Gusto Italian - Nottingham

You walk into what feels like a grown-up's playground of exposed brick, industrial lighting, and the kind of open kitchen that makes you hungry before you've even sat down. The cocktail list here deserves proper attention – they're not phoning it in with watery negronis and sad spritzes. Order the aperol something-or-other and watch them actually measure it properly. The pasta arrives with that satisfying al dente bite that chain restaurants usually massacre, and the pizza bases have enough char to make you forget you're not in some backstreet Roman joint. Yes, it's part of a group, but they've managed to avoid that soulless conveyor belt feeling. The staff know their wine list and won't judge you for ordering a second bottle of the house red.