Eating out: perfect pasta from Giffnock staple

Giffnock’s Bar Milano may be housed in a former bank building, but these days, the surroundings are less cold hard cash and more mood lighting and sumptuous fabrics.

It’s a loud and proud room full of sweeping curtains and shiny surfaces — the kind of place you can imagine meeting the girls for a Saturday night out.

So, does the Italian menu have the same sheen to it?

I started with gamberoni diavola; plump and juicy tiger prawns in a garlic, fresh chilli and cherry tomato sauce. This one has a definite kick to it — the perfect winter warmer if you’re a spicy food fan.

The other half opted for the healthier option, insalata caprese, and the only complaint was that there wasn’t enough buffalo mozzarella to slices of tomato in basil and olive oil (so much for being healthy!)

After a quick nibble at a decent supply of breadsticks, oil and vinegar, our ample-portioned mains arrived.

Tagliolini all’uovo e balsamico — with pancetta, pine nuts, sundried tomato, porcini mushrooms and balsamic vinegar — was sweet, earthy and packed full of flavour: a real autumnal taste.

Across the table, ravioli emiliana — pasta parcels filled with braised beef in a creamy tomato ragu — was, in the OH’s words, “the best I’ve ever tasted”. Meaty, rich and filling, this is a crowd pleaser of a dish.

We ended the night with a classic tiramisu, and a chef’s creation, chocolate torta nonna. The tirimisu was a light and frothy treat, but the torte was the star of the show.

This slab of velvety chocolate and crumbly biscuit was richer than the bankers who used to run the place — and I’m now on the hunt for the recipe myself.

Let’s face it, Italian food is always a people pleaser — and Bar Milano is just the cosy spot for a warming pasta fix.

Rating: 9/10

Bar Milano

2 Mains Ave

Giffnock

G46 6QZ

Tel: 0141 621 2288