Edit: PepeNero has closed.

Helmed by chef-owner Gabriele Piegaia of Burlamacco Ristorante, Pepenero at Stanley Street is a chic modern restaurant serving a menu that takes you on an epicurean journey through southern Italy. Start with the rustic homemade pork meatballs baked in spicy tomato sauce and laid on a bed of mozzarella cheese. It is served with a side of crab cake with avocado and garlic aioli. Other classic gems include air-flown burrata served with rucola, parma ham and cherry tomatoes, as well as deep-fried crispy calamari rings with arrabbiata dip.

The pastas at Pepenero are first rate. Enjoy the delicate homemade pappardelle cooked in a rich and aromatic pork ragout truffle sauce with porcini mushrooms, or savour the well-seasoned squid ink spaghetti with generous mounds of crabmeat in spicy tomato sauce. More substantial options include the Angus beef tenderloin in black pepper sauce, served with a generous helping of truffle fries and asparagus, juicy grilled pork chops and braised lamb shank in red wine. Lighter mains include a simple pan-fried cod with a crisp exterior and a side of potatoes seasoned with rosemary and saffron. End on a sweet note with a creamy coffee-flavoured classic tiramisu dusted with cocoa, or the cool semifreddo. There is a compact but quality range of Italian red and white wines such as the classic Felsina 2012 Chianti del Colli Senesi Italian Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) wines, and the fruity Zardetto Prosecco Treviso DOC.