Rab Ha's

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.

Named after the famous ‘Glasgow Glutton’, Robert Hall, who made a living from eating contests, this restaurant and bar (with four hotel rooms) is tucked down one of the Merchant City’s quieter streets. You enter through the cosy bar with a glowing open fire, and head downstairs to the more formal dining room. It is decorated thoughtfully with tartan wallpaper, lampshades adorned with stag’s antlers and eye-catching prints. There is some lovely seafood on offer, such as the starter of seared scallops with lemon and parsley, and the tomato Scottish seafood broth with haddock, salmon, mussels and scallops on the main course menu. Pork belly with cranberry sauce is less successful, with too much fat and not enough meat making it a rather unsatisfying dish. There are lots of pub grub favourites on the menu too, including steak pie, macaroni cheese and fish and chips. Basements aren't always the best dining spaces but the restaurant's attentive, friendly staff and the efficient service help imbue the place with a welcoming atmosphere.

• High point: The perfect sugar crust on the Scottish crème brûlée
• Low point: Having to walk past the toilets to get to the downstairs restaurant