Lapintaika

Pared-back surroundings with muted neutrals and rustic furniture mean this is the place for a low-key supper apt for a chic date night or stylish tete-a-tete. The chef has a tried-and-true formula to his extensive pasta menu, but the antipasti isn't an easy pass, either: start with a platter of pate and cured pork, followed by chicken and duck galantine. Steaming plates of noodles always flow from the kitchen, hearty enough for sharing. Sure, the pasta options are expansive to the point of being overwhelming, but you can opt for familiar variations like creamy penne with gorgonzola or tagliatelle rich with shrimp sauce and squid ink. Meanwhile, the handmade orecchiette that is heavy on broccoli pesto, squid and scallops feels like the Adriatic Sea on a plate — as do the bottarga spaghetti with dried fish and the pescatora pasta tossed with giant prawns. Beyond fresh pasta, the roast duck and Ezo venison — juicy slices of deer steak drizzled with sauce and crowned with grilled vegetables — is a winner. For dessert, go for the crema catalana, which packs a fruitier punch with the addition of passion fruit. Start — or end — the night right by ordering a cool glass of Aperol to get the chatter rolling. Lapintaika is featured on the Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2023 and 2024.