otago
This is a gem of a restaurant; it's hidden away on a lesser known side street in the west end, but having traded for almost 4 years it is clearly doing something right! This was my second visit, the first being last autumn when I enjoyed a pleasant pre-theatre meal; the pasta was a delight at the time as was the atmosphere. This time we returned on a last minute whim with no reservation but with two empty stomachs. This restaurant has a strange effect on me; I'm usually swayed by purely the culinary results presented on the plate but some how I feel happy before even stepping into this eatery. It's something to do the cool blue neon sign and the bright modern frontage that just lifts the spirits, something that many other Glasgow restaurants can learn from (the new look Di Maggio's in Gibson Street could learn a thing or two!).

Anyway however much the owners got the style right what about the substance, the menu is well... modern is the best description, a meld of Italian, French and Scottish, in a Mediterranean feel dining room, a shelf of condiments gives a slight delicatessen feel although this is surely more for show than for sale?

We chose the pre-theatre menu again, at £10.95 for two courses, I opted for the ravioli starter which was an excellent starter size, and although perhaps not the most exciting ravioli it was served with an excellent sauce and a nice finish of toasted pine nuts. My companion opted for the salmon roulade which both tasted and looked terrific.

Our main courses were herb crusted cod, with avocado salad and chips; and mushroom risotto with sun dried tomatoes and mozzarella. The avocado salad lacked somewhat in the looks department but tasted fine, and the chips were excellent hand cut chunky ones, served in the modern "stacked" style. The risotto (served minus the mozzarella at my request) was excellent and presented its flavours in an honest manner, and did not "claw" in the way they often do.

We couldn't resist a desert, every one of them sounded great, but we opted for the "special" of pineapple parfait with an apricot jam tartlet - sounds good just reading doesn't it - and good it was, the filling of the tart was a tad heavy but that aside the pasty was lovely and the pineapple parfait was fantastic - it was special and deserves a permanent place on the menu.

The house white was crisp, clean and very enjoyable and the service was great, attentive, polite and efficient.

All in a great package from what is a really modest little restaurant, sure you can get bigger menus and wine lists in Glasgow's big "name" restaurants but in this case small really is beautiful.
   [01 Mar 2004 15:41:52]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: herb crusted cod hand cut fries

     ­bunnty