Every week The Herald's restaurant reviewer samples some of the best - or possibly worst - eateries in the country.

You can read his review in print and online every Saturday - or two days early if you sign up to our newsletter.

Here are 10 of his most recent reviews, from best to worst.


Haylynn Canteen, 996 Dumbarton Road, Glasgow

Website

"They’re hot, buttery, puffy and while I enjoy probably a piece or two more than is strictly necessary for research purposes I’ve got the message. Haylynn canteen: Good stuff."

  • Menu: Interesting and not very canteeny: chorizo, corn potato hash and manchego; chicken schnitzel - stuff you may want to try. 5/5

  • Service: Faultless: chatty, relaxed and welcoming. 5/5

  • Atmosphere: They’ve gone for an actual old school actual canteen vibe, and put the pizzaz into the cooking. 4/5

  • Price: Boiled egg and soldiers is £4, the Merguez £13, while the schnitzel and girolles topped the price list at £15. 3/5

  • Food: Cooking to a very high standard; food carefully prepared and freshly presented: the schnitzel was a pleasure to eat. 8/10

  • Total: 25/30


READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE


Sole Club, 1132 Argyle Street, Glasgow

Website

"As in all the children of Six By Nico restaurants I’ve been to over the years, and I can tire of their constant reinvention, the commitment to highly professional presentation does not mean they forget the stuff’s still gotta taste good."

  • Menu: It’s a fishy theme: oysters 'n’ hot sauce; proper Thai fish cakes, risotto, blackened Coley. Interesting. 4/5

  • Atmosphere: Money’s been spent and it shows with leathery booths, spotlighted art and a seductive, clubby atmosphere. 4/5

  • Service: There were a few awkward moments at the start then…clickety-click, the food started coming and it gelled perfectly. 4/5

  • Price: At £25 a head for four intriguing courses, a total bargain, And they did not charge for the un-chilled water. Bonus point. 5/5

  • Food: They can make something as ordinary as a fishcake seem special, fresh oysters, even some quality Coley. 8/10

  • Total: 25/30


READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE


La Bodega, 98 Bellgrove Street, Glasgow

Website

La Bodega, GlasgowLa Bodega, Glasgow (Image: free)

"This may be my most surprising food of the year. It looks like a sandwich made of French toast, but it’s not French Toast because it’s er not toast at all. And it has the imprint of mashed, flattened, crisped and toasted plantain imprinted upon it. Actually, not toasted. Fried twice."

  • Menu: Empanadas, canoas, capachas and the Papelon: Venezuelan street food in a Dennistoun cafe. High fives all round. 5/5

  • Service: Relaxed, friendly counter service in what North Americans would call a Mom and Pop cafe. 4/5

  • Atmosphere: It’s a warm homespun place with only a hint of its culinary roots, comfortable enough 3/5

  • Price: Empanadas from £2.70 up to £2.95, Patacon £5.95, that Reina Pepiada just £4. Big bargain territory. 5/5

  • Food: That Patecon was the surprise sandwich of the year. The empanadas and arepas pan-fresh with all the benefits that brings. 8/10

  • Total: 25/30


READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE


Brett, 321 Great Western Road, Glasgow

Website

"Magnificent slabs of steak forked on the gas-charcoal grill, smoke rising, flames crackling, plates being plated, juicy aromas going barrelling by, oui-chefs pinging to and fro, it’s an eat-o-rama-plus. This is the kitchen of The Bear come to life surely, I think."

  • Menu: Chicken wings and surf clams in Scotch Bonnet Sauce, Beetroot and Blackberry, Duck and Broad Beans; interesting stuff. 4/5

  • Service: I sat at the counter facing the open kitchen and enjoyed the very professional cheffy show, nice, hard-working guys too 5/5

  • Atmosphere: This is their secret sauce; great buzz from that kitchen, low ceilinged intimate feel, with a view onto Great Western Road. Liked it. 5/5

  • Price: I ordered no sides, a mistake which does make the meal seem pretty light. Not cheap but high quality. Starters £12 to £17, mains £23 to £38, two course set: £28. 3/5

  • Food: This meal was enhanced by the atmosphere and vibe. The chicken wings and surf clams were a stand-out and the simple duck and beans almost perfect. 8/10

  • Total: 25/30


READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE


Salandini’s, 49 Hyndland Street, Glasgow

"This is fantastic; hot, silkier than a George Best chat up line, flavour clinging to every light strand. Fresh pasta is all about mouth feel, and with the hunks of glistening, seared Italian sausage, this is mouth-feel-o-rama."

  • Menu: Handmaking pasta joint with pappardelles, raviolis and mezzalunes. Next door to Nowita’s handmade ice creams too. 4/5

  • Service: They’re mainly about the takeaway pasta but if you sit in they’re pleasant and helpful, if very busy. 4/5

  • Atmosphere: Good, if you like the vibe from a bustling pastificio and don’t mind sitting at a pavement table and the sun is shining. 4/5

  • Price: Their most expensive pasta is £4.50, the sauces only run to £6 max. Great value. 5/5

  • Food: If you pick the right sauce with the right pasta, as I did half the time, this is lovely stuff with that magical mouth-feel. 8/10

  • Total: 25/30


READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE


Dennistoun Bar-b-que, 585 Duke Street, Glasgow

Website

"The Dennistoun still does one thing few other places can do in Scotland, but everyone can do on the continent: make good chips.  Fried, maybe twice, probably from frozen but so what, hot, salty golden, thin and sprawling across that greaseproof covered tray."

  • Menu: half racks of ribs, BBQ brisket sides, burgers, fries but not from the back of a freezer food van 4/5

  • Atmosphere: It’s definitely got atmosphere. On a languid Sunday afternoon, it’s a bit black and low rent and weary feeling but that’s deliberate isn’t it? 3/5

  • Service: Like the atmosphere, it’s hard to tell if it’s part of the package. Sometimes too cool for skool, but hands off and they’re going to be annoying anyone with over-friendly chat. 3/5

  • Price: Racks of ribs a tenner, tubs of brisket a fiver, burgers hitting £10 too. I think for hand-knitted  stuff that’s pretty good. 5/5

  • Food: They do great brisket, excellent own-smoked ribs and even their fries are way better than average. Burger needs a grown up bun but overall: 8/10

  • Total: 23/30


READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE


The Olive Tree, Savoy Centre, 140 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow

"The food? Yep. It’s good. The fried rice when it arrives still steaming and slightly smoky from the wok is light, moist and chunked with chicken, little salt bursts coming from micro (almost invisible) pieces of fish that turn out to be not nearly as scary as they seem on the menu."

  • Menu: They’ve got two. Ask for the secret Chinese food one. Good range of interesting and slightly different dishes including chicken and salt fish fried rice, woozy dumplings and fritters. 4/5

  • Service: Remember it’s a cash-only operation and you won’t have any problem. The waitresses, pleasant and helpful. 4/5

  • Atmosphere: Come on, it’s The Savoy Centre at lunchtime. No glam, no glitter, but you come to this secret little spot for the food. 3/5

  • Price: Dishes come in big, fat platters for two and are around £11 each. Fritters £2. Dumplings £9. Good 4/5

  • Food: Fabulous chicken fried rice, and those crisped on one side pot-sticker dumplings have a wow-factor. 8/10

  • Total: 23/30


READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE


La Masa, 26a Renfield Street, Glasgow

Website

La Masa, GlasgowLa Masa, Glasgow (Image: Colin Mearns)

"Double helping of Birria Tacos then, that beefy, stewy filling, cheeses melded on top of that, and is the taco itself actually fried (no mention of whether in the fat of the stew as it should be)? There are some jangling tanging salsa sensations to clean it all up. We like."

Menu: Tacos, tostadas, blue corn quesadillas and Elote corn; the taco revolution marches on. 3/5

Service: Staff very good, fast, friendly, relaxed and helpful. 5/5

Price: Maybe their secret weapon? Quesadillas £3.50, fish tacos £4, mushroom taco £3.50. Pay more for barbacoa. 5/5

Atmosphere: It’s downtown Glasgow not downtown Mexico City but they pull-off a good, light buzzy vibe. 4/5

Food: Presses the right buttons, varied salsas, reasonably interesting fillings. Only the Birria Tacos stood out. 6/10

Total: 23/30


READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE


Rumi, 96 Hope Street, Glasgow

Website

"Deep fried mozzarella; Halloumi fries; Arancini; Spaghetties, Chicken Milanese, Fish ’n’ bloody chips. It would be a rank exaggeration to say a map and compass was needed to find the Turkish dishes but they’re not exactly front and centre."

  • Menu: It’s a Turkish restaurant with Boreks, Sucek Lahmacuns, plus grill skewers and meats plus other Mediterranean dishes. 3/5

  • Service: It has the feel of proper professional staff who don’t overdo the flim-flam but know what they’re about. 4/5

  • Price: Mains can hit £18 and up, starters (hot and cold) hover around, mainly, under the £6 mark. 4/5

  • Atmosphere: On a warm evening was cool, relaxed and comfortable. Shut one eye and maybe it could actually be near the Med. 4/5

  • Food: Not breaking any new ground but they can handle a grill and those starters were all professionally prepared. 7/10

  • Total: 22/30


READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE


Piggs Bruntsfield, 117 Bruntsfield Place, Edinburgh

Website

"Let’s be clear here, there’s nothing wrong with the food, it just isn’t that different. Or that interesting."

  • Menu: It’s tapas as we all already know it but Piggs is an Edinburgh hit and serves pinchos, manchego bombas and plenty of other favourites. 3/5

  • Price: They recommend three tapas: ranging from £4.75 for the pan con tomatoe, to £8.75 for Pollo Al Ajillo up to £14 for Pulpo. Egg and chips £7.50. 3/5

  • Service: In my view, the real reason this place is a winner. Excellent smiley, friendly and professional staff. 5/5

  • Atmosphere: Yeah, it’s kind of cool, high tables, bar stools, and that priceless buzz from people who want to be here. 5/5

  • Food: Given the reputation, it's pretty standard tapas fare, competently prepared, the Huevos Rotos Jamon a let down though. 6/10

  • Total: 22/30


READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE