Lanterna Ristorante

A central location, cheerful ambience and reliably good Italian cuisine have kept this Scarborough institution in business for almost four decades. The interior has a reassuringly retro, nostalgic feel, and chef-patron Giorgio Alessio stamps his affable personality over the operation, importing authentic ingredients from Italy to work alongside the finest fresh materials from Yorkshire. An ever-changing specials menu takes advantage of the splendid locally-landed fish, as in a simple but sublime starter of chunky pieces of monkfish served with a sauce of wild chanterelle and porcini mushrooms. Pasta is, of course, home-made: take agnolotti Montferrini - ravioli filled with beef, pork, parmesan cheese and spinach with a roasted beef sauce. If you've still room for secondi, fillet steak with a sauce of Taleggio cheese, cream and grappa is an option, and to finish, budino caramellato is crème caramel served Italian-style with rum poured on top.