What's the draw
The restaurant's location between the City and Shoreditch means you get the best of both: a mixed crowd; a gorgeous room that's still unequivocally cool; and high-end food that pushes the button with creative flavour combinations.
What to drink
You know really great Italian wine can sometimes be a bit elusive? That's because Canto Corvino's wine buyer seems to have kept it all for himself. The list is exhaustive, featuring signature bottles from almost every region in the country. The cocktail list was a tad vodka- and gin-heavy for us (athough we loved the G&T with Gin Mare and basil), but if you're after something more classic, the bar team will take care of you.
What to eat
Canto Corvino's is the kind of menu that convinces you you've made the right choice of restaurant before you've even tasted the food. Primi-wise, we went for the burrata with anchovies (great), the lamb rib with smoked aubergine (even better) and that blood sausage gnudi with pecorino (absolutely outstanding). For the main, beef short rib al forno was unctuous, tender and moreish, and the monkfish with mussels and broccoli was beautifully springy in texture and delicate in flavour. We couldn't fault a thing.
Cocktails, dinner and wine for two, about £120. 21 Artillery Lane, E1 7HA; cantocorvino.co.uk
