Latest news with #Paesano
Glasgow Times
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
How does the new Glasgow Southside Paesano compare to the original?
From the moment rumours surrounding the future of the former Di Maggio's on Pollokshaws Road first began to swirl, right up until striking blue signage confirmed beyond doubt that a 'sequel' was on the way, their thoughts have been consumed with little else. It was not a drill. Paesano was coming to Shawlands. READ NEXT: First look inside Glasgow's new Paesano Southside READ NEXT: Paesano opening in Glasgow's Shawlands - what we know so far (Image: Newsquest) A Southsider myself, I have no shame in counting myself among those who scoured the Facebook community pages for updates on opening or snapped pictures of the unit's progress almost daily to share on the family group chat. Of all the wonderful restaurants and bars opened in the area of late, this one felt different. Not just the first major move since the brand was taken over by the DRG group last summer, but a demonstration of confidence that a high-volume operation like this could thrive on this side of the river. The often-regurgitated sentiment of the Southside morphing into the 'new West End' doesn't seem quite as glib now that we too have a Paesano branch to call our own. If you caught our recent Lunch Review of the original city centre restaurant, it will come as no surprise that I am thrilled to welcome the team to the neighbourhood. I love their fuss-free approach to Neapolitan Style pizza and will point-blank refuse to engage with anyone who claims their liberal use of tomato sugo makes for too soggy an affair. It's delicious, affordable and above all, reliable. In over a decade since my first visit, I've never regretted a meal on Miller Street. So, how does the new kid on the block compare? (Image: Newsquest) Well, for one, it's noticeably smaller. Though no less busy, the long shared tables don't stretch quite as far as those in place at the skinny city centre unit, and cleverly positioned mirrors play their part in making the place seem less tightly packed. A difference in layout further means that the Pollokshaws Road restaurant is filled with natural light from a wall of windows looking out towards a busy junction. It feels more open, and therefore less frantic, but an industrial-looking lighting fixture spelling out Paesano with exposed bulbs is a nice nod to the same one used to illuminate their big sister restaurant in town. A scroll of brown paper hung on the far wall showcases today's specials including a 'Carbonara pizza' with guanciale, pecorino and plenty of black pepper, but Paesano purists will be delighted to hear that otherwise the menu is a near carbon copy of the city centre and West End units, with options numbered one to 10. Pictured: The pizza from our Paesano city centre lunch review in February this year (Image: Newsquest) Keen to test the new restaurant under the same conditions as my previous review visit, I order once more the number five of cotto ham with mushrooms, tomato sugo, fior di latte mozzarella, basil and EVOO. There's snacking on sweet and tangy balsamic onions, firm nocellara olives coated in a thin sheen of oil and beautifully fresh slices of vibrant plum tomatoes cutting through creamy burrata to be done while waiting. It's all shared, because instead of my usual solo mission, this week's review mixes business with pleasure as a birthday is marked within my friend group. There are seven of us, but Alessio, our server for the evening, remains unfazed by requests for added chillis or extra dips and sides. He's a jolt of energy on weekday service – and will later make the experience all the more special when catching wind of cause for celebrations in our group, leading the whole restaurant in a spirited rendition of 'Happy Birthday'. Though I've never found fault with the service at Paesano before, none can compare to this team member's show-stealing performance. Pictured: The new Southside Paesano lives up to expectations, and then some (Image: Newsquest) But let's get back to the pizza, shall we? For the sake of this review, I'm glad to notice straight away that there are a few subtle differences between the number five in Shawlands and the one I devoured in the city centre a few months ago. There's still a generous amount of cheese here, but it's not quite the thick blanket of fior di latte that I had tackled the first time round. It feels lighter and better balanced, allowing that salty cotto ham that's just started to curl and crisp at the edges in the intense heat of the oven its chance to shine. The pillowy slow-proved crust, however, is less blackened, robbing the dish of that intense element of charred flavour but still suitably bubbled and blistered. Thankfully, there's the addition of a truffle aioli for dunking, which more than makes up for any peely-wally-ness. Never mind its intended purpose as a dip, I would happily take a teaspoon to this pot of punchy goodness and eat just that on its own as an appetiser. I suspect there's slightly less EVOO glugged across this pizza as a finishing touch, but every Paesano veteran knows that adding your own liberal amounts of the chilli oil which sits alongside seasoning on the tables, is a must anyway. There's a sense of relief as the final bites are finished, knowing now for sure that this new restaurant lives up to expectations. But beyond that, I'm surprised to find myself questioning whether it could even be better than the original? My intention for this week's review was never to play favourites. I only hoped to confirm that standards had carried over to the new home. So, at the risk of sounding biased, I'll simply sign off by saying this is very much the case, and then some. How soon is too soon for the next visit? Price: The number five pizza is priced at £12.50 - worth noting that this is 60p more than what I paid in the city centre branch for the same toppings in our February review. Wait time: Around 25 minutes after ordering. Rating: 5/5. I might anger some by giving this experience 0.5 points more than the city centre restaurant, but the team truly deserves it. Only time will tell if this is opening week magic or not. Paesano Southside is located at 1038-1040 Pollokshaws Road in Glasgow.
The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Is the new Southside Paesano better than the original?
It was not a drill. Paesano was coming to Shawlands. (Image: Newsquest) A Southsider myself, I have no shame in counting myself among those who scoured the Facebook community pages for updates on opening or snapped pictures of the unit's progress almost daily to share on the family group chat. Of all the wonderful restaurants and bars opened in the area of late, this one felt different. Not just the first major move since the brand was taken over by the DRG group last summer, but a demonstration of confidence that a high-volume operation like this could thrive on this side of the river. The often-regurgitated sentiment of the Southside morphing into the 'new West End' doesn't seem quite as glib now that we too have a Paesano branch to call our own. If you caught our recent Lunch Review of the original city centre restaurant, it will come as no surprise that I am thrilled to welcome the team to the neighbourhood. (Read more: Paesano is going UK wide: Is their pizza still worth the hype?) I love their fuss-free approach to Neapolitan Style pizza and will point-blank refuse to engage with anyone who claims their liberal use of tomato sugo makes for too soggy an affair. It's delicious, affordable and above all, reliable. In over a decade since my first visit, I've never regretted a meal on Miller Street. So, how does the new kid on the block compare? (Image: Newsquest) Well, for one, it's noticeably smaller. Though no less busy, the long shared tables don't stretch quite as far as those in place at the skinny city centre unit, and cleverly positioned mirrors play their part in making the place seem less tightly packed. A difference in layout further means that the Pollokshaws Road restaurant is filled with natural light from a wall of windows looking out towards a busy junction. It feels more open, and therefore less frantic, but an industrial-looking lighting fixture spelling out Paesano with exposed bulbs is a nice nod to the same one used to illuminate their big sister restaurant in town. A scroll of brown paper hung on the far wall showcases today's specials including a 'Carbonara pizza' with guanciale, pecorino and plenty of black pepper, but Paesano purists will be delighted to hear that otherwise the menu is a near carbon copy of the city centre and West End units, with options numbered one to 10. Pictured: The pizza from our Paesano city centre lunch review in February this year (Image: Newsquest) Keen to test the new restaurant under the same conditions as my previous review visit, I order once more the number five of cotto ham with mushrooms, tomato sugo, fior di latte mozzarella, basil and EVOO. There's snacking on sweet and tangy balsamic onions, firm nocellara olives coated in a thin sheen of oil and beautifully fresh slices of vibrant plum tomatoes cutting through creamy burrata to be done while waiting. It's all shared, because instead of my usual solo mission, this week's review mixes business with pleasure as a birthday is marked within my friend group. There are seven of us, but Alessio, our server for the evening, remains unfazed by requests for added chillis or extra dips and sides. He's a jolt of energy on weekday service – and will later make the experience all the more special when catching wind of cause for celebrations in our group, leading the whole restaurant in a spirited rendition of 'Happy Birthday'. Though I've never found fault with the service at Paesano before, none can compare to this team member's show-stealing performance. Pictured: The new Southside Paesano lives up to expectations, and then some (Image: Newsquest) But let's get back to the pizza, shall we? For the sake of this review, I'm glad to notice straight away that there are a few subtle differences between the number five in Shawlands and the one I devoured in the city centre a few months ago. There's still a generous amount of cheese here, but it's not quite the thick blanket of fior di latte that I had tackled the first time round. It feels lighter and better balanced, allowing that salty cotto ham that's just started to curl and crisp at the edges in the intense heat of the oven its chance to shine. The pillowy slow-proved crust, however, is less blackened, robbing the dish of that intense element of charred flavour but still suitably bubbled and blistered. Thankfully, there's the addition of a truffle aioli for dunking, which more than makes up for any peely-wally-ness. Never mind its intended purpose as a dip, I would happily take a teaspoon to this pot of punchy goodness and eat just that on its own as an appetiser. I suspect there's slightly less EVOO glugged across this pizza as a finishing touch, but every Paesano veteran knows that adding your own liberal amounts of the chilli oil which sits alongside seasoning on the tables, is a must anyway. Read more: There's a sense of relief as the final bites are finished, knowing now for sure that this new restaurant lives up to expectations. But beyond that, I'm surprised to find myself questioning whether it could even be better than the original? My intention for this week's review was never to play favourites. I only hoped to confirm that standards had carried over to the new home. So, at the risk of sounding biased, I'll simply sign off by saying this is very much the case, and then some. How soon is too soon for the next visit? Price: The number five pizza is priced at £12.50 - worth noting that this is 60p more than what I paid in the city centre branch for the same toppings in our February review. Wait time: Around 25 minutes after ordering. Rating: 5/5. I might anger some by giving this experience 0.5 points more than the city centre restaurant, but the team truly deserves it. Only time will tell if this is opening week magic or not. Paesano Southside is located at 1038-1040 Pollokshaws Road in Glasgow.
Scottish Sun
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
I worked for iconic pizza chain – here's the exact two words to say to get your meal cooked to perfection
And scroll down to see what big plans are in the works for the restaurant chain PIZZ-AHH! I worked for iconic pizza chain – here's the exact two words to say to get your meal cooked to perfection Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) PAESANO is an institution for food lovers in Glasgow. The beloved pizza chain is well-known for its authentic Neapolitan pizza made with fresh ingredients. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Paesano is a fan-favourite for pizza Credit: John Kirkby - The Sun Glasgow 3 The pizza chain opened its third branch in Glasgow this month Credit: Tom Farmer The popular restaurant has three branches in the city - on Miller Street in the city centre, Great Western Road in the West End and the newly opened Southside spot. The new venue is located in the former Di Maggio's restaurant on Pollokshaws Road in Shawlands. Blue signage appeared around the unit reading "a Southside sequel" before it officially opened to food fans on May 21. And twin brothers Kevin and Kieran D'Arcy, from Glasgow, were some of the first people to sample the new restaurant's offerings. The siblings boast 94,000 followers on TikTok, and regularly share their top food recommendations and tips. During their visit to the new Paesano, the duo revealed a secret tip they learned from a former staff member. And if you're not a fan of "sloppy" pizza, you'll want to take note. That's because you can fix it by giving a simple two-word request to your server when you order. In their TikTok clip reviewing the restaurant, the D'Arcy twins said: "A pro tip if you don't like a sloppy pizza, ask for your pizza well fired. What is the Dominos Tiktok pizza- Ingredients of viral pie revealed plus how to order it "I got that pro tip from an ex-Paesano employee." Sugo and Paesano have recently been acquired by The DRG, Scotland's largest independent restaurant group. The firm achieved a record annual turnover last year of almost £50million. 3 Asking for your pizza 'well fired' is the secret to the perfect meal according to an ex-employee Credit: John Kirkby - The Sun Glasgow The DRG, which is owned by Mario Gizzi and Tony Conetta, said further restaurant rollouts are expected over the next 12 months. The group told The Herald that the recent acquisition of the two brands is its "most significant acquisition to date". Mr Conetta said: "Within 12 months, we expect to have doubled the number of Paesano and Sugo restaurants to six. "And we have firm aspirations to further expand north and south of the Border in the years ahead.'
The Herald Scotland
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Discover Scotland's best lunch spots with all our reviews here
If you're searching for some fresh lunch break inspiration, you can find all of these reviews ranked from best to worst below: (Image: Newsquest) Grumpy Pedro's 127 Douglas Street, Glasgow This city centre spot gets a lot of love on social media as a 'hidden gem'. Deciding to try it out for myself, I nipped over to Douglas Street for a Caesar salad and Cuban sandwich and was thrilled to be met with friendly service, locally sourced coffee and above all, fantastic food. It remains our highest-rated lunch review to date with a 5/5 score. Read more: This city centre lunch spot is so good - I almost don't want to tell you about it (Image: Newsquest) Chez Jules 109 Hanover Street, Edinburgh Our most recent review wins a lot of points for unbeatable value, with this bistro in Edinburgh city centre offering three courses for just £15.90. Expect French onion soup, steak frites and a chocolate mousse all for a bargain set price. But how did it taste? Read more: At £15.90 for three courses this might be Scotland's best value lunch (Image: Newsquest) Ho Lee Fook 1 Mcfarlane Street, Glasgow A tiny hole in the wall street food spot that's said to serve some of the best street food in Glasgow. An order of the pork Tonkatsu sando, alongside thick ribbons of hand-stretched noodles in the team's signature fiery chilli oil, was a must. Read more: Looking for the best street food in Glasgow? Head to The Barras (Image: Newsquest) Paesano 94 Miller Street, Glasgow Following news of plans to expand the Paesano brand across the UK, I revisited an old favourite to see if it still lived up to the hype. My colleague reckons this pizza stands up to the ones crafted by pizzaiolos in the Italian city of Naples. But did I agree? Read more: Paesano is going UK-wide: Is their pizza still worth the hype? (Image: Newsquest) The Anstruther Fish Bar 42 - 44 Shore Street, Anstruther Ah the Anstruther Fish Bar, often hailed as the best chippy Scotland has to offer. During a trip to the East Neuk in the wake of Storm Eowyn, I made a pitstop at the picturesque harbour location to order a portion of haddock and chips while marvelling at stories of the many famous faces who have done the same over the years. Read more: Is this the best fish and chips in Scotland? (Image: Newsquest) Alby's 94 Buccleuch Street, Edinburgh Purveyors of 'Big Hot Sandwiches', Alby's, operate two locations in Edinburgh. I grabbed a seat by the window on Buccleuch Street just as the lunchtime rush began, and ordered the Battered Chicken Thigh filling served on two massive chunks of bubbly focaccia. If you're looking to do the same after reading, just remember to arrive hungry. Read more: This might be the biggest sandwich I've ever ordered - is it quantity over quality? (Image: Newsquest) Sister Midnight 61 King Street, Glasgow A new outlet from the team behind Southside brunch institution, Cafe Strange Brew, opened just this year. The chicken caesar sandwich was my winner of the day, but there's also a lot more than meets the eye at this funky little deli, provisions store and hub for glossy magazines. Read more: They serve some of the best brunch in Glasgow - does the new sandwich shop compare? (Image: Newsquest) Sprigg 264 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow Our first ever lunch review came following a festive period of sheer gluttony as I searched for fresh vegetables and saintly kombucha to atone for weeks of cheese eating and red wine drinking. The £10 price tag is a hefty ask in the current climate, so I set out to answer whether a build-your-own bowl from this titan of city centre lunches is really worth forking out for. Read more: Are the salads from this Glasgow favourite really worth almost £10 a pop? (Image: Newsquest) Mootz General Store 62 Raeburn Place, Edinburgh At this bustling Stockbridge shop, the team favours schiacciata, a Tuscan flatbread that seems a far better fit for sandwich making than its thicker, doughier cousin of focaccia. It's not all about the carbs though with fillings of mortadella, stracciatella, pistachio pesto and crushed pistachios as well as a Reuben with pastrami, provolone, sauerkraut and pickles winning them some serious rating points. Read more: I vow never to buy a meal deal again after visiting this Italian sandwich shop (Image: Newqsuest) Sub126 126 West Regent Street Just before they took over the kitchen at Max's Bar, I visited Sub126 on West Regent Street to see what all the fuss was about with their Italian-American inspired menu of sandwiches. I'm still not sure how they manage to pack so much salami, prosciutto cotto, turkey, mozzarella and iceberg lettuce into a soft roll, but man, do they do it well. Read more: They'll soon run the kitchen at one of Glasgow's busiest bars - but how is the food? (Image: Newsquest) Falafel to Go 116 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow This review took me back to my first years in the Glasgow Times newsroom on Bath Street, when at least once a week a colleague would return from their lunch break with a parchment paper wrapped parcel from Falafel to Go. It's a tiny spot with a tiny menu, which despite a couple of price increases in recent years, remains one of the best value lunches in the city centre. Read more: It's no wonder this hole in the wall streetfood spot has outlived competitors (Image: Newsquest) Banh Mi & Tea 401 Dumbarton Road, Glasgow The service at this student-friendly hangout in Partick was so fast, it had me worrying that it might be a red flag. Could these BBQ pork Banh Mi sandwiches really be prepared with care if they were served in under two minutes flat? Read more: This restaurant's service is so quick - I wonder if it's a red flag (Image: Newsquest) Homemade 11-13 Dowanhill Street,Glasgow A comment on our newly launched TikTok account led me to Homemade in Glasgow's West End for this lunch review. They had urged me to check out the shop which serves messy, Sopranos-style sandwiches, and I was more than happy to oblige. I wanted to love their signature French Dip, but overall, was left with mixed feelings about the meal at this trendy spot that often enjoys sell-out success on the weekends. Read more: A TikTok tip, Sopranos-style sandwiches and a mixed review in Glasgow (Image: Newsquest) The McMillan Bar and Chop House 862 Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow It was a case of Instagram vs reality when putting this Southside restaurant's steak and chips lunch deal to the test. Sure, steak for lunch will always feel like a naughty indulgence, and that £12 price is impressive. So why did I walk away feeling a little disappointed? Read more: A case of Instagram vs reality with this Glasgow steak deal (Image: Newsquest) Halloumi 161 Hope Street, Glasgow Hope Street during the day is a funny place, feeling suspended in purgatory as restaurants and bars await nightfall to attract dinnertime diners and post-work pint drinkers. It wasn't just the atmosphere that was lacking at Halloumi, and in particular the 'Greek mac and cheese' felt like a sad attempt to modify a comfort food classic. Read more: You deserve better than the mac and cheese at this tired city centre restaurant
Glasgow Times
21-05-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
First look inside Glasgow's new Paesano Southside
The newest branch of the authentic Neapolitan pizzeria chain will open on Pollokshaws Road at 11.30am on Wednesday, May 21 in the unit previously occupied by Di Maggio's. The Glasgow Times was invited down to Shawlands to get a sneak peek inside the new restaurant ahead of its opening. READ NEXT: 'Much-loved' restaurant reopens after long closure following blaze Paul Laing (Image: Newsquest) Paul Laing, general manager, told the Glasgow Times: "We're really excited. "We had a soft launch which went fantastically well and [on Wednesday] from 11.30am we're fully open to the public. "The response and anticipation in the local area have been great to say the least. "Neighbours and other local businesses around have all been really supportive. "There's a good buzz about the area, and we're looking forward to getting started." (Image: Newsquest) Sitting in the restaurant on Tuesday afternoon, that buzz was clear to see as passers-by pressed their faces up against the window for a look inside, or popped their head in the front door to ask when the restaurant would be opening. Despite being the smallest of Paesano's three restaurants, the new location has 65 covers and is bringing 40 jobs to the area. We previously reported hospitality giant DRG had announced ambitions for a "major expansion" of Paesano and Sugo after the company acquired the brands for what was believed to be an eight-figure sum last year. In November, it was reported that planning permission was being sought for the unit at the corner of Minard Road to be transformed into the city's third Paesano. READ NEXT: Well-known Glasgow pub reveals exciting rebrand after shutting its doors (Image: Newsquest) Speaking of the brand's popularity, Paul said: "Paesano in Glasgow is synonymous with fantastic pizza, great quality, fresh ingredients. "We source only the best, we've got the best guys in the kitchen cooking the pizzas, so for me personally it's a brand that doesn't have any limits. "You could take this to any city in the UK and I believe it would do really well." He added: "The Southside is a real up and and coming area, it grows year on year and everyone wants to live here now so why wouldn't we want to be a part of that growth?" (Image: Newsquest) Occupying a corner unit with large windows, the new restaurant is nice and bright and its smaller size offers diners a more intimate experience. Customers will be able to see their pizza being freshly made, with some seats looking into the pizza chefs' station. On the outside of the building, old signage which was previously hidden by Di Maggio's frontage has been uncovered and will now be visible. First opening in 2015, Paesano quickly became a beloved institution across the city with its simple menu of 10 pizza options and regularly changing specials. The wood-fired pizzas use the finest Italian ingredients and are cooked in ovens built by artisans in Naples. Paesano Southside is located at 1038-1040 Pollokshaws Road.
