A stalwart along the Shaw Centre stretch, La Strada offers diners familiarity and comfort in a dining room designed after a rustic Italian trattoria.

The dishes are equally warming—think Italian classics like beef carpaccio drizzled with truffle oil, and chargrilled octopus flavoured with little more than its pan juices and fresh basil. Seasonal porcini mushrooms are served with a soft egg, a simple pairing that hits all the right notes, and pasta cabonara is sprinkled with smoky bacon crumble. For mains, choose from the likes of breaded veal loin scented with lemon, and braised oxtail served with bread to mop up all that rich sauce.

But truly, the desserts are the stars of the menu. A honeyed pine nut tart is rounded off nicely with vanilla ice cream, while rich chocolate salami is flecked with a medley of pistachios, almonds and hazelnuts.