TOOTS had that faraway look in her eyes.

I knew her mind was miles from Tec Towers because of the gummy smile on her kisser. Turned out she was reminiscing about a teenage trip to Corfu, before she signed up to a lifetime of keeping the Tec on the straight and narrow.

The pool of drool on the cushion of her chair told me all I needed to know about that holiday.

I knew I still did a nice line in handsome and brooding but I was no Greek God. I decided to do the next best thing and treat her to a slap up feast at the Greek-Cypriot restaurant Hallomi.

The business has spread its wings into the South Side after two years feeding hungry office workers in the city centre.

Inhabiting the site of a former bank, the new Pollokshaws road location boasts a private dining room, event space, bespoke bar and large open plan 80-seater restaurant.

The restaurant uses only fresh, locally sourced ingredients and has a ‘small plates big taste’ mantra.

The menu offers a tempting array of slow-cooked stews, marinated meat skewers and Greek flatbread kebabs alongside traditional Greek dishes like vegetable and meat Dolmades, a Hellenic rice dish served in fresh vine leaves.

Diners can wash it all down with Hellenic craft beer, Mediterranean wine and artisan Greek gin.

A friendly gal advises us to have three Mezze, or small plates, which are designed to be shared.

However, as soon as I took the first bite of the halloumi fries, I knew I wasn’t giving any away. Lightly fried and deliciously salty – they took me straight to fat city.

Thankfully Blondie’s taste buds are sated by the Melitzanosalata, a roasted aubergine, fresh garlic and olive oil dip served with warmed pitta bread.

The dishes come fast and before long I was tucking into pan fried Scottish scallops which are served in anchovy butter and they are melt-in-the-mouth good. It went perfectly with the avocado and black olive houmous, served with pitta.

The Moll plumped for Vegetable Moussaka, mixed veg with aubergine and potato and the Spanankopita – filo pastry with a spinach and goats cheese filling and it wasn’t long before her plates were clean.

I knew Halloumi had hit the mark because she had that faraway look in her eyes again, thankfully minus the drool.

MENU

Small Plates

Melitzanosalata with pitta bread - £4.90

Halloumi fries - £6.95

Pan fried Scottish scallops in anchovy butter - £9.50

Avocado and black olive houmous with toasted pitta - £4.90

Vegetable mousakka - £6.50

Spanakopita filo pastry with a spinach and goats cheese filling - £5.90

Drinks

Glasses of house white X2 - £9.50

Sparkling water X2 - £3.50

Total £50.75

REVIEW

Food - ⭐⭐⭐

Atmopsphere - ⭐⭐⭐

Service - ⭐⭐⭐

Halloumi South, 697 Pollokshaws Road, 0141 423 6340, south@halloumiglasgow.co.uk