Saramago Cafe Bar

Saramago Cafe Bar is located at the CCA in Glasgow, the Centre for Contemporary Art on Sauchiehall Street. The food menu is 100% vegan which makes is a great option to grab a bite before going to see a show, performance of exhibition. 

The menu is incredibly varied, with influences from the Middle East, Italian, Scottish and Asian cuisines, home-baked bread and fresh cakes. 

I actually eat at Saramago Cafe Bar quite a lot, because the CCA is a popular event space for the kind of films and performances I'm interested in. I've tried a variety of dishes from the menu, which changes a little with the seasons.

From the current menu, I have tried the Reuben sandwich, which is made with tempeh rashers, sauerkraut, mixed leaves and a mustard mayonnaise. It's filled with fresh ingredients and served with a big side salad, so it's not only a healthy, but also a filling option. I also ordered the sourdough pizza with rosemary potatoes, mushrooms, red onion and spinach before; and most recently tried the wild rice and tofu salad, which was absolutely delightful!

The one thing I'd say about Saramago Cafe Bar is that it's best to come with a little bit of time at your hand. Because the restaurant is located in an event venue, it is often the case that I want to eat before, after or in between shows - like just about everybody else in the building. This results in longer wait times to order and for the food to come, which can be a little stressful, if you've got tickets booked for after your meal. Personally, I think the menu is a little bit too big, which might contribute to this as well. However, the food is delicious and absolutely worth the wait when it's busy.

Saramago can get really busy in the evenings, especially when there is a festival or special event going on, so I recommend booking a table to make sure you get a seat.

Labelling: All food at Saramago Cafe Bar is 100% vegan, however the bar isn't so if you order coffee with milk, make sure to state that you're vegan and would like it with plant milk.

Budget: I would place Saramago on an intermediate price level, when it comes to vegan food in the city centre. Mains are between £9.50 and £12, but if you're in for a light meal, one of the salads for £8 or a sandwich for £6 will easily fill you up!