Piccolino Caffé Grande, Manchester

You'll spot the sleek black frontage from down Clarence Street, where suits from nearby offices mix with shoppers taking a breather from the city centre madness. The interior strikes that familiar Piccolino balance – contemporary enough to feel current, but warm enough that you're not eating in a showroom. The menu sticks to what works: proper carbonara that doesn't mess about with cream, pizzas with decent char on the base, and risottos that actually have some bite left in the rice. It's Italian food for people who want reliability over surprises, executed with the kind of consistency that only comes from a well-oiled operation. The weekend buzz can get properly lively, especially when the after-work crowd rolls in.