Bancone

Bancone is a Soho restaurant in London known for its fresh, handmade pasta. The menu covers a good spread of dishes, but the one most people come for is the "silk handkerchiefs" fazzoletti pasta, served with walnut butter and a confit egg yolk.

The cooking draws on Italian traditions with a modern slant. Other dishes include fusilli with spicy pork and 'nduja, courgette, lemon and ricotta ravioli, and pappardelle with a braised ox cheek ragu.

The seating gives you options. There are counters set around a central olive tree, cosy booths for something more private, and a semi-secret basement cocktail bar for a more exclusive spot. That mix means a quick lunch and a longer evening can feel quite different.