A branch of the small, London-based La Porchetta pizzeria chain, which took over the site of the Pollo bar (hence the odd name).

The pizzas get a very good rating, and many of the starters and pastas are also pretty good - reasonably authentic food which seems to attract a lot of Italians. At about £15 a head for two courses with wine, it's very good value, (especially for the area) and service is pretty fast. Portions are very generous, so you could easily get away with one course and wine for about a tenner.

Like the rest of Old Compton Street, this is a busy venue, and the interior looks more like a cafe than a restaurant, so it's definitely not the place for an intimate meal. Although there's no piped music, the noise from the conversations (and outside traffic!) can also be pretty loud. The downstairs basement (when open) is a little more spacious and less noisy, although there's no natural light.

My rating reflects five stars for value, four for service and three for the surroundings.