offers a variety of starters with a hearty minestrone classico, prepared daily using market fresh vegetables and pesto, and thinly sliced fennel roasted pork served cold with purple artichokes and borage leaves.

There are choices of pastas and risottos such as fregola sarda, a traditional Sardinian dish of whole gambas prawns, mussels, cockles, clams, calamari and Sardinian pasta, and fresh egg tagliatelle tossed with smoked pancetta and cream.

Other specialities are flash-grilled swordfish, sliced and served on rocket with capers, new potatoes and lemon olive oil and, for meat lovers, pistachio-crusted roasted rack of lamb with a potato, pancetta and Fontina cheese gratin and green beans.

The wines are likely to please the connoisseur as well as novices, with a few available by the medium and large glass and carafe. The desserts include the traditional tiramisu, dark chocolate and orange liqueur ice cream bomb with a shot of espresso, and creamy, sharp lemon tart with crème fraîche.

Serving authentic food served in a stylish atmosphere, some of their restaurants also cater for theatre dinners and private parties in rooms named after the Bertorelli family members.