ASK Italian - Durham

You know what you're getting at ASK, but this Walkergate branch does it better than most. Tucked into the shopping centre, it's become the reliable choice when you want proper Italian comfort food without the faff. The pasta arrives al dente, the pizzas have decent bases, and they've got that knack for making chain dining feel less, well, chainy. The staff actually seem to care here, which makes all the difference when you're dealing with hangry teenagers or trying to have a civilised catch-up. It's not going to change your life, but it'll sort you out when you need feeding in the city centre and everywhere else is rammed.