Restaurants, Budget, Pre-theatre menu, "Glasgow"

A smart, light, bright dining room with a stylish champagne bar attached, the place has an open kitchen where the chefs can be seen preparing dishes from the large menu. Deep-fried calamari are tasty and tender as are the prawns in the same…

Operetta is a smart, large restaurant and café, which by day bustles with office workers grabbing soups, sandwiches or a quick pasta. In the evening the restaurant suffers a little atmospherically from its daytime existence – the large self-service…

Verona is very much the new boy in town finding his feet having opened in January 2012. Set aside the gaudy neon lighting outside and an interior which is about as authentically Italian as a fake Gucci handbag and there is a not bad menu on offer. With…

Pulcinella radiates tradition – checked table cloths, walls crammed with souvenirs – which you’ll either find charming or a bit tired, but the friendly staff chattering away in Italian certainly add to the ambience. The menu offers a range of familiar…

After two decades of serving loyal Scotstoun locals, Neelim must be doing something right. Couples and families flock here, whether it be for a sit-down dinner or some takeaway dishes to enjoy at home, and it can fill up even on week nights. The menu…

Exposed brickwork and duct pipes give Bukharah an industrial feel that is complemented with contemporary furnishings, warm lighting and carefully positioned partitions that create an atmosphere more intimate than a space this size should. The…

Although the menu is a touch conservative, classics are well executed with the kitchen showing care and keen attention to detail. Air-cured bresaola is taken to room temperature before serving and sharpened by generous shavings of parmesan. A special of…

A haven of calm and tranquillity awaits you when stepping away from the maddening City Centre crowds into the gentle lighting and warm space of Opium – dark wood dominates giving a sophisticated feel with flickering candles and sparkling glassware. The…

The newest member of the Tony Macaroni family, Assaggini follows the trend of Italian food as tapas, but it is no mere bandwagon jumper. Each small plate leaves the diner wanting more, from veal meatballs in a velvet basil sauce, to focaccia with sticky…

Barbarossa comes in two parts – a wine bar downstairs and a chic restaurant upstairs – and thanks to a very committed chef, a host of regulars have been dining here for more than 10 years. The wine bar has a reasonably priced selection of pasta, pizza…

Massimo's popularity seems as much to do with its location, opposite King's Theatre, as the typically Italian fare served up in this basement venue. Modern stylings such as wooden floors and glass partitions give the space a surprisingly light and airy…

You’d think Arisaig’s location around that climate-free covered-style courtyard would pull in weather-beaten punters all day long, but although evening crowds throng, the cobbled delights of Merchant Square are a tad more sedate around lunchtime which…

Chef Ali Hammudah may be the only Egyptian restaurant owner to lose his kitchen to a Scottish hurricane (Bawbag) but the reopened Nur is well worth the weathering of a storm. You can taste the passion for food when tucking into fava beans in garlic and…

Scallops wrapped in pancetta is a good way to start in this large, airy and stylish basement dining room. The portion is generous and the scallops not overcooked. The antipasto misto is described as a signature dish, but is a little disappointing. It…

Though a little removed from the main Shawlands dining strip the value of the food along with the decidedly relaxed and jovial atmosphere at this unassuming corner pub and bistro make it worth the venture. New owner Graham Sutherland, who also has the…

Walking through the porch entrance to Gambrino transports you from the bustle of Great Western Road to a Tuscan trattoria. From the terracotta floors to exposed brickwork walls, worn table-tops and dried flowers, there's a warm, traditional feeling that…

Dakhin’s green and black décor oozes style. Wooden ceiling slats draped with plants create an Oriental feel in the spacious venue, while album-like menus and crisp linen napkins add a touch of class to otherwise bare black tables. Located upstairs, a…

Chow specialises in fast, good quality Chinese food. Its informal atmosphere and efficient service make it perfect for couples grabbing a quick bite, while larger groups of family and friends can linger. Fortunately, staff are expert in judging which…

In Glasgow’s trendy Merchant City the competition among restaurants to attract discerning diners is high. Artà stands out architecturally. Once the location of a medieval cheese market this listed building was developed Baroque style in 2000 into a…