L'Artista

You'll spot the warm glow from Eastcheap before you even reach the door – those spotlights aren't just for show, they're illuminating some seriously good Italian food. The modern fit-out might surprise purists expecting checkered tablecloths, but the kitchen knows exactly what it's doing with traditional recipes. The pizza bases have that perfect leopard-spotted char that comes from proper high-heat cooking, while pasta portions arrive steaming and generous enough to silence even the hungriest teenagers. Staff genuinely seem to enjoy working here, which shows in how they handle the constant stream of families, couples, and groups of mates who've made this their regular. Book ahead at weekends – half of Letchworth seems to have the same idea about where to get their Italian fix.