Boxing clever

Robin Lee selects the finest purveyors of excellent value nosh that you can buy on the hop, and eat wherever you fancy sitting down.

ometimes nothing fills that gap in the belly like a takeaway. The best comfort food in the

Winter months comes hot. whether it be something to revive the soul at lunchtime. a hearty carry out to curl up Willi in front of the televrsron at home or a wee snack to bolster the beer coat after a night at the pub,

A good takeaway outlet is worth cherishing. and the better ones are imaginative and creative rather than lazy and lumpen. the very best combine fresh. tasty ingredients cooked well With a JUGICIOUS use of herbs and spices. Here we present a run down of the top establishrnerits in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Lunchtime warmers

In Glasgow la belle France is the inspiration for Crepe a Croissant. which sells hot filled croissants and stuffs crepes With fillings like tantalising tikka, ravishing ratatouille and supreme spinach. Bon Appetit is situated on Argyle Street south of Kelvingrove Park. and the globetrotting menu features a selection of 30 pix/as. rated gold. silver or bron/e. depending on how many toppings are crammed on. The humble baked potato is a fluffy pillow of starchy goodness and is done especially well in Edinburgh by the Baked Potato Shop. a vegetarian venue where they're filled with haggis. chilli.

22 THE LIST 19 Jan I) l eb 2006

curry. cheese and beans. Accompany one With the soup of the day, In the Princes Mall food court is Some Thing Thai. where a $3.99 set meal comprises a meat dish think spicy battered chicken. aromatic pork. chicken satay and mild beef curry ~ With stir fried vegetables and noodles or rice.

Tasty takeaway Hernforcing the Italian theme in Glasgow is Casa Blanca. where pix/as and cal/ones are ioined by pasta. baked potatoes. burgers. curries and kebabs. An excellent. authentic restaurant and takeaway in the West End is Asia Style on St George's Road. Which supplies Malaysian and Chinese dishes like nasi lemak. thousand year's egg. satay and roast belly pork. It's popular Willi the Asian community. which is always a good sign. lhere are two classy l ar last takeaways in lldinburgh too. Silver Bowl is an institution. provrding tasty Chinese and lhai chow in the traditional style. The

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menu is as long as your arm, of course. In the west. on Slateford Road. Taste Good is a comparative newcomer. but maintains the standard. Its bright. modern decor is matched by well presented. high quality food.

And Where else to get good Indian grub than one of the capital's best restaurants. Original Khushi’s. in its new home on Potterrow? The takeaway menu is the same as the sit<rn menu. With numerous vegetarian dishes. seafood and tandoori options. and well marinated. melt in the mouth lamb a speciality.

Post-pub grub

In Glasgow. Charcoals opened in June 2004 and boasts that its dishes are marinated at length. free of preservatives and additives. The drop in evening menu concentrates on Turkish staples. but there is a longer. Indian centred takeaway menu too. On Calder Street in the Southside. the Yadgar Kebab House is the complement of Edinburgh's Kebab Mahal. and is open until midnight during the week and lam at weekends. serVIng up kebabs. curries and pix/as to a loyal clientele.

Round the corner from Original Khushi's in Edinburgh is Kebab Mahal. Business must be brisk during the day too. because the halal menu offers excellent value for money. tempting in punters for kebabs and curry late on I riday and Saturday nights.

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Glasgow

t Crepe a Croissant 783 Hope Street & 50 St Enoch Square, City Centre; 7 Ashley Street & 396 Byres Road. West End

Opening times vary Fast food with a French twist. This small chain serves up the eponymous Gallic staples stuffed with hot vegetarian, carnivore and sweet fillings. You can pick up baked potatoes. panini. hot baguettes and soups too.

* Casa Blanca

35 Clarence Drive, West End. 074 7 339 97 90. Mon—Sat

3—7 7.30pm; Sun

2. 30— 70.30pm

Delivery charge: £7 locally

Pizza is the order of the day in this Hyndland eatery. which also offers some pasta, potato. burger and curry choices. Casa Blanca opens at 1.30am during school term time.

* Charcoals

26A Renfi'e/d S treet, City Centre, 0747 227 9257, Mon-Sun noon-4am, Delivery charge: 2 7 .25 local/y, minimum order I.“ 70 One for the nighthawks. Charcoals has an open kitchen with a big charcoal grill. producing excellent curry dishes. In addition. the takeaway area serves up kebabs and Turkish fare.

Edinburgh

* The Baked Potato Shop

56 Cockburn Street. Old Town, 0737 225 75 72, Mon—Sun 9am—9pm

Wholly vegetarian and with vegan choices. the Baked Potato Shop serves up the aforementioned with a multitude of fillings. along with pakoras. samosas and bhajis. Salad trays comprise the cold options.

at Silver Bowl

12 Albert Place, Leith Walk, 0737 554 9830 Tue—Thu 8 Sun 4.30pm—midnight; Fri-Sat 4pm— 7am Delivery charge: 90p within 2 miles; 20p per extra mile

Combining a Thai with a Chinese menu, Silver Bowl has been serving up top quality chow since 1968. What makes it so good isn‘t rocket science: fresh ingredients. sharp flav0urs. just enough sauce and no MSG overdose.

t Kebab Mahal

7 Nico/son Square. Old Town, 0737 667 5274 Sun— Thu noon— midnight; Fri—Sat noon—2am

Enormous portions at genuinely bargain prices. The bustling Halal takeaway round the corner from Edinburgh Central Mosque is a haven for authentic sub- continental cuisine.