Ida

Opened in 2007 by novelist Simonetta Wenkert and IT engineer Avi Reichenbach, there’s a rare kind of magic to this homely little restaurant, which is still devotedly serving its local community. At its heart is the restaurant’s namesake, Avi’s mother Ida, whose culinary traditions from her Italian hometown of Cupramontana encompass a generosity of spirit that's about more than just good food. While Simonetta still steers the ship, day-to-day service is run by the next generation with infectious warmth. From the open kitchen comes a succinct but ‘innovative’ line-up of unfussy dishes defined by the uncompromising quality of their ingredients. A salad of white Devon crabmeat, vine tomatoes and Granny Smith apple is enlivened with a velouté of roasted red peppers, while signature pastas include bronze-cut mafaldine with sheep’s ricotta, tomatoes, basil and Parmesan as well as the much-lauded tagliatelle al ragù Marchigiano. For dessert, indulge in seasonal fruit tarts, tiramisu or basil and dark chocolate panna cotta. Service is ‘impeccable,’ and there’s a short but rewarding list of Italian wines; also, don’t miss the saffron and sour-cherry spritz.