Pasta is the people-pleaser of the food world, a dish so beloved that most of us consume it at least once a week – which is why it takes the big guns to lure us out of our own kitchens. And it’s safe to say that Notto, which launched as a delivery service back in May 2021 and has just opened its first bricks-and-mortar site on one of London’s most prestigious streets, has big guns galore. Not only is it the brainchild of Michelin-starred chef Phil Howard, but its head chef previously worked at renowned pasta palaces Bancone and Locanda Locatelli. Expectations have been understandably high.

“After navigating the bustle of tourists heading to Buckingham Palace or crowding around the window displays of Fortnum & Mason, stepping into Notto is like finding an oasis – chic, muted interiors and a soundtrack of R’n’B classics welcome you in,” says Stylist’s features editor Meena Alexander. “Choosing from the menu of seasonal starters and eight rotating pasta dishes is a serious challenge, but make your selection safe in the knowledge that you won’t be disappointed. Everything was a delight, from the still-warm focaccia sprinkled with rosemary rock salt and the umami octopus and white bean salad, to the melt-in-the-mouth strozzapreti and endless ribbons of chicken stock-soaked tagliatelle. This is pasta elevated to an art form, with surprising flavours that stay with you long after you’ve scraped the bowl. A definite step up from your weekly spag bol.” 198 Piccadilly, London W1; nottopastabar.com