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Thankfully, head chef Giuseppe knew just how to do that, by offering freshly made pasta and “care in the smallest details”, all while using flour from specialist Italian flour mills and produce from artisan farmers. The Bayswater venue has a chic, modern interior full of green tile, with a lemon on every tabletop. You’ll even find a classic car on the way to the toilet – perfect for a photo opportunity.

Unfortunately for us, our visit lacked the Italian charm I’ve come to expect from my own visits to the country. The restaurant was pretty packed out, meaning our servers were slightly harried and hard pressed to lavish each individual guest with attention.

Not to worry, though, I thought, and turned my attention to the food. My friend and I decided to share starters, opting for the black truffle and ricotta croquettes, which come served with Parmigiano Reggiano shavings (£11), and the beef carpaccio with anchovies herb dressing and rocket (£14).

I was immediately impressed by the beef – served raw and sliced paper-thin – with just the perfect amount of seasoning. The freshness comes through immediately, and the anchovy dressing added the perfect edge of tang.

The croquettes, too, were stunning – the dough is quite clearly made fresh. I would, however, have enjoyed a dip, as they are served dry and needed some sort of sauce to add a bit of moisture. To quote Peter Kay: “Has tha’ nowt moist?”

Mains were up next, and I couldn’t resist the ’nduja gnocchi, served with ’nduja butter emulsion, broad beans, bread crumble and Parmigiano Reggiano (£20). I’m an absolute gnocchi fiend, and I like it best when it’s cooked fresh and soft – just as this dish was. Be warned, though, the ‘nduja is fairly spicy, so try Tortello’s homemade peach iced tea to cool down. To me it left a slightly bitter aftertaste, but overall I’d definitely have the gnocchi again.

My dining companion opted for the beef shin ragù tagliatelle, served with cacio ricotta (£20). Again, the pasta was so fresh you could definitely taste the difference from an off-the-shelf Italian eatery, and the beef was deliciously tender.

For dessert we opted to share a chocolate & almond torta with vanilla gelato (£9), which for me was the highlight of the entire meal. The torta fell apart on the spoon, and though I’m not usually a massive fan of nuts, the almond added a hint of crunch to the thick chocolate. I definitely wish we’d opted for one each!

When it came to wrapping up our meal, again the service wasn’t the quickest, but in general Tortello is a lovely option for lunch or a more relaxed meal when you have a bit of time to spare. Nestled right next to Hyde Park, it’s enough to offer a bit of European luxury in the heart of the bustling capital.