Restaurant review: Saramago Café Bar, 350 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow

Many cuisines feature at Saramago Cafe Bar, including Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes.

Location

Tucked away inside the Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA), the eatery is ideally located right in the centre of town.

First impressions

Tables are set underneath twinkling fairy lights in the space between two buildings, giving a unique indoor-outdoor feel. Relaxed and laidback, the decor is kept simple.

Service

We visited on a busy Friday night, but our waiter was attentive, friendly and quick to make sure we had everything. Service with a smile.

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With a 100% plant-based kitchen, vegetarians and vegans are well catered for – and meat eaters certainly won’t be disappointed either. As well as small plates, sides and sandwiches, which are perfect for a light bite, there’s also pizzas, salads and larger main dishes for hungrier patrons. Fresh and seasonal ingredients mean the menu changes regularly, but you can always expect an array of different cuisines, including Mediterranean and Middle Eastern.

Taste

We started off with a few cocktails (why not!) and then went straight for mains. The tagliatelle with wild mushrooms and crushed walnuts was light and delicious, while the crispy chilli tofu salad – with carrot, spring onion, ginger and wild red rice – was nourishing, filling and utterly moreish. A side of veggie spring rolls were an extra treat. To finish, we couldn’t pass up the chance for an affogato; vanilla ice cream, topped with espresso and amaretto, served with shortbread.