La Fattoria

You'll find this place nestled in the medieval splendour of Lower Bridge Street, where the black-and-white timber frames create the sort of atmosphere that makes tourists reach for their cameras. But step inside La Fattoria and you're transported straight to a Tuscan farmhouse – all rustic wooden tables, warm lighting, and the kind of hearty aromas that make you forget you're in Chester's tourist heartland. The menu reads like a love letter to proper Italian cooking: handmade pasta that actually tastes handmade, risottos that arrive creamy rather than gloopy, and pizzas with bases that have the right amount of char. The osso buco is particularly brilliant – falling-off-the-bone tender and rich enough to make you understand why Italians take their time over dinner. Service strikes that sweet spot between attentive and relaxed, and at around £18-25 for mains, it's priced fairly for what you get.