"Say what you want about the Big Mamma restaurants—and we have, we ranked them—but these Italian trattorias know how to throw a party. Carlotta is one of our favourites thanks to its big booths, big ego, and big diva energy. Last year, a more-is-more Christmas meet-up at this Marylebone spot involved langoustine and crab risotto, a yule log—supersized, with spiced cinnamon and nutmeg—and tipsy selfies with the virgin mary statue in the bathroom. It’s worth knowing that previously sister spot Ave Mario has done a truffle-stuffed burrata over the festive period." - heidi lauth beasley, jake missing, rianne shlebak, sinead cranna