I Paparazzi @ The Coach House Hotel, Romford 

I Paparazzi @ The Coach House Hotel

Psst... want to know a secret? OK – it’s “I Papparazzi” restaurant in Romford’s 4-star Coach House Hotel. Its Milan-born chef, who has won 2 Michelin stars, 3 Rosettes and Chef of the Year in the 2005 London Food & Drink Awards, has been wowing the world’s most famous names for years, and the hotel has itself won the LDF Hotel of the Year and the Havering Awards Business of the Year. Start with the staggeringly good provola al pomodoro, lightly grilled smoked mozzarella served over fresh spinach with tomato & balsamic glaze. Unusual, assured pasta dishes include pennette alla vodka, sautéed with fresh salmon. Follow with agnello aosta, lamb loin flavoured with rosemary, garlic and truffles, rolled in pancetta, char-grilled and served in a rich Barbera wine sauce – it’ll knock your socks off. Quick and easy to get to from central London (20 minutes by train), this is definitely one of the area’s best-kept secrets. Bravissimo.