The grove, MILLerSNeUK ShoPPINg CeNTre, LeNzIe

LOCATION

It’s in a little local shopping centre, close by the railway station and is the latest offering from a group that runs various restaurants throughout East Dunbartonshire.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Really cosy with a touch of class, a mix of light wood panelling and a marble bar. There’s a big family group complete with a couple of high chairs and as we come in they are being serenaded by the waitresses with a song and a candle-bedecked cake.

SERVICE

Relaxed but efficient. No waiting for anything yet no feeling of being rushed. The girls also do a mean rendition of Happy Birthday!

MENU

It’s Italian-influenced with plenty pizza and pasta offerings, the former baked in the log-fired oven we can see in the open kitchen. There’s also a bakery, so there’s a wide selection of freshlybaked bruschettas.

TASTE

For mains we choose the chicken Parma which comes with veg and garlic potatoes, and the penne arrabiatta with chicken (king prawns were also an option). The chicken in the Parma is really moist, with a rich, full-bodied sauce. The penne is plentiful, with lots of flavour-packed chicken.

PRICE

Mid-range, with starters from £4 to £7, mains from £8 to £16 and desserts from around a fiver.

AMBIENCE

It’s early Saturday evening and the tables soon fill up, giving a really lively buzz.

SOMETHING SPECIAL

The deli sausage starter comes in a square, cast-iron pan straight from the oven and is bursting with rich, deep flavours. Something different!

TOILETS

Like the rest of the restaurant, they’re smart and clean.

VERDICT

Upmarket Lenzie has long been crying out for somewhere suitably stylish. It’s finally found it in The Grove. 17/20