Bananas please, lots of bananas…read more That was my request a week or so back when I was kitting up for a smoothie and bananas are a must for any good smoothie in my book. Was pleased with this place, a good tidy layout with lots of stock including fruit you wouldn't get in supermarkets and at roughly the same prices. Nice and fresh for the most part, I picked up a few things I didn't even the know the name of (too embarassed to ask) and got down with the smoothie making business! A great wee shop that will see me return if I am ever in the viscinity.

The Fruit and Veg Company were open before I got into work this morning. So this fruit shop was…read moreopen AT HALF EIGHT ON A SATURDAY MORNING. Crazy guys, but I like it! There's a lack of fruiters selling natural looking crops these days. I have watched some scary supermarket documentaries in my time and don't want to tell you that our unnatural quest for finding perfect looking fruit is actually doing our bodies a whole lot of harm, not to mention the amount of wastage supermarkets create in search of their perfectly formed plums. But I'm not talking for Greenpeace, I'm reviewing, so I guess what I'm trying to convey is how important independent fruit shops are to the community. The offerings in here look so much more natural, while also being impeccably clean. The watermelons look mouthwateringly juicy, and the fruit and veg in general is varied and colourful. Everything in here looks filled with nutrients and vitamins! All fruit, veg and scales are within plucking distance which is great for shorties like me who absolutely hate having to crane, swipe and tiptoe to retrieve anything! And this seems to happen to me often in fruitshops, bizarrely. This one, I am happy to report, has everything in working order and on my eye level. It's very easy to navigate. All in all, a good fruit shop which is open unfathomably early in the morning. Hell, now I have no more excuses not to get my five a day since it's enroute to work!

Fantastic waitstaff! Vegan breakfast was great! Loved the sausages and beans and sourdough. The…read morehuevos rancheros were good too.

Definitely one of my favourite place to go in the west end, also because it was right in front of…read morewhere I lived. I really enjoyed their food, always fresh, warm and tasty. By I mean tasty, they put some twists into the dishes, they would add some different species. However, I was never disappointed, not even once. I sometimes go to buy bread from them, also quite good, always fresh too. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars: depending who's behind the counter, the service highly varies. Sometimes it's the really nice and courteous girl who brights up my day, but sometimes I get unlucky with some person without a smile :(

If you're a fan of Roots and Fruits, as most west-enders are, then definately try Andersons…read more It has the homey farmers' market feel to it that Roots and Fruits used to have. Ultra cheap, and excellent produce, you won't be disappointed. The staff are always friendly and helpful, and in fact, I've only ever seen the one guy working there, and let me tell you, he knows just about everyone in the neighbourhood! It's the independant 'Mom and Pop' business that is championed in a market economy; the 'little guy' we've been trying to protect from the big bad chain stores. They own a little flower shop next door, so while you're out buying the produce for the gourmet meal you're making your significant other for your anniversary, pick up some fresh cut flowers as well! They will not allow you to buy anything which is un-ripe or unhealthy. And with service like this, you'll never want to get your veg from Tescos ever again.

Anderson's on Queen Margaret Drive has been supplying my flatmates and I with organic fruit and…read morevegetables since we mvoed into the area. For competitive prices that you can only really beat at superstores like tesco you get top-quality pleasant service and top-quality fruit and veg, along with the feel-good factor of knowing you helped a small local business. I've yet to come across anything that has tasted slightly off, or even gone off before use, from Anderson's and I will still be shopping here for my fruit and veg even if Tesco's were to open right next door to my flat - it would be well worth the short walk.

I really didn't expect to be so impressed with the new Stalks & Stems on Great Western Road - this…read moreis a shop of dreams! I popped in for a super quick visit and was really impressed with their range - I reckon you could do a "proper" food shop here without any troubles as they have a really big range even though the shop isn't massive. Everything is super neat and tidy and it was really easy to navigate. I was only in to browse but they have a great vegan and gluten free selection so I will definitely pop back to give those a proper look. The staff were really nice and friendly, and didn't even mind that I paid on card for a £1 drink. I'll be back for sure!

Popped into Stalks & Stems for a little browse recently and it did not disappoint! I ended up…read moremaking some really exciting purchases (aka TEA!). The store is well laid out and it's such a cute little wholefoods store! Great range of products including a good selection of nut butters, teas, gluten free products and fresh produce. I'm obsessed with tea and for a small store, I was impressed with the range of teas they had on offer and found them all to be reasonably priced. They stock a good range of Pukka teas as well as some other brands. Service was great and the guys behind the counter were really friendly and chatty. I'll definitely be back - really impressed!

As my local (and sadly one of very few in the East End) fresh fruit and vegetable shop Ahmed's is…read moremy favourite. Always greeted with a smile and 'Hello' and his wife always compliments me on my dresses/hair ~ so nice! Certainly service with a smile. I usually pop in for the more 'exotic' vegetables/spices/herbs (no, not those type of 'exotic herbs', tut-tut!) and the odd packet of noodles or chilli sauce. I love their more exotic and Asian variety of produce as let's face it, you can pretty much get apples/potatoes/etc.. anywhere but West Indian Hot Sauce or some quality spices are a wee bit harder to track down. The only reason it's not 5 stars is because sometimes their produce isn't the freshest I've seen; it's edible but if like me you don't eat a dinosaur (herbivore of course) load of fruit/veggies a day then it'd not last long in your hoose before you have to toss it. I'm all for supporting the small shop/business owners over the mega giants (Te*co to name but one) so shopping in these smaller, local and (most usually) friendlier shops is always good for the soul and your local area.

Ahmeds is exactly why we should support the local shop owner, here you get service from a kindly…read moreman who is keyed up on his shops produce. Its convenient to buy everything all in one at the supermarket, but Ahemd's brings back that feeling of community and the shop owner asking you how your dog is as you go in. The feeling is mutual and this is all about building relationships and taking things back to basics. Ahmed's is a bit different and I like to save the pounds so I am keen to go to avoid the corporate empire that is the supermarket to go to this pleasant shop. You get my vote!

I was still in mourning for the Byres Road fish monger's (it used to be run by Bernard Corrigan)…read morewhen I spotted that The Fish Plaice had saved the day by opening a new fish monger in the exact same spot! Hurrah! It wasn't long before I was tempted into the new store by their offers board outside. The set up is a little different now. Most of the fish is on ice in the store window (I think there are more freezers and chiller cabinets in the back, if you want something that isn't on display. They also have a couple of shelves to hold other bits and pieces like lemons, duck eggs and so on. I bought three sea bream fillets, as I was planning dinner for two and you can never be sure how big a fish fillet will be - I'd rather buy too much than not enough. This came to a very reasonable £6.50, even more reasonable because they turned out to be quite large. The staff member I spoke to was great and chatted to me cheerfully as he packaged them up. Later, the fish turned out to be delicious - nothing beats really fresh sea bream. I'll definitely be back soon to try out the other things they have on offer. I'm tempted by the duck eggs (only 45p each!) and the huge langoustines I saw in the window. The only thing I'd be careful with is the fruit; while the fish (and presumably the game) is kept fresh on the ice, the fruit sits in boxes on the shelves. At room temperature. As I right this Glasgow is having a mini heat wave and room temperature is rather warm - the result being that some of the fruit was starting to look a little unhappy. However, I doubt this will be a problem for very long.

An absolute darling of a pop up! An amazing use of a previously unremarkable space- I barely…read morenoticed the alley beside Birr Halle existed before and it was transformed into this magical wee Bothy. Perfect for a quirky romantic date night or a night with friends with a continental feel. All fairy lights and fir branches, it felt like being in an enchanted forest in Hansel and Gretel! I love the amazing pop up scene in Glasgow. It's so much fun to try new foods and have to grab them before they're gone! The self service was great and lovely staff. There was a rotisserie alongside the Fish Plaice and staff were really helpful. The bijoux menu included a selection of flavoursome fish delights. I had the fish pie which was the best I've ever had - and as a comment from a frequent feaster of fish that's no small feat! My fellow dined had the salmon and haddock burger which I'm assured was awesome. We didn't use the bar but they had Heverlee beers and warm cider as well as prosecco. There was water on the tables too. There were faux sheepskin rugs to keep your botty from freezing in the indoor/outdoor space, fleece blankets for you to snuggle and patio heaters. It was so pleasant I took my coat off but my partner wasn't finding it so balmy! I hope they do another pop up soon- this was a really delightful and delicious treat.

I remember coming to the farmer's market back when I was an excited, wee student, back in t'day…read more The market back then was at its pre-recession peak, you could buy interesting potted herbs, cheese straight from the farms on Arran, there was even an honest to goodness food truck (shhh!) But *dramatic pause* the recession hit! Food trends went out the window faster than crocs & suddenly everyone was eating own label beans on stale white bread.. They were some long, lean years in the households of many a West End foodie.. Mansfield Park, all wind swept began to resemble some 80's Soviet drama, with hardened bread, greyish meat & rotting cabbage. But fear not, all's good(ish) again! Mansfield Park gas been transformed & now seems more home-baked, more multicultural & more organic than ever! In recent visits I've noticed French, Indian, Indonesian (& more) vendors, there's even a mom & pop chilli farm ho-lee shiz! There's still the meat stalls, which seem to have been there forever, selling local Venison etc, but now there's Fantoosh Fish too selling sushi & other oceany wares! Tapa now have competition from a few other stalls selling bread, cakes & other sweet treats. Tapa used to have a secret weapon (coffee) but now there's competition from from a dedicated coffee stall! What a time to be alive! Oh there's also a juice stall that's seriously good & a beer stall (yeah OK maybe it's a little early.. mibbe's no though!) Seeing as the market has several great breakfast/coffee places only a sleepy shuffle away there's no reason not to get your butts down here & check out the wonderful wares on sale at Mansfield Park! Don't be late it shuts at 2!

great selection of fresh produce, prices are consistently fair, open/close times are the most…read moreconvenient in the area for busy schedules & the staff are always friendly and helpful! my favorite place to shop.

Garden Fresh Exotics is genuinely my idea of heaven. An endless supply of fresh produce, weird and…read morewonderful herbs and spices, and any sort of Afro Caribbean ingredients you'll ever need can all be found under this roof. And the best part about it? It's all criminally cheap. I went in today and left with fenugreek seeds, star anise, cardamom, caraway seeds, rose syrup and nutmeg. For a tenner. That may not sound overly cheap, but these were massssssive bags, and I swear the amount of star anise in the bag will last me about 5 years. I will definitely be back here again and again. The staff are helpful, they know where anything you need is, and the plethora of fresh fruit and veg available will benefit me greatly!

This shop is one of the main reasons I go to Pollockshields. The sheer range of groceries from the…read moreIndian sub-continent (predominately Pakistan/India) is amazing. I am always impressed with the prices aswell, which are far more in line with a wholesaler than a retailer. The old premises used to be on Maxwell Road, however the newer premesis are now literally round the corner on Forth Street. I visited last week, and there is now more of a "cash n carry" feel about the place, with pallets stacked high and whatnot. Nevertheless, the excellent selection and sheer variety or groceries are still there, as are the extremely reasonable prices. What I love about this store is not only do you ALWAYS find exactly what you're looking for, but they constantly have new lines in which allow you to try different foods. To put this in perspective, I bought a bottle of coconut oil from a local shop which cost £2.49...saw exactly the same bottle in Strawberry Spice Garden for £1.19. Literally less than half the price. Here you will find the best variety of Asian spices, fruit, vegetables, herbs, tinned produce, kitchenware/houseware, frozen foods, snacks, sauces, etc, etc. They also cater for many restaurants and takeaways, so it is very common to see large bulk items such as 5kg tubs of sauce, 10kg bags of rice/flour, etc. The butcher section is still in development, but will be open in the near future. Definitely worth a visit. If there is a particular Asian ingredient or food you are looking for I can guarantee you will find it here. The store is extremely popular with both locals and those from outside the area. Service is surprisingly fast, you don't really wait that long to be served atall and the cashiers are extremely efficient. I would go as far as suggesting that this is the best place in Glasgow for your Asian groceries.

Something very, very exciting just happened. We just bought the first Christmas tree of our very…read moreown. We headed along Dumbarton Road in search of some suitable trees, and found ourselves at the so-named Fruit & Veg Florist. As well as the normal fruit, vegetable and flowers you would expect to find, they also had a selection of Christmas trees lining the street outside the shop. The signs on the trees said from £21.99 - which was cheaper than any other trees we'd seen in the area. I was sold. The two men in the shop (who I assume were brothers) came out to help us pick one. They were really friendly, and we picked out a five foot one. In return for a very sweet smile on my part, they gave it to us for £20. They kept offering to deliver it for us, but we assured them that we lived just down the street and we could carry it back ourselves. (And by that, I meant that my boyfriend could carry it while I bounced along beside him with excitement). A really nice friendly grocers, definitely worth a visit whether you're looking for a Christmas tree, some decorations, or just the normal fruit and veg.