Bertorelli's - St. Martin's Lane

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, but 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 lentil and porcini mushroom soup finished with parsley and grated pecorino and grilled goat's cheese salad with a beetroot, pear, walnut and endive salad.

There are choices of pastas and risottos and the house's signature dishes are fresh cannelloni filled with roasted duck, topped with sautéed mushrooms in a béchamel and parmesan sauce, and tortellini filled with moradella, in a creamy brandy sauce with baby spinach.

Other specialities are roasted fillet of salmon with a poppy crust on a tomato and aubergine caponata with a green pea sauce and, for meat lovers, veal chop coated with breadcrumbs and parmesan, with salsa verde and lemon.

The wines are likely to please a connoisseur as well as a novice - the list is classified according to rich, full, spicy and warming. The desserts include the traditional tiramisu, hot chocolate fondant with praline whipped cream and cherry compote, and thin pastry caramelised apple tart with fresh cream.

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.