I can never resist a brand spanking new restaurant, especially when it's right up my street (literally, in this case). When we first noticed this was opening, we applied to visit on one of their '50 % off training days' - they open properly in the next few weeks.

Having just returned from a leisurely and varied (not to mention half-price) lunch there, I think this stylish Italian venture will do very well, occupying a leafy corner plot with an attractive terrace next to Goose Green. Although we expected minor hiccups on their training day, we were greeted enthusiastically by the manager who explained that their credit card machine hadn't arrived and so it would be payment by cash only. This might have been an annoyance were it not for his charming manner and the good fortune that there's a cashpoint just outside.

Once seated, the Italian waiting staff were polite, well-informed, and efficient. The menu is surprisingly authentic for a chain restaurant and pleased my pseudo-Italian boyfriend no end, who recounts the food he ate whilst living in Bologna at every opportunity. So with the half-price offer, we feasted: olives and focaccia, insalata caprese with rich, creamy mozzarella, then gramigna alla salsiccia (the pseudo-Italian nearly wept when he saw this; a traditional dish not often seen on menus in the UK) and filetto di manzo, a huge knuckle of Argentinian steak with a peppercorn sauce, cooked to perfection. We were stuffed, but made room for an affogato for dessert - delicious cinnamon ice cream with espresso and frangelica poured over the top.

Upon settling the bill, we were asked to fill in a comments card: proof that they will continue to be very customer-oriented and well-managed. We rolled out of there, happily, wishing we had a longer walk home to digest it all, but really pleased that this is now our nearest excellent restaurant.