Il Fornello

Il Fornello boasts an enviable position down Bloomsbury’s Southampton Row. Right across from Russell Square (close to the tube, too), this Italian restaurant is a popular place for lunchtime diners looking for affordable, quality cuisine in this part of the city. In particular, the special set price menu draws in a big crowd, with a choice of starters and mains including Italian-style whitebait, spaghetti and meatballs, chicken cacciatora, and plaice in a white wine sauce, all adding up to a total you’d be hard pressed to best in this central London location.

There’s wine a plenty here, too, with classic Italian varietals available by the full or half bottle, ranging from Soave through to the medium-sweet Lambrusco and beyond. Il Fornello’s chef’s specials are where the real action happens at this central London Italian restaurant. Start with cozze marinara, fresh mussels in a white wine and cream sauce, mains like the pollo funghetto, chicken breast cooked in a creamy mushroom sauce, and fly the flag with the tricoloured penne pasta. This Southampton Row, Bloomsbury restaurant is often busy due to its great location and highly traditional menu – book early to avoid disappointment.