Sonny & Vito’s

Originally concentrated purely on food, Sonny & Vito’s has made use of its alcohol licence since 2013 to start selling beers and wines, with opening hours extended a little to suit. The outdoor tables – well positioned for getting sun late into summer evenings – attract patrons at all hours on a warm day. Inside, the tables are very snugly arranged – a little too close for comfort for some perhaps – but it all adds to a the busy, friendly buzz.

The organic Mediterranean fare is consistently impressive. The half-sandwich and soup of the day is an unexpectedly filling lunchtime favourite – Isle of Mull cheddar, rosemary roast ham and whole grain mustard is a particularly recommended filling, likewise warm chorizo and red onion. Hot dishes such as homemade Italian sausage roll and shortcrust tarts, both served with new potatoes and salad, will suffice as a light dinner as much as a lunch. Leave room for a slice of sponge cake – in flavours varying day-to-day from white chocolate and lime to Tunisian orange and chili – or a chocolate and pecan brownie, or just about any of the sweet treats they have freshly baked that day.

Sonny & Vito’s rich, hand-roasted coffee comes from Union of London. Watch out for new beers and wines coming in all the time, each hand-picked from independent traders all around the UK and Europe, and each individually described in hand-written tasting notes.