Branca

Branca has been the restaurant on Walton Street for over two decades, and it's earned that status by being consistently good rather than flashy. The menu is modern Italian — wood-fired pizzas, handmade pasta, risotto, good salads — executed with more care than the brasserie format demands. It's the kind of place where nothing will blow your mind but nothing will disappoint you either, and that's worth more than most people think.

The outdoor terrace is Branca's secret weapon. On a warm evening, sitting outside on Walton Street with a negroni and a pizza, Jericho feels almost continental. Almost. The interior is all clean lines and modern design — not cosy, but smart.

What to order

The pizzas are the safest bet and well made — thin, crisp, properly charred. The truffle and mushroom risotto is a regular highlight. Weekend brunch is excellent, particularly the eggs Florentine. The cocktail list is short but well-made; the espresso martini has a following.

Good to know

Book for dinner on weekends — it fills up. The terrace is first-come, first-served and highly contested in summer. Service can slow down when it's busy, but the food is worth the wait. Good for groups, good for dates, good for a solo lunch with a newspaper. Jericho's independent shops are right outside the door.