The rise of great places to eat in Glasgow’s Southside

Southside is well-known for its history of community-based activism: it was here that the historic Rent Strikes of 1915 first started, and where, last year, Southsiders united together to help halt an immigration raid. It comes as no surprise, then, that the food scene in this sprawling, energetic neighbourhood (often dubbed the Manhattan of Glasgow) is both diverse and exciting. Hey, if it’s good enough for a former MasterChef contestant, it’s good enough for us!

For a real taste of La Dolce Vita, head to Battlefield Rest – located a short walk from the beautiful Queen’s Park. A true hidden gem (it’s the only restaurant in the vicinity), this authentic Italian-style trattoria offers up some of the best pasta in the city. Established in 1914 as a resting and courting place for Tram Travellers, owners Marco and Yellena Giannasi have since transformed it into a buzzing eatery. We admit, it teeters ever so slightly on the brink of kitsch (think: red and white chequered tablecloths, and pictures of random nonnas lining the walls), but look beyond this and you’ll discover something special. The ‘Pappardelle Verdure’, bursting with flavours (juicy olives, lightly sun-dried tomatoes, fragrant olive oil) will transport you to the med on even the most dreich Glasgow day; their homemade tiramisu is a soft, pillowy triumph. All in all, Battlefield Rest doesn’t try too hard (reflective, perhaps, of Southside as a whole) and it is this relaxed approach that makes the eatery stand out.

If modern cookery is more your style, former MasterChef contestant Julie Lin’s offering might just tickle your tastebuds. Julie’s Kopitiam (nestled beside independent shops and cafes on Pollokshaws Road) serves Malaysian street food that’s full of flavour and colour. Small, intimate, and homely, this tiny eatery manages to be chic but unpretentious. The menu is well thought-out (much like the bared-pack decor – hello potted plants!) with a few select dishes. Real highlights include the Lemon and Black Cardamon Dhal, and, for the meat-eaters, the Nyonya Chicken Thigh Malaysian Curry. It’s great value for money – most of the dishes hover around the £10 mark – and the service always comes with a smile. Finish your meal with the sticky mango rice (complete with peanuts and sesame) and thank us later!

Newcomer Bar Vini might not look like much from the front (the stretch of Victoria Street it sits on remains pretty grey), but we promise the inside reveals something very enticing. Flickering candles sit atop dark wooden tables, and low-level jazz hums throughout the restaurant. Despite the rather opulent surroundings, the food (Mediterranean-inspired) is well-priced. Sharing plates include burrata served with beetroots and walnuts, and king prawns sauteed with spring onion, garlic, chili, and white wine. There’s also plenty of funky wines on offer (the ‘Baglio Antico’ orange wine is particularly good, with powerful notes of ginger) and the cocktail menu is fresh and extensive.

So great is the selection of restaurants in Southside, it’s hard to narrow them down. Our honourable mentions include:

Ranjit’s Kitchen (serves traditional Punjabi Food)

Hooked (the best fish and chips south of the river)

Café Strange Brew (knock-out coffees and brunch)

Little Hoi An (a BYOB Vietnamese)