Piccolino

You know what you're getting at Piccolino, and sometimes that's exactly what you want. Perched on Millennium Square opposite the Winter Garden, this sleek Italian does a solid line in crowd-pleasing pasta, pizza and risotto that won't challenge anyone but rarely disappoints either. The dining room feels properly grown-up with its dark wood and leather banquettes, making it the sort of place you'd bring your parents or take a client without breaking a sweat. The menu ticks all the boxes you'd expect – decent carbonara, properly crispy pizza bases, and tiramisu that actually tastes like tiramisu should. Yes, it's a chain, but the Sheffield branch benefits from that city centre location and consistently good service. At around £15-20 for mains, it's priced fairly for what you get, and they know how to handle the pre-theatre crowd without rushing you out the door.