The Italian Kitchen

fatfish

We ate at this restaurant for the first and last time yesterday. The service was okay but the staff were just not very happy. We were pleasantly surprised when we saw the pizzas arrive. They initially looked great. Unfortunately the taste let them down greatly. The toppings were scarce too. The chef had not seasoned the pizza base or sauce. The chicken that should have been marinated was flavourless. There was little chilli on the pizza and when we asked for some more we were given dried chilli. £5.95 for a glass of house wine and £12 for a bland pizza...what a waste of money. If flavour is not an issue for you then this place is okay. Glasgow surely has better to offer than this though.

Hazel86

I have been to both the Italian Kitchen and Caffe and was not disappointed in the least. I first went to the Italian Kitchen for my works Christmas night out, and after having a prawn starter, steak for mains and a chocolate pot for dessert, I knew I would be back. It is now one of my favourite restaurants in Glasgow with its modern interior, efficient staff and quality hearty Italian food and wine. I would not think twice recommending the Italian Kitchen in Glasgow.

sootykins

great food good service, owner very friendly.

Gino_73

If you think, this is italian you have never been in Italy. Overpriced and overcooked pasta...it cannot be italian! The owner and the stuff are rude.

lpmck

I wasnt fussy on this Italian at all. The decor was very old-fashioned, and the seating area was 'cosy'. The tables were quite close together. Just as well it wasn't busy (I found this odd actually, as it was dinner time on a Friday and nowhere else in the surrounding area was able to offer us a table). The food was ok I suppose - quite boring. The soup wasn't worth the money, and was very watery. The bread that came with it was so thin that it couldn't be buttered without being ripped to shreds! The main course (pasta carbonara) again was 'ok' - the sauce was almost as watery as the soup, and there was hardly any ham to be seen.
OK if everywhere else is fully booked, but wouldn't choose to go back regularly.

mespinheiro

The Italian Kitchen is good considering it is an Italian restaurant. I often feel as if I could make the food better and more cheaply than when I go to an Italian restaurant. I think this restaurant is an exception to that. I went here with friends after a few drinks out in Merchant city and was happy to find a restaurant that was not fully booked on a Friday night. The service was good and friendly. Food was above average and filling. Not the best restaurant in the world but worth it if you are a bit peckish. Try the pizzas but they are huge.

ONscotland

The Italian Kitchen, in Glasgow's Merchant City, is one of many Italian restaurants in the area, with more opening all the time.

It's a lovely restaurant - it's comfortable banquettes and subdued lighting create a lovely ambience.

All the traditional Italian staples are there. I had Minestrone Soup, which tasted homemade, in the very best way. It had really lovely chunky carrots and I would have been happy to have it again as my main course! However, for my main course I had Pollo Alla Griglia - chargrilled chicken, with fried potatoes and roasted tomatoes, with pesto. An overpowering amount of pesto as it turned out, so my main course was well presented, but dull.

My friend opted for Pea & Ham Soup for a starter, and that was more Pea (no ham to be found at all) and very watery. That was left more or less untouched, without comment from the waitress (more on that later). For main course he had Smoked Haddock Risotto topped with an egg, which he liked but again felt unable to finish.

The service was odd. One waitress was very friendly and helpful, although after making eye contact when we arrived they ignored us. Eventually, after walking almost to the back of the restaurant we were offered a table by helpful waitress, (after some discussion, after all, it was 9.30PM and although we could get food, there was no pizza. (!) The other waitress paid lip service to the concept of service, as I felt that we were mainly interrupting her.

So, looking for Italian food in Glasgow? Maybe try Qua next door - I wish we had. Although I've just discovered that Qua's website uses Comic Sans font, so maybe not. ;)