Manicomio

Set in the fashionable Duke of York barracks development close to Sloane Square, this original outlet of Manicomio (there's another in the City - see entry) is a popular, up tempo spot. Its smart heated terrace - decked out with glass roof, screens and potted shrubs - is a fair-weather magnet for the trendy Chelsea crowd. Indoors all is pared-back and neutral in a chic sort of way - bare brickwork, cream or slate-black painted walls, bright contemporary artworks, oak tables, light-wood floors and jazzy red leather banquettes and chairs. Straightforward modern Italian cuisine is the kitchen's mantra: home-made pasta for example, perhaps veal cheek ravioli with carrot purée and rosemary jus, and a main course such as wild halibut escabèche with black olive crust and tarragon dressing. (The set-up includes an adjoining deli/café.)>