City Café

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• What are these?

• Average price 2 courses:
   £9.95 (set lunch)
   £17.75 (evening meal)
• House wine: £14.50 per bottle

• Hitlisted
• High point: Fresh and flavoursome with an option for everyone
• Low point: Other than SECC, slightly out of the centre of things
• Food served: Mon-Sat 6.45-9.30am, noon-2.30pm, 6-10.30pm; Sun 7-11am, 1-2.30pm, 7-9.30pm
• Bar open: Mon-Sun noon-midnight
• Private dining: Up to 88 covers
• No. overnight rooms: 164
• Open since: 2000
• Also offers: Vegetarian options (at least 25% of menu), Childrens portions, Childrens high chairs, Wheelchair access

The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2008 is now in the shops.

This review is from the 2007 edition.

Just downstream from the iconic new 'squinty' bridge, City Café, on the ground floor of the City Inn hotel, capitalises fully on its recently enhanced Clydeside location. Floor to ceiling windows allow full appreciation of Glasgow's aquatic artery, as well as bringing light and a feeling of space to the restaurant. This natural backdrop is further exploited by summertime marquees for alfresco dining on the riverside terrace. The airy and fresh feel extends to the food. The à la carte menu offers a good range of meat and fish, with a Garden Menu selection for those who prefer a lighter or vegetarian meal and simpler set-price options. The bovine selection, with mini beef Wellington, beef cannelloni and oxtail soup, is a flavoursome but surprisingly delicate starter. Equally, monkfish baked in Parma ham with a lobster cream sauce is richly satisfying. Well-informed and regularly available staff provide a seamless liaison between the busy kitchen and the varied clientele of residents, family parties and SECC attendees. Pre-concert deals, bar meals and lunch options, together with the food, service and location all provide good reasons to visit this place.