Ron’s reviews

THE WEE HURRIE

29 HARBOUR ROAD, TROON

01292 3193404

‘We queue on the pier at Troon, wind blowing, sun shining, three realisticlooking seals (clearly sponsored by the Ayrshire Tourist Board) watching us humans from the harbour.’

Menu: Prawns, hake, haddock, monkfish, scallops, sole, lobster. All still so fresh. A reminder of what seafood used to taste like. 5/5 Service: They’ve been a victim of their own success and now have an efficient hatch and buzzer system.

You won’t get much patter. 3/5 Atmosphere: Seriously, there were three seals swimming feet away in the harbour, fishing boats bobbing gently. Great setting. 3/5

Price: £6.60 to £7.60 for the fish, £9.40 for the scampi. A bargain for this quality. Lobster is £24.80. Chips are £2.60 extra. All worth it. 5/5 Food: For proper seafood this is still the place to go. That sole was outstanding, fab Scottish prawns in batter. Great haddock. 8/10

24/30

RICKSHAW AND CO, 9 PARTICK BRIDGE STREET, GLASGOW ‘Tandoori broccoli, all seared from the oven, smeared with charred and bubbled ginger garlic and turmeric paste is on the table pretty fast.

I’m seriously doubting whether it is actually “fresh garden broccoli” as the menu claims, but it’s hot and peppery yet light and very pleasant.’

Menu: Koliwadas. It’s Indian street food, the No 1 buzz in the restaurant scene. Slightly different. 4/5 Atmosphere: Almost vast, airy; spirited attempts to rickshaw theme it have been made. Pleasant. 3/5 Service: Pleasant, efficient, friendly and helpful. 5/5

Price: Vada Pau £4.50, Beetroot Chola Bhaturaa £5.50; Okra Fried £4.50. There are certainly tightly priced dishes here. 5/5

Food: It’s a lighter, small plate experience. Food is generally reasonably good, that Beetroot Bhatura sticking out. 6/10

23/30

TAXIDI, 6 BROUGHAM ST, EDINBURGH, 0131 228 1030

‘I can’t see a Greek flag, painting or stereotypical image anywhere. This already has all the warmth of a tiny family-run operation. One teetering on the edge of Edinburgh’s tourist belt, with the Meadows sprawling somewhere back there behind us.’ Menu: Yaourtlou, Flogeres, Saganaki Ladotori. It’s Greek comfort food: pittas, kebabs. Interesting side dishes. 4/5 Atmosphere: Front door propped wide open, maybe 20 seats in total, clean crisp interior and warm hubbub inside – I liked it. 5/5

Service: Warm, friendly and very relaxed vibe that oozes that almost priceless, nowadays, family-run restaurant vibe. 5/5

Price: It is Edinburgh so they’re never going to be giving it away. That Yaourtlou was £14.50 but almost all you can eat. 3/5

Food: Flogeres could have done with more feta, but that was the only grumble in a succession of dishes. 7/10

24/30

THE LAST RODEO

721 POLLOKSHAWS ROAD GLASGOW, 0141 423 0847

“The beer battered unspecified-variety fish-of-the-day with chipotle cream, mango salsa and old bay spice are pretty tasty. Crisp, soft, sweet, earthy and are swiftly finished.”

Menu: Tacos, burritos, Mars Bar taquito, tater tots. Pretty run of the mill Tex-Mex stuff nowadays with a faint kitschy twist. 3/5

Atmosphere: This year’s theme?

Apart from that cowhide couch and the odd tune on the sound system it’s not over the top. 5/5

Service: They’ve nailed the neighbourhood diner and bar feel and the staff seemed relaxed, warm and actually enjoying their jobs. 5/5

Price: I thought this was a lot for what we ate, but then I did order a £13 burrito and two desserts and two £8 tacos plus drinks. 3/5

Food: If you’re looking for authentic nixtamalised masa harina, or what the fish of the day is, you’re wasting your time.

But, it tastes fine. 6/10

22/30

OTTOMAN COFFEE HOUSE, 73 BERKELEY STREET GLASGOW, 0141 588 5982

‘I know this much: I’m coming back. Probably tomorrow morning. For Turkish coffee and pastries ostensibly. For that walk from the weary old world out there into the warm secret one here. Kick back, cool down, check in, check out, man.’

Menu: Shawarma with rice, hand-made pitta, lamb ribs, Turkish salad, Turkish delight, bakes, cakes. Loads made inhouse. 4/5

Atmosphere: Fabulous, secret chamber feel. People playing chess, couches, throws, a vaulted ceiling. Hipster heaven without the hipsters. 5/5

Service: App for ordering but staff are always about, relaxed and helpful in case you have a poor phone signal or wanna go old school. 5/5

Price: That Turkish salad was £4.90, Turkish delight £2.10, ribs £7.90 and shawarma with all the sauces £6.70. Bargain 5/5

Food: Super-summery, juicy, and herby salad was a joy to eat, ribs were as they should be and that Egyptian mint tea was worth a pause. 7/10

26/30