Or is

Nintendo's War

new game worthy of Just pish? the hype? PAGE 103 PAGE 104

BAR SPECIAL

hcn Scotland's most food—centric (and oftcn

difficult to plcasc) rcstaurant critic hits thrcc

ncw (ilasgow hats in fairly rapid succcssion and gcncrally praiscs thc food scrycd at thc trio. it hclps to ccrtify what is indccd a wclcomc and continuing trend in thc city. Whilc thcrc arc still plenty of placcs whcrc thc hattcrcd fish goes from freezer to dccp-frycr. thc choicc of bar/bistros whcrc onc can find frcsh. madc to ordcr mcals is strongcr than cycr.

'l'hcy rangc across thc city. too: from Bar ()1 in thc Mcrchant (‘ity to Strayaigin cafc bar in thc Wcst lind -- two rathcr wcll cstablishcd joints whcrc thc cuisinc is much morc than an aftcrthought. ()thcrs who hayc consistcntly kcpt thcir standards tip arc Strata in thc city ccntrc and Bar (iandolfi

hack in thc Mcrchant (‘ity.

'l’hc ncwcr opcralions with

kitchcns to boast about

includc Hemingway's in Princcs Square. thc Left

Bank in (iihson Strcct. and A

Big Slopc at Kclyingroyc R and Sauchichall Strccts. E

And this list ccrtainly - docsn't includc all thosc

worthy of a mcntion.

A glancc at mcnus rcycals somc similat‘itics: at a hasc lcycl thcrc arc oftcn hand-madc hurgcrs. grccn salads. pasta dishcs. a hit of fish and a modest array of puddings. Morc clahoratc dishcs might includc somcthing such as Strata‘s fillct of sca bass on oliycs and sun-dricd tomato. crushcd ncw potatocs with a thyme and rcd pcppcr crcam saucc. ()f coursc. this isn‘t rcinycnting thc whch hut thcn most puntcrs arcn't sccking culinary fireworks anyway. What you want is dcccnt food at a similarly reasonable price and thcsc tend to dcliycr.

Glasgow goes qa ro

To kick off our seven-page round up of great bars in central Scotland, Barry Shelby spies a growing number of options for dining out while you drink, in Glasgow’s bar scene.

BAR FACTFILE Food accounts for 23% of pub turnover, double the share it held in the early

19905. The UK drinks market was worth some billion in 2005, equivalent to

around 7% of all retail consumer spending. Beer is the most popular alcoholic

drink in the UK, accounting for 48% of total spending on alcoholic drinks.

4.? Nt)‘; 1-1I)<2.*1’.\‘0THE LIST 93