Next to its sister establishments Mono, Stereo, The Old Hairdressers and The Flying Duck, gloriously laid-back café-bar The 78 is something of an odd one out. It’s situated in the West End for one thing (just off Argyll Street in Finnieston, in the same premises Stereo inhabited years back before moving into town), while its focus on food also sets it apart from its siblings.
It’s vegan cuisine all the way, and delightfully done, at prices sometimes so low it feels like robbery. For proof, see the weekday burger and pint deal for £6.25, or cheaper still, dub’n’grub Thursdays, when you can get a three-course feed for less than £10.
With chunky wooden tables and mismatched vintage armchairs, an open kitchen hatch at one end of the room and an open fire at the other, the atmosphere is cosy and relaxed, as is the service.
Standouts from the main lunchtime and evening menus – again, very reasonably priced – include quesadillas with refried beans, and the classic 78 veggie burger served with homemade chutney and salad, and ever-changing speciality falafels. The beer selection is extensive, with plenty of Williams Bros., Sam Smiths, Black Isle and other brews both on tap and in the fridge. There are DJs pretty much every Friday and Saturday – when, as on Thursdays, the bar is open until 1am – while Wednesday is open mic night and Sundays are all about live jazz.