Cardinal

Walking into Cardinal on Eyre Place, you'll feel that peculiar relief of finding somewhere that's actually good without trying too hard. This Stockbridge stalwart does proper cooking without the theatre — the kind of place where the chef's clearly thought about every plate but doesn't need to tell you about it. The room itself is intimate without feeling cramped, with the kind of lighting that makes you look better than you did when you walked in. Service hits that sweet spot between attentive and relaxed; they know when to chat and when to leave you alone. It's the sort of neighbourhood restaurant you'd guard jealously if you lived round here, which explains why locals keep the ratings genuinely stellar.