SETTING La Favorita is still winning awards for owner, Tony Crolla and, in my opinion, still makes the best pizza in town. This pizzeria is a firm favourite for every generation; a great place to chill out with friends and families are more than welcome. For the nippers, on Sundays, between1-5pm, a professional clown will entertain them with magic and balloons. The atmosphere is warm, friendly and full of Latin charm. If you want to celebrate a special occasion, the private dining room is just the place.

FOOD Food appeals to everyone, from wee ones with grandparents to teenagers, vegetarians to celiacs (gluten-free pizza and pasta available upon request). Just nipping in for a billowing, cloud-like pizza or a plate of pasta with a glass of wine won’t break the bank and you can even sip on some rather fine cocktails for under a fiver.

As always, we order focaccia before we are given our menus. It arrives swiftly - a fluffy, puffy pillow, fragrant with rosemary and pockmarked with rock salt. I’m glad to see naughty arancini on as a starter – two golden globes hiding a nipple of ragu and locally made mozzarella encased in soft, yielding rice are an addiction I picked up in Rome. The other half plunges straight in by having the cozze, voluptuous mussels glistening rudely in blue-black shells; tarragon coming through in aniseedy waves and a hint of chilli adds warmth. Sweet, succulent and gone. I love squid ink pasta and Tagliolini con Capesante is three opal-white scallops supporting a bible-black tangle of pasta; jewel like prawns dripping from the strands. There are nods of approval from across the table, as he tucks into chicken breast, moist from the gorgonzola and leek stuffing. This food is the perfect foil for a cold winter evening. If we weren’t

so full, we’d have had another Italian favourite, cannoli Siciliani; crisp pastry tubes filled with ricotta blended with pistachios and chocolate chips. We settle for a simple affogato, vanilla ice cream drenched with foamy, rich, bitter espresso for a refined conclusion to a relaxed evening.