PizzaExpress

You're heading into Southwater Square on a Friday night and PizzaExpress is exactly what you need—unpretentious, busy, and genuinely good at what it does. The wood-fired pizzas arrive with proper char, the dough's got real depth, and they're not skimping on toppings. It's the kind of place where families pile in on a Saturday lunchtime, couples grab a booth for date night, and groups of mates crack open bottles without anyone making you feel rushed. The cocktails are worth ordering (they actually know what they're doing), and the tiramisu doesn't taste like it's been frozen since 2003.