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The biggest mark up in restaurants is on wine. 80, head for restaurants where you can bring your own bottle, particularly those with a reasonable corkage charge. Given that the house wines in most restaurants cost under a fiver in a wine shop, do yourself a favour and take along a 937—928 bottle: you’ll end up paying less and drinking (and eating) better.
The Bay Tree Café
403 Great Western Road . Glasgow. 0141 334 5898
This is a cafe where you need to order at the counter and then grab one of the basic wooden tables. The Bay Tree Café‘s food is very fresh and has a predominantly Middle Eastern/ Mediterranean tinge. Standards on the menu include dishes such as falafel. humus. beautiful Arabian vegetable bakes and kebabs as well as a tasty baklava pastry for dessert.
Roastlt Bubbly Jocks
450 Dumbarton Road. Glasgow. 0141 339 3355
This relaxed. retro-themed restaurant (its name is Scots for roast turkey) was one of a clutch of new ventures in 200-1 that made quite a mark in Glasgow's West End. appearing on a few people‘s lists for top spots of year. The menu typically offers wholesome comfort food that deploys local or Scottish produce: dishes such as braised shank of lamb or couscous—stuffed peppers.
The Salsa Hut
3a Albert Street loft Leith Walk). Edinburgh. 0131 554 4344 Protected by day by shutters decorated with bold graffiti-style spray painting. by night the Salsa Hut has an altogether softer and more bohemian look. with quirky postcards on the walls. fairy lights and mismatched tables and chairs. The range of dishes is fairly limited and dominated by familiar favourites such as flamed fajitas and enchiladas. but everything is made to order from good quality. fresh ingredients.
Beanscene
5 DeCOurcy's Arcade. Glasgow. 0141 334 6776
This Scottish-owned chain aims to provide an alternative to the more 'identikit' coffee bars. with
frequent live music and a generally
laid back atmosphere. Kids can amuse themselves with toys. while Glasgow's West End branch is a popular choice with the student
The Salsa Hut
crowd. offering a more appealing alternative to the library during the day. The latest branch is in Woodland Road. while others on the Southside include Shawlands (Skirving Street) and Battlefield (Battlefield Road).
Original Khushi's
26—30 Potterow. Edinburgh.
0131 667 0888
While Khushi's relatively new location in the heart of the university quarter is a prime spot fora budget diner. the quality of the food here draws a much wider range of fans than just students. Their proven formula of no— nonsense. well—made. additive-free biryanis. tandooris and traditional marinated curries combines with personable service and rock bottom prices. Few main dishes are over £7 and because they don‘t serve alcohol. there‘s no corkage
charge if you BYOB.
The Wee Curry Shop
7 Buccleuch Street. Glasgow.
0141 353 0777
The tiny dining room at the original Wee Curry Shop is a relaxed and homely place to dine. Aromas from the open-plan kitchen. where the busy chef is a picture ofcalm. fill the space. Our favourite dishes include succulent aubergine fritters served with a punchy. citrus sweet chilli dip and the chilli garlic chicken: so often bland in bigger establishments. here it has a mouth-watering. fiery temperament. The BYOB corkage
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Trendy Wendy
DJ
The Basement, Broughton Street, Edinburgh
It's one of my old haunts. They do really good quality food — the Mexican nights they put on are great. It's proper food at pub prices.
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is nominal but if you forget your carry out. there are pints of Kingfisher lager available. There is a second branch at 2‘) Ashton Lane (0l4l 357 5280) with a slightly more restrictive BYOB policy.
A Room in the West End 26 William Street. Edinburgh. 01312261036
The acceptable face of modern themed Scottish dining. both the Room in the West lind and the Room in the Town (the latter is closed for a lick of paint until late January) offer a convivial. upbeat place to eat out on a budget. The highly inventive menu. majoring on traditional local ingredients with fusion influences. comes in at around the £19 mark for two courses. but you'll save if you
BYOB.
Thaisanuk
21 Argyle Place. Edinburgh.
0131 221 1231
Corkage at £2 isn‘t the only good excuse you'll need to pay a visit to Marchmont's Thaisanuk. It's not an enormous restaurant but the atmosphere is intimate and clubby rather than cramped. and the chatty little menu bursts with options. Steaming bowls of noodle broth are inspired by different South East Asian countries and the simplest of dishes. such as chicken cashew nut. burst with flavour and quality. A second branch at 27 Jock‘s Lodge (0| 3] 66] 0202) has just recently opened.
2’. Jaw—'1 Eet. 2335 THE LIST 23