On first impression, it’s obvious that a huge amount of effort has been put into the design of Spuntini, from the marble bar, to the hand-carved ceiling decorations and medieval candle chandeliers.
We are sat beneath a cherry blossom tree to take it all in, and delivered a couple of cocktails that were so unique, there’s a good chance Heston Blumenthal had a hand in making them.
Spuntini offers Italian-inspired tapas as well as main dishes, but with so many tantalising options to choose from, we ventured down the tapas route. Each plate that arrived was beautifully presented, and the portions were very generous. The pork belly was crisp and succulent, while the king prawns arrived plump and juicy in a sprightly glaze of lemon and chilli. The arancini were as good as I’ve had in Rome and the Stornoway black pudding croquettes combined an Italian classic with a Scottish delicacy in the best kind of way.
The showstopper was the Pennette Spuntini, their signature pasta. Studded with nuggets of Italian sausage, wild mushrooms and pine nuts and finished with balsamic vinegar, it was a revelation, with the balsamic lending a welcome sweetness to the rich sausage.
Affogato was the perfect conclusion to a beautifully executed meal, with the rich Italian ice cream combining perfectly with strong espresso. We left Spuntini feeling satisfied and raring to return.
34 Gordon Street, Glasgow
Gary McIntyre
