The buzz: New Italian eatery on Wuding Lu offering mix and match pasta dishes and other Italian classics at reasonable prices.

The décor: Low, romantic lighting, candles, square tables and low music make Lange look more expensive than it is. Which is a good thing, surely.

The food: One of our favourite things about Lange’s menu is the pasta selection. You pick the type of pasta you want (all ¥30, including all the kinds you would expect, and some you wouldn’t) then choose your sauce (¥20 each, ranging from arabbiata to simple bolognese). This is great if you’re a particular fan of, say, tagliatelle carbonara, which nowhere in town serves. We tried the penne arabbiata which was nicely textured and just spicy enough. The Caesar salad was tasty enough, but could have done with more lemon juice. We added Parma ham to our Four Cheeses pizza at the suggestion of helpful manager Sean, who was attentive and pleasant throughout the meal. On leaving, he presented us with discount cards to get 10% off food on our next visit.

The drinks: A good selection of beer and wine.
Why you’ll be back: When you want to feel like you’re eating in luxury without the accompanying price tag. Or when you want to design your own signature pasta dish. Throughout May, Lange is offering a free dessert (tiramisu, panna cotta, tartufo, apple pie, Italian ice cream or fruit salad) when you spend over ¥100) and a set lunch menu including starter, main, dessert and soft drink for ¥50.

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