1 Bistro @ Downstairs (Alla Turca)
- Food served: Mon–Sat noon–2pm, 5–9pm; Sun 5–9pm
- Pre-theatre times: 5–7pm daily
- Number of wines sold by the glass: 5
- Also offers: Vegetarian options (at least ¼ main courses), Children's portions, Children's high chairs, Pre-theatre menu
- Music on stereo: Traditional
- Capacity: 40
- Largest group: 40
- Open since: 2009 (see note)
- Average price:
£5 (set lunch)
£16 (evening meal) - Pre-theatre price: £10
- House wine: £13.90 per bottle
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The 2011/12 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).
This review is taken from the 2009 edition.
1 Bistro is a 'basement extension' to the popular Alla Turca. The basement itself is not always open but the downstairs (discount) menu will be available by reservation. If that sounds confusing, the layout of the menu requires patience too: there is a lot of information on meal deals –which can include a bottle of wine or Kir Royale – and various notes on 'supplement' charges. First impressions suggest some budget-price treats, although that may mean less than generous portions as a result: the Lebanese ablama aubergines, 'minced lamb, herbs, spices and pine nuts stuffed between aubergine slices', is actually one thin slice smothered by a tasty but underwhelming lamb sauce and the mixed mezze starters to share – hummus, mini falafels, filo parcels, tabuleh and kisir – come with baby pitta pieces. Also among the mains, the “chef's specials” –sword fish or mixed kebab– may offer more but comes with a £2.50 supplement. Three of the five mains have an Italian flavour – pollo marsala and two pasta dishes – which may either show the owners know their clientele or be further evidence of the thrown-together feel of the menu.
- High point: Some fine flavours
- Low point: Too-fussy menu
Reviews of 1 Bistro @ Downstairs (Alla Turca) (192 Pitt Street, Glasgow)
- 1. Lorn607, Glasgow – 21 December 2009, 1:27pm
1 Bistro @ Downstairs (Alla Turca)Report -
I went to this restaurant on a work night out. 22 had booked to go there for 6pm on a Saturday ngiht before xmas. Not all of the party arrived, and 2 were late - one of whom was the organiser. We were tightly packed in downstairs, and having paid our £5 deposit and ordered our food, we were told we would be provided with, and be paying for all meals as ordered. This was despite the fact that about 5 people didn't turn up. We were told that we couldn't start getting food until the organiser came, and this ended up being 6:45... so we were starving by this point.
We were not offered drinks and had to ask for them. And then all of the drinks ended up being on a separate bill! Of course both bills had a 10% service charge on top...when the staff hardly 'served' us at all. Instead they kept refering to policy and that we weren't getting our food until the organiser turned up.
And they kept seeming to put the pressure on us that they needed the tables back by 8:30 - If they'd have served us our food and we might be!!
The soup was ok, the turkey meal was lacking in gravy, was cold and very small in portion size. And the other dishes weren't much better.
For dessert all kinds had been ordered, but we were only given 22 portions of ice cream and strawberry (meant to be strawberries, but there was at the very most one strawberry cut into very small pieces on 3 scoops of ice cream.)
Sure the ice cream was tasty, but not what some people ordered. We couldnt wait to get out of a very unfriendly, clostraphobic restaurant which ripped us off and served very badly, at every point in the night!
I will not being entering the premises ever again...
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