Ludacrust

Taunton's first independent pizzeria built its own oven, by hand, before firing a single base - which tells you most of what you need to know about the attitude here. Everything is made from scratch, topped with bold flavours and local ingredients, and sent out with no apology for being loud about it. There's a restaurant to sit in, and a catering side that has done weddings and parties across Somerset since a first outing at a Halloween bash.

The menu runs on handmade pizzas with names like the Legalize Marinara and the heavier Bad M.F., alongside Smalls - Italian-style meats, fresh mozzarella, doughballs that tend not to last. Guests at private events mention Jumper showing the kids how to make pizzas, which suggests the team is as much a part of the booking as the food. Reserve a table online for the restaurant, or use the same form for a no-obligation event quote.