The best places to eat in Glasgow’s Southside

The G41 Bar serves premium cocktail and burgers in the heart of Shawlands. The team painstakingly sources and creates every item that sits on the drinks menu; every spirit, every beer, every glass – all of which gets picked with dedication and pride. As for the food, this is as fresh as it gets! All the produce is delivered fresh every morning, with the chefs creating balanced and popping flavours.

It is impossible to discuss Southside dining without mentioning the Battlefield Rest. It is also impossible to walk past the Rest without noticing it. Housed inside a stunning Edwardian tram station, the Battlefield Rest has been a Glasgow landmark and local favourite since Marco Giannasi transformed it into an Italian restaurant over 25 years ago. The menu is filled with all the Italian favourites, as well as a number of dishes that incorporate fine Scottish ingredients into Italian cuisine. There’s the Cannelloni Haggis for example, or the Lingune Scozzesi with Arbroath Smokies and mussels in a garlic cream sauce. Pair your meal with one of the 22 wines offered by the glass and you have a delicious, classic Southside night out.

A little bit further out of town, this restaurant brings some excitement to the Clarkston/Muirend area. In the mornings it’s a bustling local café with poached eggs and pancakes galore, but later in the day the menu switches over to an expertly crafted selection of small plates. The concept of Scottish food served tapas-style means that you don’t need to choose between such dishes as fried halloumi with pomegranate, caramelised onion and lettuce, or duck breast with red cabbage, turnip fondant and redcurrant sauce. The jewel in the crown however are the varied and exquisite seafood dishes. Be warned: once the seared scallops or tempura prawns arrive, you’ll instantly want to order more.

Luciano’s is a contemporary 50-cover restaurant offering authentic flavours of Italy with a modern twist, delivered in a stylish and sophisticated setting. All dishes are freshly prepared using the highest quality sourced produce, served alongside a specially crafted drinks and wine menu. The restaurant is open seven days a week with a lunch and dinner service offering a market and full a la carte menu. Al fresco dining is available too in the enclosed terrace area, which is a must on warmer days.

Just around the corner from Queen’s Park, in the heart of the always-popular Strathbungo neighbourhood, sits one of Glasgow’s finest spots for authentic Caribbean food: The Rum Shack. The menu is filled with delicious slow-cooked jerk dishes from pork belly to okra and sweet potato. Make sure to leave room for dessert though; this place offers a twist on the Scottish favourite with the Caribbean Cranachan made from roasted oats, fresh mango, mango puree and coconut ice cream. As for the drinks, The Rum Shack lives up to its name with a list of almost a hundred rums, while the original cocktails are simple yet sophisticated. Take for example the Matter of Fact: dark rum, pomegranate syrup and Brazilian bitters. Perfection.

Two minutes along the road from The Rum Shack is another Southside favourite, the family-run Ranjit’s Kitchen. Committed to bringing genuine Punjabi food to Glasgow, matriarch Ranjit’s menu is comprised entirely of vegetarian meals made from fresh ingredients. The food is great value and you’ll only need a couple of dishes from the selection of daals, samosas and paneer to leave thoroughly satisfied. This small spot does not take bookings so plan accordingly and be prepared to for a potential queue. But if the scores of happy customers over the last few years are anything to go by, Ranjit’s is worth the wait.