If you've ever been to Tuscany you are sure to have fallen in love with the region, with its rolling green hills, fairytale castles and rust-coloured farmhouses. But if you can't afford to jet off to Italy right now, your best bet is to bag a table at Azzurro. With its terracotta walls, pan-tiled roof, soft lighting and redand- white-checked tablecloths, you'd be forgiven for thinking you were dining in a Tuscan trattoria.

Seating only 40 people at a time, Azzurro (formerly Pavarotti Trattoria) is pleasantly intimate - the p e rfect spot to take your loved one if you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. The restaurant is just a stone's throw from the theatre district, so why not enjoy a pre-theatre meal before you stroll down to the Theatre Royal. The pre-theatre menu at only £11.90 is excellent value for money, considering all produce is bought daily and expertly prepared.

The à la carte menu has something for everyone, with a wide choice of meat, fish and vegetarian dishes; and of course pasta plays a starring role. Tuck a napkin into your shirt collar and order pollo firenze - a juicy chicken breast stuffed with prosciutto and cheese, served with Napoli sauce and crunchy grilled asparagus. For seafood lovers, the spaghetti ai gamberoni - king prawns flavoured with garlic and chilli, tossed in a large bowl of spaghetti - is simply divine. Vegetarians will adore the vegetable risotto, creamy and packed with perfectly cooked vegetables, and as you would expect from a good Italian restaurant, the tiramisu is nothing short of perfection - light yet indulgent, with just the right amount of kick. The wine list reads like a tour through the vineyards of Italy, with some French, Chilean and South African wines thrown in for good measure.

'Azzurro' in Italian means 'blue' - but you'll be anything but after a trip to this lovely, authentic little restaurant. Find an excuse soon to head to Cambridge Street and search out Azzurro.