When trying to identify a top Italian restaurant, we either come across places which showcase a strong sense of professionalism and elegance that you associate with a fine dining experience, or those with the informal feel of a traditional trattoria, where regional-style home cooking is always to the fore – at La Alacena, it is definitely the latter. Here, owner-chef Julieta Oriolo puts her heart and soul into Italian cooking, in so doing honouring her family roots. On her à la carte, where you’ll find an enticing selection of antipasti and a few dishes worthy of particular mention (such as the exquisite polpette dal sugo), pasta (handmade with durum wheat flour and free-range eggs) plays a leading role, as witnessed by standout dishes such as the veal ravioli with a home-made pâté cream and caramelised fennel. And it’s definitely worth saving space for desserts such as the vanilla and peach pannacotta! They also sell their own artisanal pasta at the La Alacena Pastificio & Salumeria, just two blocks away.