Restaurants

More Italian diner than bog-standard caff, Silva's dispenses superior toasted ciabattas (basil with mozzarella, crayfish, parma ham), grilled meals (sirloin steak, plaice, scampi), pastas, salads and breakfasts to a warmly welcomed cast of dispatch riders, builders and theatre types. Many are greeted on first-name terms by the sweet, seen-it-all cockney-Italian lady of a certain age who polices the six rows of brown benches, swiftly interacting with the smiling grey-haired chef busying away in one corner. With this well-oiled machine in smooth operation from early hours, why bother with the sandwich chains next door? Fresh juices feature orange, carrot and apple, one with a hint of ginger, and the creamy, potent Lavazza cappuccino puts to shame those army-sized tins of instant at your local greasy spoon. Piffolous prices are unaffected by Silva's prime position in Theatreland.

Time Out Cheap Eats in London Guide 2007