The Coffee Merchant

The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2008 is now in the shops. This review is taken from the 2007 edition.

If you polled local business folk and employees, as well as residents in the Candleriggs area, this solid neighbourhood café might be the preferred choice for a quick sandwich or coffee made from locally-roasted Mathew Algie beans. A pair of sofas and some soft seats in the far corner complement the tables and chairs (and there is the added option of sitting in the covered Merchant Square courtyard). Don't be surprised if staff join in to tunefully 'woo-woo' should the Rolling Stones' 'Brown Sugar' come on the CD. Such apparent happiness is always a good sign. In addition to breakfast options (served till 11am weekdays and noon weekends), the main menu is dominated by sandwiches, whether the 'Conti special' with peppered salami and chorizo or the 'smokehouse bagel' with hot-smoked salmon. A brie and cranberry combo, served on some thinly-sliced five-grain brown bread, is well-balanced, with the relish spread keeping it just moist enough. New to the repertoire are smoothies, with a wide range of choices from Fruitie, the Glasgow-based entrepreneurs.

• High point: Happy staff
• Low point: No breakfast after 11am?