Restaurants, Italian, Budget, Late dining

The pillars holding aloft the Georgian ceiling at Centotre and clever use of booths provide nooks and crannies for romantic tete-a-tetes and broader spaces for parties and business lunches. There is a clear focus on the ingredients here: mozzarella…

The growing trend for sharing plates is capitalised on at this Byres Road venue. It is well suited to larger groups making a meal part of their night with popular Italian cuisine laid out in miniature over four pages of a vast menu. The monkfish and…

There’s a reason Giuliano’s has been a stalwart of the Edinburgh Italian scene since 1990. There is a vibrant buzz to the long, sprawling restaurant, which is effectively two adjoined rooms decorated with pictures representing each of the 22 regions of…

Carrying more of a café vibe than that of a restaurant, Little Italy is a pleasant place to sit and watch the world go by. The pizzas are the highpoint of the dining experience, not just for their taste and freshness, but also for the novelty of the…

With its large, brightly lit dining area, long serving hatch at the back and the bar running along the side, Carluccio’s gives the impression of a bustling up-market canteen. Inside the door high shelves are packed with squid ink spaghetti, finest…

Di Maggio’s have a reputation for no nonsense US-Italian fare, big flavours and generous portions. Though each branch shares the same evening menu, the Southside branch, its canopied windows overlooking Shawlands Cross, opens earlier at weekends…

Owing more to Uncle Sam than the Old Country, Di Maggio’s can be relied on for hearty American-Italian fare. The Theatreland branch, well located for the Concert Hall, Pavilion and the cinema, does a fine line in pre-theatre offers with two courses for…

Family-run Bar Roma is a place to watch waiters conduct crowds of obliging clientele bellow ‘Happy Birthday’ to their nearest and dearest. It is a bustling, friendly environment, decorated with classical kitsch and even boasting an olive tree. The wide…

Although there is a corporate feel to Strada’s clean lines and functional décor, the spectacular view of Edinburgh Castle from its outdoor tables is surely a one-off. And when it comes to the food, quality is a notch above the standard fare served up by…

With the opening of Piccolino e Vino in Newton Mearns, the La Vita ‘family’ now includes four restaurants across the country. This expansion is indicative of the popularity of its operation in George Square, which can serve upwards of 1000 diners on a…

From the street Bella Napoli looks like a run-of-the-mill Italian deli, but discerning food lovers know that through the back, past the racks of wine and tins of olives, is a reliable restaurant of some worth. While the front cafe offers casual…

Opened late in 2012, the major draw at this modern diner-style restaurant is the wood-fired pizza oven and notably low prices. A rich and chunky chicken broth followed by pizza or pasta for under £6 to sit in at lunchtime is remarkable. Pizzas emerge…

With over 100 restaurants in the UK, Zizzi is a growing chain, but changing specials and quirky touches such as the staff photograph on the menu make for a distinct dining experience. Situated on the top terrace in Princes Square, Zizzi takes full…

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…

The Glass House is a Salvation Army church hall that has been transformed into an airy, contemporary open eating space, mostly using glass: on the facade from the roof down through a glass-fringed mezzanine, along with modern glass installations and…

Prior to Tony Macaroni’s arrival, successive operations have failed to find the correct formula for a tricky spot at the bottom of Byres Road. Affordable dining, coupled with the quality concurrent in its five other restaurants across Scotland, has…