Casa Italia

You'll spot this place by the queue of locals who've been coming here since the '90s, back when finding decent carbonara in Liverpool required actual detective work. The stripped wooden floors and painted brick walls feel lived-in rather than designed, and those red checkered tablecloths have probably seen more first dates than Tinder. The menu reads like your Italian nonna's greatest hits, but executed with the kind of consistency that keeps Stanley Street regulars coming back twice a week. Their ragu takes four hours to make properly, and you can taste every minute of it. The portions are generous without being stupid, and the wine list won't bankrupt you but still does the job perfectly.