Restaurants

Delicatessens
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I Camisa & Son
The dried herbs and mushrooms hanging from the ceiling, plus the sawdust-strewn floor make this narrow shop invitingly rustic. More importantly, it's packed to the gunwales with alimentary classics. Pasta, olive oil, beans, polenta, olives, bread and wine all sit alongside organic tomatoes from Sicily - yes, even at this time of year.
I Camisa & Son, 61 Old Compton St, W1D 6HS (020 7437 7610) Leicester Square or Piccadilly Circus tube. Open Mon-Sat 8.30am-6pm.

The Grove Deli
This bright, welcoming Italian deli is notable for its wide choice of meats, which includes cotto gran gourmet, stofelotto and ventricina. The deli counter boasts cheeses such as pecorino, caciotta novella, and auricchio dolce provolone. There's also a small but well-chosen selection of Italian groceries. The attached café lists breakfast dishes, cakes and classics such as baked aubergine with mozzarella on its menu.
The Grove Deli, 6-8 Chepstow Rd, W2 5BH (020 7229 5289) Notting Hill Gate, Queensway or Westbourne Park tube. Open Mon-Fri 8am-7pm; Sat 9am-7pm; Sun 10.30am-4.30pm.

I Sapori di Stefano Cavallini
Much of the superlative Italian deli food here is prepared in-house. Pasta dishes, olives, charcuterie, truffles, fresh pasta and salads are among the enticements. Imports include olive oils, Latini pasta, Café Sicilia marmalades and Domori chocolates. The quality is beyond doubt; the only drawback is the high prices. I Sapori di Stefano Cavallini , 146 Northcote Rd, SW11 6RD (020 7228 2017) Clapham South tube or Clapham Junction rail. Open Mon-Fri 9.30am-7pm; Sat 9.30am-6.30pm. Lina Stores This tightly packed shop is charmingly old-fashioned, and the range of imported Italian produce extensive. Olive oil, porcini, lentils, beans, Seggiano chestnut honey, Sapori panforte and Paccheri pasta jostle for shelf space, and the deli counter contains great olives, cheeses, hams, salamis and truffles, marinated artichokes and anchovies plus ownmade pasta and sausages.
Lina Stores, 18 Brewer St, W1R 3FS (020 7437 6482) Piccadilly Circus tube. Open Mon-Fri 8am-6.30pm; Sat 8am-5.30pm.

Gelati

Marine Ices
It's the desserts that draw at this very popular family-run restaurant and gelateria. Whether lavished with sauces and toppings in a novelty glass or served as a simple scoop astride a wafer, the ice-cream is something special. There are more than 20 Marine flavours on offer, and after 70 years they still hold their own against the big boys.
Marine Ices, 8 Haverstock Hill, NW3 2BL (020 7482 9003) Chalk Farm tube. Open Mon-Fri 12noon-3pm, 6-11pm; Sat 12noon-11pm; Sun 12noon-10pm.