Little Tuscany
CITY CENTRE, Italian
104 St Vincent St, Glasgow G2 5UB
Less than £50 for 2 soft drinks, 2 starters, and 2 mains
Visited Winter 2024/25
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 flavour didn’t infuse through the bread. The 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 flavours 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. However, talk to an Italian person about making pasta with cream, and they will have something to say about it.
The pizza, on the other hand, was a letdown. The base was well-cooked, light, and fluffy, but the toppings lacked flavour. 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 flavours, 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-centre restaurant, but the experience didn’t feel special enough to justify a return visit.
Would we go back? No, if you’re craving a standout Italian meal in Glasgow, there are 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.
- 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 good impression.