Intermezzo Ristorante

Forget long-distance travel and jet lag - the simplest way to Italy is via Intermezzo. With its colonnades, marble glitz and alfresco setting attuned to people-watching, you'll be convinced you've been teleported to a piazza. The menu upholds the illusion by tapping into some truly classic flavour combinations - think grilled eggplant layered with delicious mozzarella, basil and a napoletana sauce so satisfying it would be slurpable were it not for the refined setting. There's also summer-light snapper spaghettini, and house-made pappardelle twirled through with a rich trio of shimeji, shiitake and swiss brown mushrooms and capped with a big pillow of ricotta. The generous pasta portions can be hard to finish - but at a restaurant that sports a wine tower so tall it requires stairs, understatement is not expected. Service wasn't exactly perfetto; what is, though, is a white chocolate semifreddo with brioche, berries and zesty orange cream and sorbet.