A corner of Umbria in London

Of Vasco & Piero's Pavilion Restaurant http://www.vascosfood.com/, legendary food critic Fay Maschler recently wrote within a review: The strange name refers to a time in the early 1970s when this restaurant was above the Cinema Academy (sadly no more) and decor as camp as a row of tents was supplied by surrealist photographer Angus McBean. Serenely supervising the kitchen is the venerable chef Vasco Matteucci who imports wild herbs, oil, cheeses, truffles and cured meats from his native Umbria. Pasta is made on the premises and tortelloni - not to be missed - might have fillings as various as wild mushroom, duck, sea bass, or aubergine.Food is simple and good; assemblies on the plate could never be accused of showing off. Eating here is like eating in Italy - and in Soho of old when it was the area you had to visit to find olive oil to buy. Lunchtime attracts media folk, evenings canny politicians. Gordon Brown wooed Sarah here.Terry Gilliam says: 'Which is your favourite London restaurant? Vasco & Piero's Pavilion on Poland Street, W1, because it does brilliant Umbrian cooking and it's always good.' Source: www.thisislondon.co.uk