Tempero (CLOSED)

Sparky Brazilian owner Alessandra Montagne works wonders in the kitchen, turning top quality ingredients into a sophisticated menu of elegant and hearty 'neo-bistrot' dishes. The food is flawless, from the starter (crispy pork with saté mayonnaise) to the large main of superbly braised pork (with a celery purée, beetroot and glazed carrots) and dessert (poached pear with aubergine compote and a vanilla-rosemary ice cream). To boot, the prices are exceptional for cooking of this quality: you can have all three courses for just €20. The wines are also very reasonably priced, the cheapest glass being a Domaine du Mas Rouge for €3, and the most expensive a Grololo for €6.

True to her roots, Alessandra cooks up a feijoada (traditional Portuguese stew) on the first Wednesday of every month; her charm and constant presence, moving between the partly open kitchen and the dining area, have played no small part in Tempero's immediate success.