Paesano Southside
Pizza (Napoletana) | 1038–1040 Pollokshaws Rd, Glasgow G41 3EB
£37.18 for two pizzas, a salad, and a beer
If you’ve asked anyone in Glasgow where to find the best pizza, chances are you’ve been pointed to Paesano. This Southside outpost completes their city trifecta, joining Merchant City and the West End, and for good reason: it’s become the place locals send pizza pilgrims and out-of-towners alike. With a recent management change and our own suspiciously frequent visits (officially “business”, not pleasure, on this occasion), it was time to see if the latest branch is living up to the family legacy.
Atmosphere & Service
Paesano Southside is a more compact, cosier version of its city siblings. We grabbed a table quickly on a busy Sunday - testament, perhaps, to its slightly smaller size and fast-moving staff. The place buzzes with energy, the kind that comes from open kitchens, clattering plates, and a hundred Glaswegian conversations bouncing off the industrial-ish, tomato-tin lined decor. It’s loud, but in that oddly liberating way—you’re free to chat and gesticulate wildly, safe in the cacophony. There’s no music (in the Southside at least) which, depending on your feelings about shouty dinners, will either be a blessing or a prompt for pre-emptive vocal warm-ups.
The staff embody Paesano’s brisk efficiency. Orders arrive quickly, sometimes with pizza beating your drinks to the table, a minor quirk, but forgivable if you find yourself ravenous. On this occasion, paying the bill was a touch slower than usual, but generally, the place is all about the express Italian experience.
The Food
Let’s not overcomplicate things: Paesano is built on stellar pizza, and it continues to deliver. Before carb-loading properly, we split a simple side salad of lettuce, tomatoes, and red onion in a zingy vinaigrette, the kind of salad that sounds dull on paper but is oddly moreish, every element fresh and carefully dressed.
The pizzas are where the magic happens. The dough, a hybrid of yeast and sourdough (with a secret, multi-day proofing process), emerges blistered and chewy from the Naples-built ovens—light, soft, and just charred enough. Toppings stick to the “less is more” gospel: a Margherita with olives for one of us, veg-laden red peppers and cheese for the other. Both were wolfed down in ten minutes flat—not out of politeness, but necessity. The quality of the ingredients really shines through, from creamy mozzarella to properly roasted vegetables.
Drinks are classic Italian, though a note of disappointment: the alcohol-free Menabrea came in a gloriously chilled glass but wasn’t quite cold itself. A minor grumble, and one easily forgotten in a haze of melted cheese.
They don’t do pasta, so head to Sugo if you’re after a bowl of tagliatelle. Here it’s pizza, pizza, and more pizza, with ten stalwarts and regular specials gracing the menu. Sides and desserts round it out, but you’ll struggle to make it past the main event.
Final Thoughts
Paesano Southside delivers what it promises: great pizza, unfussy service, and a buzzy, genuinely warm atmosphere. There’s no reinvention of the wheel here, just consistent quality and value from a team that knows exactly what they’re about, even under fresh management. For the price (£37 for two pizzas, a salad, and drinks), it’s one of Glasgow’s best bargains, and we’ll be back next week.
Three Things to Know
- Authentic, quick, dependable: Paesano’s Napoletana pizza is as good as ever, with top-notch ingredients.
- Bustling but efficient: Expect a packed room and a lively din, but rarely a long wait for your table or pizza.
- Great value: You can feed two for under £40, including drinks and extras, bringing the Italian pizzeria experience well within weeknight-casual territory.
Recommended any time, any day. See you at Southside.