Mercante

For many of you, Mercante will be a dream come true: the one where you’re ambling down an ancient hutong and chance upon a softly lit restaurant serving comforting Italian cuisine. With just a couple dozen seats, a meal at this restaurant feels like dinner at a friend’s house – a friend with an easy manner, impeccable taste and mad kitchen skills. The bruschetta toppings of fresh ricotta, olive pate and a red and yellow pepper sauce are pleasant, but if you’re on a budget, skip straight to pasta and mains.