Cicchetti by San Carlo - London Covent Garden

You're after proper Italian small plates and decent wine by the glass? Head to Wellington Street where San Carlo's done the whole cicchetti thing properly—none of that Instagram-baiting nonsense. It's all dark wood, marble counters, and the kind of controlled chaos that makes you feel like you're in Venice rather than metres from the Royal Opera House. The menu keeps things simple: anchovy-topped crostini, squid ink pasta parcels, prosciutto-wrapped figs. Order broadly, share everything, and let the rhythm of the place wash over you. Staff know what they're doing, prices are steep but you're paying for quality ingredients and actual technique, not postcode tax.