Bancone Golden Square

"We can’t think of anyone you shouldn’t go to Bancone with. Friends, colleagues, family, dates are all welcome. Hell, bring your ex—you’ll look fantastic sitting at the counter in the candlelight. Whether you’re at the main bar or the oval counter around an olive tree, Bancone is a truly lovely place to be. The handmade pasta is excellent, like the signature silk handkerchiefs in a glossy walnut butter sauce, plus you can easily go all in with wine or cocktails, and still have a pretty affordable meal." - jake missing, rianne shlebak, sinead cranna, daisy meager

"Bancone is a no-brainer. This little handmade pasta bar works for dates, mates, birthdays, and miscellaneous occasions like ‘your flatmate who secretly eats your expensive yoghurts is leaving for six months and it’s time to celebrate’. It’s one of our favourite places for a serious carbohydrate situation and you can swap out the regular pasta for a gluten-free alternative. Although it gets pretty busy, you can always try the Soho or Borough Yards locations if the Covent Garden restaurant is full. " - heidi lauth beasley, sinead cranna

"There are plenty of handmade pasta restaurants in London, but when we’re in the mood to make a night out of it—and pretend that we’re spending a lot more than we are—Bancone is our favourite. Whether you’re at the main bar or the oval counter around a live olive tree, this Soho spot is a truly lovely place to be. Thanks to their signature silk handkerchief pasta that feels well over the £11 price tag and excellent pappardelle, this place is great value for money. And it’s just as rammed as their original spot in Covent Garden and Borough Market location, so make sure to book well in advance." - rianne shlebak, jake missing, sinead cranna

"When our nephew is sad, he whimpers “I need cheesy pasta” while forcing some very large performative tears. Saying, “bloody hell, could really do with some cacio e pepe” and sighing, is the adult equivalent. Soho’s Bancone is just the place for a grown-up dinner and you can’t really go wrong with a bowl of bucatini cacio e pepe at the counter. It also has an equally lovely location in Covent Garden, but from our experience the cacio e pepe at the Soho branch is better. " - Heidi Lauth Beasley

"If silk handkerchiefs make you think of a magician then you clearly have not spent enough time at Bancone. The central London pasta spot’s Covent Garden location is still closed, so head to Soho to ordering their silk handkerchiefs with walnut butter and confit egg yolk. Pastas are around £9-13 here so, with the EOTHO discount, your bill shouldn’t be too heavy." - jake missing