Late night nosh
Unis are back in session, the clubs are hotting up and
live music and theatre now abound. So some of us
might benefit from sustenance as the wee sma’ hours of the night approach. Barry Shelby offers up a clutch
of late-opening eateries (not bleeding kebab shops
either) to consider.
Glasgow
Ashoka Ashton Lane INDIAN
19 Ashton Lane. West End 01413371115
Food Served: Mon—Thu noon-midnight; Fri Sat noon—12.30arii: Sun Spiri-iiiidnight. One thing about the Ashoka Ashton Lane: it's almost always busy thanks to a location on the West End's liveliest lane. The bu// from a steady stream of customers creates an upbeat. cosmopolitan atmosphere (though it can become hectici. The 'tava tikki' - deep fried potato and spinach cakes — are top picks among starters. House specialities and old favourites tend towards the familiar.
Baby Grand
BISTRO
3-‘7' EIll‘IXlllk Gardens. City Centre 0141 2/18 «1912
Food Served: Sun-Thu < 8am- midnight; Fri Sat 10am -2am
The original Baby Grand sits in a concrete nook near the entrance to the Charing Crt ss train station. A constellation of fairy lights adorns the ceiling. while some sepia photographs give a sense of nostalgia — as does the eponyriious baby grand piano. The printed menu of bistro brasserie stapies is always supplemented WlIIl
specials scrawled on the blackboard above the open kitchen.
Gonq
BRASSERIE
17 Vllll(l()ll‘I)(} Street. West End 0141 5/6 1'/'()()
Food Served: Sun- lhu fir-1 1pm; Fri Sat bpiri-Qari‘
This suave restaurant lures punters Willi its strong sense of style and agreeable. if occasionally formulaic. menu. Staff dress >d in black mix Cosmopolitan cocktails at bars on either end of the restaurant while a (:oiiiplex web of bamboo is used to
EAT&DR|NK
separate the large dining area into large booths. The menu combines favourites such as si/xling fajitas with more elaborate mains such as venison or salmon. while tea served in sguare yet cylindrical cups provides an Alice in Wonderland effect.
Peking Court
CHINESE
«1/11 Sauchiehall Street. City Centre ()1«11 33213999
l-ood Served: lvton Sun noon-9.30pm; opn‘. 2.30am
A sparklineg clean and brightly-lit bar at the entrance gives way to a grand dining room at Peking Court. where late night revellers rub shoulders with exrles from the nearby casinos. Non smokers and peoplei.i.«atchers should reguest seats on the small balcony above the main dining room. Seafood chilli soup is a persi)iration—inrlucing concoction. while aromatic duck comes in a generous portion with moist. rich. dark meat and crisp fatty skin.
Edinburgh
Mamma's American Pizza Company
AMERICAN
3t) Crassmarket. Old town
()131 2??) (3.16.1
food served: Sun lhunoon~11pii‘.: in Sat noon—n‘idnigiit
As the first Cr; ssniar‘ket venue to steer away the liens and stags that congregate in the district. owner. manager and cnief I)()itl(?-‘.‘.’£1f3ll(}t' Paul Duncan has managed to create a very pleasant restaurant in the centre of publand. The pi//as excel. Served at 9. 12. 1“. or a mighty 16 inches. the bases strike a balance betw >en deep pan and thin, crispy [)I//£l with a choice of spicy or milder sauce and a truly vast selection of toppings.
Sombrero
MEXICAN
28 Clerk Street. Southside
()131 .166 4.12:5
l'ood ES(}l\.'(}(II Mon —lliu 5) 11pm:
Fri Sati>pii‘-—1aiir.
The wickerheayy and appropriately hat festooned interiors of Sombrero offer a pleasant enough setting for a
neighbourhood haunt. lhe walls in the tiny basement area are covered in photographs of happycustomers tucking in riierrily. and with generally good cause. Strips of char grilled sirloin -- blackened and tender - are marinated in teguila and stacked in crispy tostado towers. The duck faiitas WIIIT spring onion are something ll‘()l'() special.
Favorit
CAFE
19-90 Teviot Place. Old Town
()131 220 (3880
Food served: Mon—Sun 8£tll‘-Q.3()£llli Derived from the Swedish word for
favourite. this deli bar hangout late night diner ianotlier branch trades in Leven Street on the Southsidei has been part of Edinburgh's night owl scene since 1998. It does a good JOI) of diverting post-pubbers from the allure of deep-fried anything to CM“ out
with a panini and a pint. livery item is made to order so there's no huffing
and puffing ior ‘l'll jtlSI check with the chef'i if you want to modify your meal.
Verandah Tandoori
INDIAN
1 i' Dalry Road. West F-nd
()131 313 38:33
Food served: Mon—Sun noon 1). lfupn‘. opiii midnight
Once ahead of its peers in both its approach to modern lndian cuisine and cool. minimalist decor. the
Verandah Tandoori has generally stood the test of time. A king prawn butte'fly
starter. plump and buttery. is exceptional. With over 1()() IIC'H‘S to choose from. covering a vast range of lndian cooking. indecisiye diners ii‘ay vant to try the mixed thalis a collection of small portions that includes cr'eaiiiy chicken tikka. léllt‘I‘, iogan iosh. rice and a chapalti.
t‘t'. No. .' L v THE LIST 101