Back when I first moved to Leiden, I used to frequent Fratelli, a small, charming little Italian restaurant on the Lange Mare. Their pizza was great and it was close by - what more can you ask for? Well, for more than a year now, Fratelli has been closed for renovations. Sometimes I would walk by and think "What are they doing in there??" and last week I finally found out.

Fratelli has been completely refurbished, and is now a modern, inviting restaurant. Its dark wooden chairs have been replaced with sleek leather armchairs. The décor is fabulous and they've added a bar that just asks to be frequented. They even have a quieter seating area tucked behind the brand new wardrobe.

The food has also been upgraded - it's still Italian but of much higher quality. They are now open from 11.30 for lunch and serve a lunch menu until 4pm. The dinner menu is wonderful - salads and pastas, and very delicious pizzas.

I haven't figured out why Fratelli hasn't raised its prices, but hurry in and visit before they do. Fratelli is located at Lange Mare 112 and is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 11.30.