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The best of the new restaurant, café and bar openings in Glasgow and Edinburgh
Glasgow TACO MAZAMA
TAKEAWAYS
261 Byres Road, West End, G12 8TL, tacomazama.co.uk, 0141 337 3399, £8 West Enders should rejoice, or perhaps give a big ‘olé’ – Taco Mazama have added to their Renfield Street branch with this new takeaway. It looks a little utilitarian but offers the same delicious range of burritos, fajitas, quesadillas, nachos, tacos and more. There’s a choice of fillings for the brick-sized burritos and fajitas including chargrilled chicken, rich beef and chorizo chilli, and slow-cooked barbecue pork full of delectable flavours and spices. From the fillings and salads to the veggie options and the heat-scaled salsas, there’s a freshness and quality here that is way ahead of most takeaways.
CAFÉ OSA CAFES
213 Hope Street, City Centre, G2 2UW, 0141 332 3386, £8 (lunch) A semi-subterranean café that is proving a worthwhile destination for nearby workers and shoppers to enjoy sandwiches, paninis, soups and wraps, plus heartier burgers, classic pastas and mains such as fish and chips — all fresh and home-made, and competitively priced. Formerly Henry Healy’s, the premises have been extended to create a separate seating area away from the takeaway counter bustle, and a complete refurbishment has created a smart interior making for a pleasant place to escape the choked streets above. The 6.30am opening makes it a great spot for a good-value breakfast and coffee for earlybirds.
SALADIN’S SILK ROAD DINER MIDDLE EASTERN 625 Great Western Road, West End, G12 8RE, £11 (lunch/dinner)
This deli-café is a welcome addition to the increasing options for Middle Eastern dining in this part of town. 24 THE LIST 21 Jul–4 Aug 2011
over, from lovely olives and cheeses to classy chocolate and luscious wines. Picture windows offer an excellent perch for coffee and cake, while seats to the rear offer a pleasant foodie enclave for evening deli platters or the house tart with good-looking salads.
CIRCUS BISTROS & BRASSERIE 8 St Mary’s Street, Old Town, EH1 1SU, £11 (lunch) / £17 (dinner) Set up by Osman Celik of nearby Turkish curiosity, Empires, this former home of the campaign to ‘Save Our Old Town’ is further proof that places of life and soul can be found in tourist-thronged central Edinburgh. Chunky wood tables, interesting art on the walls and a secluded stone-walled courtyard to the rear all offer charm and character. While offering obvious Middle Eastern influences, the menu has as many varied acts as the venue’s name, with breakfasts of omelettes or pancakes followed by both daytime and evening menus featuring burgers and pasta alongside risottos, kofte and sutlac rice pudding.
THE WHISKI ROOMS BARS & PUBS / BISTROS & BRASSERIES
4-7 North Bank Street, Old Town, EH1 2LP, whiskirooms.co.uk, £12 (lunch) / £17 (dinner)
An ambitious second venture from the owners of Royal Mile pub Whiski, this triptych of whisky shop, bar and bistro slots in right next door to another new opening, Porto & Fi, on North Bank Street at the top of the Mound. Decked out in trendy charcoal colours and muted tweeds and tartan, the place aims at a youthful, contemporary sophistication. Find a dram that you like at the bar, and the bottle will be on sale in the shop; like to engage further with Scotland’s food and drink culture? Well, tuck into some Cullen skink, roast lamb or east coast haddock and chips.
Independent write-ups on all the restaurants worth knowing about in Glasgow and Edinburgh are available on our online Eating & Drinking Guide at list.co.uk/food-and-drink Prices shown are for an average two-course meal for one.
Gifts from above A newcomer to Glasgow’s vegan scene fulfills its own prophecy, as Jay Thundercliffe found out
G lasgow’s vegetarian and vegan dining options are hardly extensive, so a new arrival such as this city centre café-bar is something of a godsend. Heavenly joins the city’s small but established vegan/veggie scene, offering a similar philosophy of wholesome and tasty meat-free food at nice prices, good music and a relaxed bohemianesque vibe – and what this newcomer lacks in venue space is compensated for by a pleasant and inclusive ambience whether as a daytime café or pre-club bar. As would be expected from proprietor Gary O’Connor, owner of local indie label Bubblegum Records, there is a strong musical vibe, from album covers on the light green walls to nods on the menu and the resurrection of classic Glasgow club nights.
The menu features handy footnotes for the uninitiated in tempeh and tofu, both of which feature in the varied and interesting menu, whether filling wraps or sandwiches or in the house burger – a tasty creation of tofu slice, roasted peppers, mushrooms and tomato accompanied by homemade chips and impressive onion rings. There are several mains including gnocchi, risotto, a beech tofu kebab and mushroom stroganoff, plus various salads. Refreshments include Samuel Smith and Sagres on draft plus Blue Moon and BrewDog, as well as coffee and speciality teas.
HEAVENLY
185 Hope Street, City Centre, G2 2UL, 0141 353 0884, heavenlyglasgow.co.uk Mon–Sun noon–8pm. Ave. price two-course meal: £11 (lunch/dinner)
This family affair – half diner, half grocery/deli – is bright and welcoming with a pleasant neighbourly informality. The menu, featuring wraps and pide pizzas, is dominated by two dozen mainly vegetarian mezze, ranging from flavoursome dolma, salads and a selection of dips to fragrant couscous dishes and meaty options such as nicely spiced lamb kofte — all served with complimentary bread and minted water. Traditional beverages such as Turkish coffee and Moroccan tea are perfect with a piece of the several baklavas on offer.
Edinburgh BERITS & BROWN CAFES 26-27 Haddington Place, Leith Walk, EH7 4AF, beritsandbrown.com, £11 (lunch) / £13 (dinner) Set in a former kitchen showroom in a rather grand raised position overlooking Leith Walk, this new café-deli-wine shop and evening bistro has considerable presence. An independently operated franchise of an outfit that has its origins in Kippen, there’s plenty here for lovers of the finer things of the table to lust