Cafe Antipasti opened in Glasgow city centre in 1997 and its menu of modern Italian favourites has made it a busy little place ever since. An informal, friendly restaurant, Cafe Antipasti makes the most of its Sauchiehall Street location by drawing in visitors to the nearby theatres, music venues and Glasgow’s top selection of ever tempting shops. Although it is right in the middle of Glasgow, warm, curved wooden furniture and spiralling metalwork, designed by Scottish craftsman Paul Hodgkiss, give CafÈ Antipasti a comfortable almost rustic look.
The food in Glasgow’s Cafe Antipasti is as Italian as the green, white and red of its flag although it does admit the occasional outside influence such as the Italian style nachos. More representative is the extensive selection of pasta and pizza dishes. Think along the lines of their two meat lasagne or the stone baked fancy mushroom pizza. While Cafe Antipasti does run a selection of little plates, which are ideal for a light lunch or snack, many of the main courses aim to be heartily satisfying. The paprika roasted half chicken with fries or the garlic and herb chump of lamb served with grilled Mediterranean vegetables take some beating but leave room for the staff to talk you into a dessert. Finish off with an espresso and it’s easy to see why Glasgow’s Cafe Antipasti has so many regulars.