IN ASSOCIATION WITH
STUDENT GUIDE | EAT & DRINK Smile Cafe
GLASGOW
Saramago
I n the West End, Glasgow’s student heartland, it seems you can hardly move for hip cafés, restaurants and bars, covering the Far East to the good old American burger and almost everything in between. Taco Mazama Mexican Kitchen serves up hearty burritos and tacos with a variety of i llings for low prices, while for a tasty lunchtime sandwich you can’t go wrong with a banh mi (Vietnamese take on the baguette) from the Hanoi Bike Shop. In the cluster of good eateries along Great Western Road, BRGR stands out among Glasgow’s omnipresent burger joints, and you’ll also i nd a branch of the popular sandwich shop Piece. Over on Queen Margaret Drive, Smile Café is a very lovely spot serving Italian delicacies, now with a second branch in town.
South of Kelvingrove Park there’s a bunch of excellent high-end dining options in l ashy Finnieston that might be best for when your parents are footing the bill, but there are still some affordable options to be found too. Within the stark interior of Dumbarton Road’s Banana Leaf is a talented kitchen serving up l avour-packed South Indian dishes. Meanwhile, across in Kelvingrove Park itself, An Clachan is a go-to spot for a warming burrito or cooling ice cream, depending on the weather. And for something completely different, head for Restauracja U Jarka for terrii c Polish stews, dumplings and pancakes without a hefty price tag. Glasgow’s city centre is bursting with chain restaurants and burger bars,
but there are more than a few gems worth seeking out. The Vic Café Bar is a great-value spot inside the Art School, serving student-union fare of burgers and pizzas as well as jerk chicken and Chinese savoury buns. Babu Bombay Street Kitchen serves up Indian street food in pleasingly ramshackle surroundings, while Riverhill Coffee Bar is playing its part in Glasgow’s artisan coffee revolution, complete with some of the best cakes in town. Martha’s serves up healthy, tasty fast food, while the multiple branches of Cook & Indi’s World Buffet offer unrestrained all- you-can-eat dining at prices you’ll barely notice. Special mention should be made of Glasgow’s superior vegan offerings, which has seen the city awarded PETA’s recognition of most vegan- friendly city in the UK. Mono, Stereo and The 78 serve up animal- free delights that leave the mung-bean-and-lentil image of veganism far behind, while Saramago, the CCA’s cafe-bar, boasts an innovative all- vegan menu that keeps everyone happy.
3 Sep–5 Nov 2015 THE LIST 103