review PINTO MEXICAN KITCHEN, QUEEN ST.  GLASGOW
http://www.pintomexican.com/


Take a large appetite with you on a visit to Pinto.  We had burritos, beef for me and barnacoa (shredded beef) for A.  Wee A had the kid's nachos at a reasonable £1.99  Filled with your meat of choice, rice, beans, salad and sauce, the burritos were bursting at the seams. At £5.95 I thought this was good value.  I chose the hottest sauce which was an unappetising green colour but which tasted amazing and was hot enough to get me even hotter under the collar!  The steak unfortunately I found to be a bit chewy but A's baracoa was very tasty and had a nice spice to it in itself without the aid of a sauce.  Wee A enjoyed his nachos and wants to return as soon as possible.  The place has a slight feel of a MacDonald's fast food type place, which Pinto is.   It differs from MacDs in that it is licensed so mum and dad can have a wine, beer or margharita (from a slushy dispenser!) while the wean enjoys his coke. Don't expect to go here for a romantic meal but for a quick satisfying spice kick on a shopping day, this is just the ticket.

Bright and funky interior

nachos and chicken kids meal

Burrito with shredded beef

review ETAP HOTEL, GLASGOW

ETAP HOTEL, SPRINGFIELD QUAY, GLASGOW
http://www.etaphotel.com/gb/hotel-3503-etap-hotel-glasgow/index.shtml

Having a night out on the toon?  Fed up queueing with the drunks and bams at Central station taxi rank afterwards then paying more for the fare than you paid for the meal, the club and the drinks put together?   For £18 for a room sleeping 3, The Etap is unbeatable value.

Rooms are spotlessly clean and have TVs with freeview,  Breakfast is not included, but for £3.50 you can have an all-you can eat continental buffet of croissants, cheeses, baguettes, cereals, yoghurts etc. in a nice dining area with windows looking over the Clyde skyline.

One negative, we saw quite a few 'dodgy' looking people hanging outside.  I'm thinking that at that price, some people 'hire' the rooms for parties or other business!  Saying that though, we slept very well with no noise disturbance whatsoever.

review MALAGA TAPAS, GLASGOW

MALAGA TAPAS, ST. ANDREW'S ROAD, GLASGOW
http://www.malagatapas.co.uk/


Situated on St. Andrew’s Rd in the southside, Malaga Tapas is not exactly in a prime position for the ‘toon’ crowd, but a five minute taxi effort is so worth it.  Arriving on a dreich Saturday night, entering the restaurant was like being transported to sunny, Iberian climes.  The Gypsy Kings played at a nice volume and the waiting staff are all Spanish, which immediately lends an authentic feel to the place.  We had booked through 5pm – £10.95 for 3 tapas, a dessert and coffee. 

On arrival we were presented with a little ‘freebie’ course of bread with pepper mousse.  The tapas selection was varied.  We went with the gambas pil-pil,  chicken in creamy tarragon sauce,  patatas bravas,  mushrooms in garlic,  hilos or beef strips in a chili sauce and meatballs in a spicy sauce.  All dishes were fantastic.  The nicest we’ve had outside Spain and definitely put chains like Andalucia and La Tasca in the shade. Standout dish was the prawns which were so juicy and beautifully spicy that they felt like they burst in my mouth.   This was rounded off by a fantastic crema catalana, blow torched for us at the table.    We have now found our new favourite tapas place in Glasgow.