Anyone tried out the new Italian on Byres Rd - Sputini?

[glasjam]

Wondering if anyone had been in yet - looks different and the menu looks interesting. Don't know how family-friendly it looks though - has a completely different vibe to it than Paperinos further up the road. Maybe going for a different market?

i was there the other day, thought it was overpriced. we just had a plate of hams and salamis and it was all a bit flabby in quality. nice focaccia but a total rip-off at 2,85 for a bit the size of a side plate. coffee was good, desserts also good.

we didn't have the pasta as all the meals seemed to be for 2 to share... dh and i never want the same.

tables v cramped at the front but some booths at the back, there's really only one booth where it's easy to have a buggy.

me and dh have declared it a coffee and dessert only zone.

Thanks Aitch - yes I thought it looked a little cramped, canteen-style when I looked through the window. Must admit I winced a little when I read the menu and saw "pasta to share" - doesn't sound right somehow, like a Pizza hut/Pizza Express cheap and studenty experience. I don't think, from the amount they seemed to have spent on the decor, that this is the crowd they're after somehow.

Good to know it does a decent coffee though - the best coffee I've had in the West End is at the new Cafe Delizique and that little ice-cream place next to Beanscene down the lane.

There is a lovely new italian place on wellington street where the bouzy rouge used to be. Basement tho. not sure about buggy access, did see one at the top when i was leaving so i assumed highchairs.Food was excellent, service was relaxed, in a good way!Daily specials, small so obviously freshly cooked regular menu.

meant to post this. i snorted. VERY funny.

www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/eating_out/article5161923.ece

Ouch! Hot salty marzipan ummmmmm. Kind of reminds me of a meal I once had at a Mongolian themed restaurant in Camden once where you had to choose your own slivers of raw meat and have the thrill of watching them cook it - all served on brown, chipped plates. Is it me, or is it a vaguely unpleasant sounding name too? I LOVE a bad restaurant review!

is Sarti's still any good? I found it quite pricey a few yrs ago, haven't been back.

also quite like La Vita in the middle of town, across from the counting house pub

its so rare we get a night out I never know where to go!!

oh just remembered, Amaroni near to the Buchanan st underground is nice

don't know the west end well, am a southsider

Sarti's was the same as ever last time I was in - ok, but not fab. Bacco in the Southside is ok - service is also 'relaxed' but probably a little too much! Room for buggies as it never seems to be busy during the day - not sure about high chairs, as we don't need one yet. We took Babygums to the Saffron Lounge one evening, and the staff were fab. Food there is excellent if you like Indian - it's an outpost of Balbir's.

In the City Centre, Italian Kitchen and Italian Cafe in the Merchant City are v good.

ssd, do you have any other Sooside tips, that's where I am too?

just want to say for the record that Paperinos is EXCELLENT with kids. just EXCELLENT.

we went there the other night for dd1's birthday, they know us pretty well and completely at their own expense they got one of those enormous balloons in the shape of a 3 and they gave us a bottle of limoncello at the end to share. i just find it completely fantastic, really. (although there are only a handful of things on the menu that i like, the stuff with cream or cheese is generally too creamy or cheesy for my liking. spaghetti alle vongole though is v yum).

We find the service at paperino's quite variable but I love the pizzas. We take the kids to the University Cafe quite regularly for some old school grub. Fantastic fish and chips and wonderful Italian ice cream.

Paperinos is good, had a lovely pasta dish the other night.