Dino Ferrari

The 2013 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).

This review is taken from the current (2013) edition.

A stalwart of Glasgow’s Italian scene, Dino’s has been plugging away on Sauchiehall Street for over 50 years. Renowned for their pizza, which is available for takeaway, inside it is completely unreconstructed. Behind the modern façade and green and red neon sign lies a dining area with oak beams and a multitude of kitsch Italian pictures. The menu has been tried and tested – starters include breaded mushrooms with garlic mayonnaise and mains consist of such things as penne pasta with huge chunks of Italian sausage in a basil, mushrooms and tomato sauce. Pan-fried lamb chops, pink and juicy in the middle, come with crisp roast potatoes and a rich meaty gravy. The side salads are a let-down, limp and uninspiring and the mixed vegetables is not the most appetising. Puddings are bought in from the Crolla parent company and to finish the coffee is specially imported from Italy.

Takeaway review
Dino's is a long-established Italian restaurant with a handy takeaway kiosk offering pizza, pasta, hot and cold filled rolls and baked potatoes; something for every time of day and every appetite. Pasta portions are generous, and the house speciality, spaghetti marinara, is a real treat – al dente noodles loaded with squid, prawns, mussels and clams (served in shells), and a slightly piquant sauce. Essentially everything comes at restaurant standards. Carryout pizzas range from individual slices to 15-inch, with fresh, crispy bases and a well-seasoned tomato sauce complementing any topping. Pepperoni is chewy and salty, and vegetables are fresh. Staff will top pizzas and pastas with parmesan, black pepper or oregano, elevating this takeaway to something a bit more refined.

• High point: Old fashioned and full of character
• Low point: Side salads not the freshest