Luca

You'll find yourself on a stretch of Allerton Road that's quietly becoming one of south Liverpool's best eating strips, and this family-run Italian is exactly why. The kind of place where they actually make their pasta by hand and the owners treat you like you've been coming for years, even if it's your first visit. The menu reads like a love letter to proper Italian cooking – none of that fusion nonsense, just honest dishes done exceptionally well. Their ragù has that slow-cooked depth that only comes from hours of careful attention, and the tiramisu is the sort that makes you understand why people get evangelical about Italian desserts. Open from breakfast through dinner most days, it's equally good for a lazy weekend morning cappuccino or a proper evening meal.