Battlefield Rest

Old tram station that blends the best in Italian cooking with Scottish ingredients and influence.

The 2019/20 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).

This Southside institution celebrates its 25th year in business this summer – and long may it continue to thrive. The location alone makes it a unique proposition. In a constantly evolving cityscape it remains a reminder of the not so recent past – where else can you dine in an old Glasgow tram shelter? Beloved of the local population, it’s a bustling, lively spot – booking is always advisable. The menu is vast, covering lunch, pre-theatre and à la carte options, with a focus on the long-standing relationship between Italy and Scotland, exemplified best by the linguine Scozezzi – a gorgeously creamy marriage of Shetland mussels, Arbroath smokies and pasta. There are myriad delights: the crostini goat’s cheese, with a salad of apple, celery and walnut, is exceptionally fresh; the calzone Battlefield is a meat-eater's dream; the humble rigatoni Piemonte is an old tomato-based favourite that sings. There’s an option to split a pizza and pasta dish for two – helpful for the switherers. For after, the ice-cream of choice is S. Luca’s delicious diary, with some whisky and tablet influenced treats alongside. Here's to another quarter century.