La Brasseria Milanese

Walk into La Brasseria Milanese and you're in that sweet spot where Italian restaurants actually feel like they're run by people who give a toss. The room's got warmth without being trying-too-hard about it, and the kitchen clearly knows what it's doing with northern Italian classics. You'll find yourself ordering the risotto alla milanese because it's legitimately good—creamy, saffron-forward, the kind of thing that makes you realise how often you've eaten mediocre versions. The cotoletta is pounded thin and fried properly, and the pasta's made with actual care. Marylebone High Street's packed with restaurants, but this one feels like it's actually for eating rather than being seen.