Edera

Bright, minimally styled Edera provides a haven from the busy traffic of Holland Park Avenue. Well-off locals come here for simple yet elegantly presented Italian fare with a Sardinian bent. Prices seem to have been tailored to the upmarket neighbourhood, with several prestigious bins on the wine list reaching the £600 mark, and a truffle degustation menu set at £100 a head. But choose from the specials menu, and the remarkable selection of wines by the glass, and the expense can be contained. Sea bream ravioli with creamy artichoke sauce came with a generous sprinkling of black truffle shavings; at £12 it was better value than simpler pasta dishes on the menu, which are similarly priced. The dessert selection spans the usual tiramisu and sorbets to a quirky concoction of hazelnut ice-cream and black truffle, which will set you back £20. If they're available, we recommend trying the exquisite sebadas: Sardinian cheese-filled puff-pastry parcels drizzled with honey. Service is attentive, but can be a bit sullen at times. Although Edera's pavement tables are very tempting in fine weather, they're only a few steps away from heavy, noisy traffic and exhaust fumes.