Merchant of Venice

You'll find yourself on one of the city centre's quieter stretches, away from the High Street chaos, where Merchant of Venice sits doing what it does best: uncomplicated, honest Italian food. Walk in and there's a warmth to the place—exposed brick, amber lighting, the kind of room that fills up naturally because people actually want to be here rather than because it's fashionable. The menu reads like someone who knows Italy, not someone who's Googled it: proper risottos, handmade pasta that tastes like it should, seafood that doesn't pretend to be fancier than it is. Service strikes that rare balance between attentive and leaving you alone. At ££, you're not breaking the bank, but you're getting real cooking.