Italian Kitchen's laidback warmth offers welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of London's Theatreland and invites guests to drop in for a snack or a more sumptuous meal. Situated on New Oxford Street, its special menu is available seven days a week. With a two-course lunch or pre-theatre meal for £9.95, the restaurant's strong reputation for value for money endures.

Diners can take their pick from a wide range of country style pastas, thin crust pizzas, meat and seafood dishes for lunch or dinner. Start with antipasti of deep fried courgette sticks with aioli, razor sliced Parma ham or fresh steamed mussels in a Chardonnay and shallot cream sauce. Then move on to thyme and garlic roasted chicken with fricassee of wild mushrooms, pan fried veal medallions with asparagus tips or double loin lamb chops with creamed mash potatoes. Vegetarians are well catered for with dishes such as Fiorentina pizza, seasonal wild mushrooms risotto or rosemary and garlic roasted potatoes. Dessert of rich chocolate truffle cake, raspberry pannacotta or mascarpone cheesecake provides a fitting finish.