"Nothing says ‘80s trattoria quite like some superfluous balsamic drizzle on your plate. Il Giardino in Peckham has a heartwarming commitment to the art of the decorative drizzle—it appears on the edge of a deeply mediocre cheese crostini and frames a pleasing plate of simple sausage pasta. The classic carbs are borderline naff and yet, we’ll forgive a lot for this kind of smile-a-minute mentality. Wipe-clean menus are passed around, Nessun Dorma plays through the speakers, and you’ll have a good time with close friends who also appreciate a restaurant time warp." - jake missing, heidi lauth beasley, rianne shlebak