Vico restaurant review ★★★★★

In a nutshell: delectable Italian street food in the heart of the West End, from chef Jacob Kenedy of Bocca di Lupo and our favourite gelataria Gelupo.

The welcome: casual enough to dip in for a quick bite pre- or post- theatre and special enough for date night, it's welcoming, buzzy and brilliantly positioned for people-watching. Staff are quick to refill drinks and offer great menu suggestions.

The room: theatrical and audacious, the large vaulted space just across from brightly lit theatre-land recreates the atmosphere of an Italian piazza, tables clustered around an indoor fountain.

The food: authentic Italian street food favourites reign supreme. The seasonal menu works as a selection of quick bites or a full blown four-course feast. Easily missed, on the 'while you are waiting' pre-appetiser selection is a stand out highlight: lasagnancino - deep fried balls of lasagne to the uninitiated - are as delicious as they sound (seriously order one each or you will fight).

Then burrata oozes cream as we cut into it and pancetta-wrapped scallops are melt in the mouth. The pasta is served in generous pools of sauce. And while Wild Boar Ragu certainly doesn't disappoint, the richly wintery Pumpkin Carbonara is our favourite.

The biggest challenge perhaps is saving room for the famed Gelupo gelato. While you can order directly from the menu, we strongly recommend going up to the counter to marvel at the array of pastel colours and test the patience of the server by sampling plenty of flavours until you've designed your own perfect gelato sundae.

Would we go back: absolutely yes; it's our go to pre-theatre spot.