Angelina, London

For my partner’s birthday, I booked us in for the tasting menu at Angelina. Not to be confused with Osteria Angelina (which I’m still desperate to try), this is where they serve their ‘Kondate’ menu, a Japanese-style tasting menu with Italian influence. And for London, it’s actually pretty reasonably priced.

The idea is Italian-Japanese fusion, which I’ll admit I’m usually a bit wary of. It can sometimes feel like things are being softened or muddled. But this didn’t feel like that at all. It felt like they had picked the best bits of both cuisines and made them work together properly.

I was genuinely surprised by how much we liked it. It’s one of those meals where you realise everything’s been consistently very good.

The dishes come out in small groups rather than one at a time, which makes it feel a bit more relaxed. You can try things in your own order, go back and forth, and it all feels less formal than your typical tasting menu.

There was a crudo with strawberries which were fresh, slightly sharp and a good start. A pasta course followed, with crab ravioli and roe that was delicate. The focaccia that came early on was dangerously good and we finished it too quickly.

Dessert came as a trio, which worked perfectly (especially for my boyfriend, who will always prioritise pudding). It felt like just the right amount, enough to try a few things without it dragging on. I didn’t leave hungry, which I have done from other, more expensive tasting menu restaurants.

The menu changes regularly with the seasons, which makes it somewhere you can go back to without it feeling repetitive. We left full, happy, and already talking about returning. It’s one of those places that lives up to the hype, but still feels relaxed enough that you actually enjoy yourself while you’re there.