Focus on Scottish Produce for Glasgow Restaurant, Pesto

Pesto, one of Glasgow’s newest Italian restaurants, is gaining a fast-growing reputation for affordable menus created using quality, Scottish produce from suppliers including Braehead Foods, Campbells Prime Meat and Crolla's.

The restaurant in the city centre offers customers a different way to dine by serving Piattini – meaning small plates of food.

Opened four months ago, the 300-seat restaurant is reporting a hugely promising start and has attracted around 27,000 customers through its doors so far.

The business, owned by Neil Gatt and Sara Edwards, is located in the landmark former John Smith Bookshop building in St Vincent Street and opened following a £1 million refurbishment. More than 40 jobs have been created.

It is the first Pesto in Scotland – four others are south of the Border – although Glasgow was originally selected as the launch spot for the company. This was thwarted and the focus switched to Manchester.

"At Pesto, we aim to give customers great value for money through freshly cooked food plus an informal but efficient service in a warm relaxed atmosphere," said Neil.

"Sara and I love Italian food, but just not in traditionally large portions of one dish. With Pesto you can order five or six dishes between two diners and enjoy a selection of different tastes in one meal."

Pesto may be book-ended by big-hitters Carluccio's in West Nile Street and Jamie's Kitchen in George Square but its owners are undaunted. "We’re up against good competition, that’s for sure," said Neil.

"But as we are creating a totally different way to enjoy Italian food with our smaller plates menu, we feel we can face the challenge and offer Glasgow diners a whole new experience.

"Clearly, people dining out in Glasgow are willing to try something new. Customer feedback has been hugely positive so far and we are delighted with the level of business to date."

More information:

Braehead Foods.

Campbells Prime Meat.

Crolla's.

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