The Glasgow Times is on the hunt for the best takeaway lunch spot in the city. We are looking for your recommendations across the city centre, North Glasgow, East End, Southside and West End, and will be judging food based on Value for Money, Taste, Atmosphere, Service and Variety.
It was my turn this week to continue the search for Glasgow's Best Lunch and I decided to drop by Santa Lucia Deli on Byres Road after seeing their delicious-looking antipasto boxes and sandwiches on Instagram. I had high expectations after enjoying a couple of meals at their sister restaurant Santa Lucia in Merchant City.
I arrived at the deli shortly after 1pm and there were only a couple of other people seated inside, so I was able to order almost right away after having a quick browse of the menu.
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I opted for the Reggio Calabria sandwich, which included Ventricina salame, cream of peppers, nduja and ricotta cream, and I asked to swap out the rocket salad for regular lettuce. All sandwiches are available on either focaccia, sourdough or a baguette and I chose focaccia. I was also asked if I wanted to sandwich toasted and said yes.
The sandwiches are priced between £6.90 and £8.90 depending on the filling, with the Reggio Calabria costing £7.90, and are freshly prepared.
After ordering, I stood to the side to wait, though there were plenty of seats available including some stools in the window. There is also plenty of food to browse in the deli which helps pass the time.
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It took a total of eight minutes from ordering the sandwich to getting and may take longer at times when the deli is busier so that's something to bear in mind if you're in a hurry.
The sandwich was really tasty and the combination of flavours worked really well together. The focaccia was really fresh and there was a good amount of filling for the bread so I didn't find that it spilled out making it easy to eat. I was really impressed with this sandwich and the quality, and while I wouldn't have it too often because of the cost, it was worth it as a treat.
What's the verdict?
Value for Money: 3/5 - At £7.90 this is pretty pricey for a sandwich. It was large and very filling so it was worth it for an occasional treat, but it definitely wouldn't be a regular lunch for me.
Taste: 5/5 - This was a delicious sandwich with a great combination of flavours. There was the right amount of filling for the bread and it tasted really fresh.
Atmosphere: 4/5 - It was pretty quiet when I went in, but there was plenty of seating available while I waited for my food. It's really nicely decorated inside and the shop sells a variety of products so you can pass the time with a browse.
Service: 5/5 - The staff were really friendly and I was able to order right away as there was no one else waiting when I went in. I waited less than 10 minutes from ordering to getting my sandwich, which was freshly made before being toasted.
Variety: 4/5 - There is a good selection of sandwich fillings available and you can choose to have focaccia, sourdough or a baguette. There are also antipasto boxes which you can make up to your taste as well as a good variety of desserts.
Overall score: 21/25
Got a suggestion for our next lunch review? Let us know where we should go in the comments below or email Nicole.Mitchell@newsquest.co.uk.
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