One of the busiest pubs in Broughton Street, Baroque is a veteran of the style-bar scene and its menu reflects a rather gung-ho approach to mixing international cuisines. The small selection of wraps and paninis are a good sideline to the numerous types of beer from around the world on offer, and there’s also a fine selection of pastas and salads alongside toothsome starters such as ginger and lime-glazed king prawn skewers and cullen skink. Much of the menu is given over to Tex-Mex: fajitas, chimichangas and nachos stuffed with beef or chicken.
The Bento Bar, 1 Lyndoch Street, Glasgow, 0141 332 7801
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Recently expanded into the upstairs space vacated by the Music Academy, the Bento Box is a relaxed bar and restaurant with large comfortable sofas and an open fire to keep out the chills. The bar menu concentrates on snacks and uncomplicated but enterprising lunch dishes such as Portuguese sardines, pizzas, omelettes, lasagne and sandwiches. The portions are huge and often come served with crunchy garlic bread and side salads. The menu puts an interesting spin on the Japanese theme, with cuisines from Japan, China, Scotland, Italy and Thailand served up in bento boxes — be it haggis and neeps or fish and chips.
Ecco Vino, 19 Cockburn Street, Edinburgh, 0131 225 1441
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Built like the set of a snazzy car commercial, where rugged-looking Italians gesticulate furiously over an espresso while somebody drives off with their new wheels, Ecco Vino is a triumph of clean lines, dark wood and neo-Italian decor with a just-like-mama-makes-it traditional Italian menu. Mains include a variety of risottos, fish dishes, and a baked polenta wedge with gorgonzola for the vegetarians. The home-made pasta with pesto sauce, potatoes and green beans is one of the best this side of the River Po.