Restaurants

Head past noisy ground-floor Bar Brocca and downstairs to eat in the cosy dining room at this buzzy neighbourhood pizzeria. It’s a dimly lit space, characterised by exposed brickwork and gingham tablecloths; if it’s still light outside, try to get a table in the brighter conservatory. To start, we ignored the choice of bruschetta and opted for antipasti nostre – a tasty selection of meats served on a crisp pizza base. For mains, there are the predictable pizza and pasta choices, enlivened by more unusual variants like black crab ravioli. We’ve enjoyed La Brocca’s pizzas in the past: crisp, huge (they spill over the edge of the plate) and with a good choice of toppings. This year we opted for pasta – served in equally generous portions, but too often unremarkable, as with our bland spaghetti carbonara. Ricotta and tomato ravioli didn’t earn its £14 price tag; it was too salty. Next time we’ll check out the specials – duck and mango salad, sea bream pappardelle, and artichoke ravioli all looked tempting. La Brocca is pleasant and homely, but prices are a little high for its adequate but unexceptional food.

Time Out Eating & Drinking Guide 2008