Bianco Nero

Bianco Nero restaurant, right in the heart of London's Hammersmith, may be modern Italian but specializes in old-fashioned great service. The dining room is a sleek concoction of cool white floors, tables and seating that softens the look with a few silkscreens of herby plants made graphically large. What's authentic about this relative newcomer is its dedication to fresh, inventive flavours - not your usual spaghetti shop. For instance, signature dishes include pan-fried king scallops with celeriac puree and pancetta, bianco nero sautéed calamari and squid ink, trio of stuckling pig with cavolo nero, and pud of white chocolate and raspberry cheesecake. The cheesecakes are sin city, generally, and the wood-fired pizzas superb any time. Downstairs lounge is a warm local scene.