shona

Step back in time

This 70-year-old Glasgow institution is fitted out with Art Deco fixtures modelled on the original Queen Mary ocean liner which was built in the Glasgow docks on the river Clyde. This is a wonderful place to eat and drink and you'll find the bartenders add to the atmosphere of twenties decadence, with perfectly mixed cocktail classics. The restaurant is particularly renowned for delicious oysters and fish dishes and its clientèle are mainly 40-50 something divorcees, business-people and people who lunch, who are all impeccably dressed.

If you want this sort of class, however, then you have to pay for it. It has the reputation of being one of the best but also one of the most expensive restaurants in Glasgow. If you're not looking to splash out so much on a meal, however, it's worth popping in during the day for a cappuccino which is served in a large cup with a piece of tablet and at a more reasonable price and in much more luxurious surroundings than the Starbuck's next door!

There is also a terrace bar outside which is popular with smokers and non-smokers alike and a good place to be seen right on the edge of the Merchant City.

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This is good solid cooking at a decent price in a friendly atmosphere right in the Merchant City across from Merchant Square. You'll be served locally sourced food and local artists' work adorn the walls.

It is the ideal place to go to sample the local cuisine with haggis, neeps and tatties on the menu, in addition to cullen skink and Stornoway black pudding as well as many other traditional Scottish delights. They have also added a bar area in the attic where you can go for a drink before or after your meal if you fancy which has a relaxing atmosphere. The furniture is also quite unique and made by local craftsmen which you can also purchase for your own home if you so wish.

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Pancho Villa's is a fairly decent Mexican chain pub and is the best-known Mexican cantina in the city. It's very colourful and has a lively atmosphere and is a popular place to go for work nights out. The decor and clientele are lively and loud, creating a friendly and vibrant mood both on the ground floor and down in the basement. Right in the heart of the Merchant City, it is part of a new old-style indoor market, which itself adds a bit of fiesta atmosphere.

All the favourites are present in the menu such as fajitas and burritos and the chillis for starters are recommended. Like most Mexican restaurants, you can also treat yourself to a jug of cocktail during the meal. The staff normally cope fairly well with the large groups that normally visit the restaurant and the food is of decent enough quality with reasonable-sized portions for this type of restaurant. There are also good deals on at lunchtime.

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Metropolitan is located in Merchant Square and is a pretty swanky cocktail bar as well as restaurant.

Sitting out in the courtyard in Merchant Square you can imagine you are a million miles away and the best part is that it will never rain on you. It's the sort of place where there is always a good atmosphere at the weekend without it being too crowded.

The restaurant has a resident pianist who plays at the weekends and there is a Champagne Bar which offers a la carte dining or canapés. It also features on the 5pm website so if you don't mind going a wee bit earlier you should be able to catch a good deal.

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Follow the cooking customs of 13th century warriors

If you're looking for something a bit different then this is the place to go. The idea is to choose your food from a selection of meats as outlandish as zebra, crocodile and wild boar, add some veg, rice or noodles in addition to herbs, spices and sauces and then to watch while the chefs barbecue your creation for you. There are boards which give recommendations for the quantities you need to add for sauces and example dishes which is recommended for your meal to taste half decent.

This is apparently recreating ancient Mongolian tradition where they cooked their meals on their shields. It's a fun place to go and is recommended for groups as you have to wait about so if you're with a larger party then you'll get all the chance you need to socialise without having to rush through your meal.

The decoration stands out as well as they have a recreation of the Great Wall of China as well as a full wall painted with Mongolian warriors charging towards you in addition to Mongolian artefacts. The Mongolian feast isn't cheap but it'll definitely fill you up and they also have a pre-theatre menu every night of the week which is very reasonable.

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