TOOTS had that faraway look in her eyes.
I knew her mind was miles from Tec Towers because of the gummy smile on her kisser. Turned out she was reminiscing about a teenage trip to Corfu, before she signed up to a lifetime of keeping the Tec on the straight and narrow.
The pool of drool on the cushion of her chair told me all I needed to know about that holiday.
I knew I still did a nice line in handsome and brooding but I was no Greek God. I decided to do the next best thing and treat her to a slap up feast at the Greek-Cypriot restaurant Hallomi.
The business has spread its wings into the South Side after two years feeding hungry office workers in the city centre.
Inhabiting the site of a former bank, the new Pollokshaws road location boasts a private dining room, event space, bespoke bar and large open plan 80-seater restaurant.
The restaurant uses only fresh, locally sourced ingredients and has a ‘small plates big taste’ mantra.
The menu offers a tempting array of slow-cooked stews, marinated meat skewers and Greek flatbread kebabs alongside traditional Greek dishes like vegetable and meat Dolmades, a Hellenic rice dish served in fresh vine leaves.
Diners can wash it all down with Hellenic craft beer, Mediterranean wine and artisan Greek gin.
A friendly gal advises us to have three Mezze, or small plates, which are designed to be shared.
However, as soon as I took the first bite of the halloumi fries, I knew I wasn’t giving any away. Lightly fried and deliciously salty – they took me straight to fat city.
Thankfully Blondie’s taste buds are sated by the Melitzanosalata, a roasted aubergine, fresh garlic and olive oil dip served with warmed pitta bread.
The dishes come fast and before long I was tucking into pan fried Scottish scallops which are served in anchovy butter and they are melt-in-the-mouth good. It went perfectly with the avocado and black olive houmous, served with pitta.
The Moll plumped for Vegetable Moussaka, mixed veg with aubergine and potato and the Spanankopita – filo pastry with a spinach and goats cheese filling and it wasn’t long before her plates were clean.
I knew Halloumi had hit the mark because she had that faraway look in her eyes again, thankfully minus the drool.
MENU
Small Plates
Melitzanosalata with pitta bread - £4.90
Halloumi fries - £6.95
Pan fried Scottish scallops in anchovy butter - £9.50
Avocado and black olive houmous with toasted pitta - £4.90
Vegetable mousakka - £6.50
Spanakopita filo pastry with a spinach and goats cheese filling - £5.90
Drinks
Glasses of house white X2 - £9.50
Sparkling water X2 - £3.50
Total £50.75
REVIEW
Food - ⭐⭐⭐
Atmopsphere - ⭐⭐⭐
Service - ⭐⭐⭐
Halloumi South, 697 Pollokshaws Road, 0141 423 6340, south@halloumiglasgow.co.uk
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