Byres Road is awash with coffee shops and restaurants, so where to start? The food at Tinderbox had been recommended to us on various occasions, so off we set. Outside there are blue canopies over silver metal seating and a Vespa in the window: very Italian. Inside, however, lack of seating in the front area and barely a single individual over 25 prompted me to do an about turn. However, I had seen the Belgian waffles, pastries and bagels and so decided to investigate further.
The waffles came warmed, crunchy on the outside and soft inside, with maple syrup. I managed 2/3 of one as Mr. B thought they were fabulous too. Also available were Danish pastries, dotty cookies, biscotti, chocolate twists, almond triangles, pain au chocolat, cakes and many more bakes. The sandwiches come wrapped in little parcels, very cute, with fillings such as Italian chicken with red onion, spinach and black olives, mozzarella and pesto and chicken mayonnaise with sweetcorn and onion. To heat you up were 'steamers' which were steamed milk with shots of caramel, cinnamon or almond. Hot chocolate came as original, white or spicy. Their coffees were excellent and came in decent sized cups. Specials were soup and Lancashire hotpot.
Wood covers the floors and walls and the clientele is mainly students and young professionals. It is very popular and space is tight so I could be excused for accidentally overhearing the various conversations surrounding me, and very illuminating they were too! Further investigation revealed more seating in the back in various nooks, corners and levels.
All in all a pleasant interlude and an opportunity to mix with the young Glaswegian 'intelligencia'.
Why should I go there? The food and to mix with the young crowd.
Any negatives? The loos, although clean need upgrading, especially the cisterns.
Before or After:
1. A walk along Byer's Road – it's fascinating
2. Cross Great Western Road and go for a walk in Glasgow’s Botanic Gardens. The Kibble Palace and eleven other linked glasshouses house a wide selection of ferns, orchids, cacti and may other exhibits and it’s all free.
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