Gandolfi

Now well into its third decade in a space that once hosted the city’s cheese market, this Merchant City spot is a firmly established favourite on the Glasgow culinary scene. Café Gandolfi is a funky little restaurant with a nice line in Scottish food (they do a decent Cullen Skink and the obligatory haggis, neeps and tatties) and distinctive stained glass windows and gorgeously tactile hand-carved tables (courtesy of Glasgow School of Art craftsman Tim Stead). Food in the Café tends towards the traditional and is heavy on meat and fish (though they do a great macaroni cheese) accompanied by a very nice wine list. We’d recommend washing down your dinner with one of the Sicilians from Palenta, supplied by producers with whom Gandolfi has a longstanding relationship. A more recent arrival on the scene, Bar Gandolfi is a chilled bar area in the loft space above which opened in 2002. It’s a cosy space which, like downstairs, boasts quirky wooden furniture and a chilled, relaxed atmosphere, with local art on the walls and regular live music spots. Ingredients are, where possible, locally sourced and the admirably extensive wine list features several decent options by the glass as well as a number of fine wines and champagnes. Their cocktail list is short but enticing their pear and cardamom sidecar puts a modern twist on an old favourite and a tasty array of bar snacks is also available. It’s a small space so can get a bit noisy on weekends. The operation now has a sister venue, Gandolfi Fish and Gandolfi Fish to Go, a sleeker (and some might say more sterile) space, but for our money you can’t beat the original.