Full to bursting at The Bungo

Whether it’s the weekly pub quiz or the Tuesday night beer and burger deal (each week has a national theme and comes in at a reasonable £9.95), it seems that plenty of southsiders are flocking to this increasingly fashionable stretch of Strathbungo.

My heart was set on that same specialty when I arrived last Thursday — and The Bungo didn’t disappoint.

But first, there were starters.

The other half was tempted by a pea and ham soup on special and I have to say, he was spot on. The generous bowl of thick, garden-fresh soup was delicious, and there was plenty of bread to mop it up — so naturally, I offered a hand.

My crispy gnocchi with garlicy pesto and fresh pea shoots had plenty of flavour, but it lacked the crispness billed on the menu — perhaps too clever a step for an otherwise pleasant, simple dish.

For this reviewer, the burger was the star of the show.

I opted for the vegetarian version: a crisp, spicy patty of whole chickpeas and veggie haggis topped with lettuce, cheese and pickle and a side of chips and smoky chipotle mayo.

Every bite was hot and crunchy — a real delight, even for a dedicated meat eater.

The OH had high praise for his well-proportioned fish and chips — the rustic, skin-on type of fries in particular.

To minimise the exercise needed to work off all that grub, we chose to share a dessert: a dark chocolate, salted caramel tart.

The rich, slightly savoury ganache was a perfect balance of flavours — and it was the ideal portion size for two already-stuffed diners.

It may require a few more hours at the gym, but I’d return for a chance to sample those burgers of the world — the only question is, where are The Bungo off to next?