Ollie's

A cosy little Southside bistro among grand tenements, with accessible menus spanning all mealtimes

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

Ollie’s lies just a couple of minutes up from the stretch of Nithsdale Road that has really felt Strathbungo’s culinary upturn of late, and while many a venue has come and gone in the last five years, this one merrily ticks along by unashamedly embracing the ‘neighbourhood eatery’ ethos of what a brasserie can be. It’s a café by morning and a well-priced restaurant at night, with soups, sandwiches and their very popular pizzas connecting mealtimes in between. For dinner, think haddock and pea risotto, simple enough, with a pleasantly runny poached egg perched atop. Or braised beef with mashed potatoes that’s nicely turned out and comforting. They keep it simple and play to the local crowd, and thus options like fish and chips and the ‘Ollie’s Beef Burger’ are satisfying and safe bets. Some of the starters almost feel more like finger food (hummus and dip, broccoli and potato croquettes), but that’s fine, too — Ollie’s has the relaxed demeanour of a place where popping in for a nibble and a glass of wine is as natural as a full-scale meal.

Listed in the Glasgow Larder – order a print copy (free + p&p).