Cafe Andaluz

2, Cresswell Lane, Glasgow, G12 8AA
Map
http://www.cafeandaluz.com

Restaurant type:

Spanish Tapas

Cafe Andaluz from the outside

Service:

Outstanding

Ambiance:

Thoughtfully, tastefully decorated to produce a rich, warm, subterranean Alhambra.

Vegan choice:

Cafe Andaluz from the outside

Somewhat limited given that one needs to order a few tapas to make a meal. Dishes that are vegan, or can be altered (without too much violence) to be so, are: Patatas Bravas, Pimientos de Padron, Ensalada Marroqui, Tostada de Champinones, Ensalada Andaluza, Ensalada Sevillana, and Berenjenas Rellenas de Pimientos

Review:

Set in the cosmopolitan West End of Glasgow, down one of its most charming cobbled lanes, Cafe Andaluz looks inviting from the outside. The tasteful tiles, benches, and lighting outside hold promise. Descending the spiral staircase, one enters a little piece of Southern Spain. A warm, vibrant scene awaits. Dark wood, red walls and subtle lighting, tasteful accessories and, usually, the hubbub of the many customers gathered to taste the tapas.

The inside of Cafe Andaluz

I have been to this restaurant twice now, both times with large groups of people with disparate dietary needs and other proclivities. On both occasions the waiters were patient, knowledgeable, and directed the communal sharing of food, sorting out special diets and special orders with aplomb. They were knowledgeable about the food and very attentive without crowding. One had the sense of a plate spinner keeping many plates rotating while making it look effortless.

Patatas Bravas

I sampled four dishes from the menu. The Patatas Bravas - fried potatoes in a spicy tomato sauce (without the non-vegan alioli) - were delicious. The sauce was piquant - with a good kick of spice. The potatoes would have benefited from being crispier on the outside.

Ensalada Sevillana

The Ensalada Sevillana is a salad of roasted beetroot, green beans, oranges and croutons (the goat's cheese was omitted). It looked beautiful on the plate with the oranges sitting atop  the purple beets with a sprinkling of croutons and herbs. There were pleasant elements to this. Oranges like other acidic fruit in a salad can be fabulous and are underused. (A new favourite of mine in a salad, is strawberries, which a good friend of mine recently made me appreciate.) The green beans were crunchy but had taken on the purple of the beetroot and looked rather dull. The beetroot did not inspire. I like beetroot enormously. I'm not quite sure what the problem was, but perhaps it might have been over cooked. The croutons, I'm afraid were very poor. They were far too oily and I could only eat a few. If it were executed better, this salad could have been a winner. But, sadly, it was somewhat disappointing.

Ensalada Andaluza

The Ensalada Andaluza contained asparagus tips, artichoke, sunblushed tomatoes, and lettuce, in what was called a "sweet hinamin" dressing. Google reveals nothing about what "himanin" may refer to! I was assured the dressing was vegan by the waiter and what came seemed to be a not very too sweet tahini dressing. This dish was the highlight of the meal. The vegetables were cooked to perfection. They blended together with the tomatoes and lettuce to produce tasty and interesting, fresh mouthfuls. The quantity of dressing was just right. It was slightly creamy, but not overly so, just enough to add substance to the whole without drowning out any of the flavours. I highly recommend this dish.

Ensalada Marroqui

Finally, I had the Ensalada Marroqui. Roast sweet potato, parsnip, and chickpeas, mixed with  parsley and corriander, were topped with a tahini dressing. I liked the sound of this dish enormously. Each of the individual ingredients appealed, as I thought, would their combination. However, I was rather disappointed. The sweet potato, parsnip and chickpeas formed a very dense base. The flavours of these vegetables didn't sing out. Like the beetroot, I would question whether they were roasted too long.  The tahini dressing was rather thick and cloying and it needed lifting with lemon juice or other acidic streak to cut through the denseness of the sesame. With more careful preparation, however, this dish could, I believe could be rather good.

Overall, Cafe Andaluz has a wonderful atmosphere, great staff, and a small selection of vegan tapas. The food is not bad, however, the execution of some of the dishes requires attention.

Interior of Cafe Andaluz

Interior of Cafe Andaluz

Vegetarian menu

Additional menu items