"You’ve agreed to meet up with an old friend who’s out so far east that you can actually see the North Sea on the map when you Google where they live. As you’re considering whether you really need them in your life, you remember that you can jump on the the District Line and meet them at Verdi’s. It’s a chilled, family-run neighbourhood Italian restaurant in Stepney Green with brilliant food that would pack them in, even if it was in central London. Bread and pasta is made fresh in house every day, and there’s an excellent tiramisu and bolognese on the menu. It’s a low-key move for when you just want good, straightforward food, and there’s a warmth and ambience that Dalston and Hackney would struggle to better. It isn’t trendy, but it will make you happy." - david paw