Little Tuscany
Italian, 104 St Vincent St, Glasgow G2 5UB
£50.38 for 2 soft drinks, 2 starters, and 2 mains
Located in the heart of Glasgow, Little Tuscany promises a taste of Tuscan cuisine without needing a plane ticket to Italy. After Basil spent months asking to go, we finally visited—and left with some mixed feelings.
The Menu & Starters
The menu boasted a variety of Italian classics, but we struggled to find an appealing starter to share. Options included minestrone soup and mussels, neither of which particularly tempted us. We eventually opted for the focaccia, which, unfortunately, arrived undercooked. A layer of raw dough beneath the crust made it unappetizing, and while the rosemary on top added some aroma, the flavor didn’t infuse through the bread. Accompanying olive oil was equally unremarkable—surprising, given the expectations for an Italian restaurant.
We also ordered a plate of olives, hoping for something bold and briny. Instead, we were met with ordinary supermarket-quality olives, the kind you could easily pick up at Marks & Spencer. Not offensive, but certainly nothing special.
Mains: Pasta vs. Pizza
For our mains, we took the classic Italian approach: half pizza, half pasta. One of us ordered a Tuscan sausage pasta with mushrooms, cream, and black truffle, and this was easily the standout dish of the night. The pasta was cooked al dente, the flavors were rich and well-balanced, and the dish had just the right amount of salt. It was so decadent that finishing it was a challenge, but it was undeniably delicious—the kind of meal we’d gladly return for.
The pizza, on the other hand, was a letdown. The base was well-cooked, light, and fluffy, but the toppings lacked flavor. The chicken pizza (Pizzaollo) felt underwhelming, and we had to add extra salt just to coax out some taste. Even when reading the menu, the pizza topping options seemed uninspired, and the final result confirmed that impression. With quality ingredients, a simple pizza should shine—but this one fell flat.
Overall Verdict
Despite the promise of authentic Tuscan flavors, Little Tuscany left us feeling underwhelmed. The pasta was the highlight, but the starters and pizza failed to impress. The pricing—£50 for two mains and two small starters (including tip)—was reasonable for a city-center restaurant, but the experience didn’t feel special enough to justify a return visit.
Would we go back? Maybe—for the pasta. But if you’re craving a standout Italian meal in Glasgow, there are likely better options.
Three Things to Know About Little Tuscany (Glasgow):
- The pasta was genuinely good – The Tuscan sausage pasta was rich, well-balanced, and satisfying. Definitely the best part of the meal.
- The rest didn’t deliver – The focaccia was undercooked, the olives were basic, and the pizza lacked flavour—even the toppings felt like an afterthought.
- Not bad for the price, but not special either – At £50 for two mains and two small starters, the value was fine, but the overall experience didn’t leave a strong impression.