THE Moll shrieked with delight her best pal was coming to visit the big smoke and the pair were planning a mammoth shopping day.

Finally I could have a Saturday for myself when I could watch wall to wall football in piece and quiet.

"I'll be out all day, Sweetie, so you had better leave me your credit card," Toots suggested.

Once I had got over the shock, I handed over my not so flexible friend and let the little lady get on her way.

Everything was going to plan the football and beers were going a treat when I got a text.

"Cards maxed out, mon cheri, come and meet me for dinner," was the message.

Toots wasn't a lady to keep waiting, so a quick splash of Old Spice and I was out the door of Tec Towers in a flash.

I had been summoned to a new French eaterie in town Cote.

It was right in the middle of the ever expanding restaurant district close to Central Station.

At least this place was a little bit different from the various burger bars which haves sprung up.

I walked into the trendy little joint and informed the host I was meeting the good lady.

Toots was already there with a glass of vino in hand and surrounded by rather expensive looking shopping bags.

"I'm utterly exhausted, let's eat, "cried The Moll.

A total refit and new decor meant this joint was really looking the part.

The menu was going to take some time to go through, so I decided to join The Moll and ordered up a glass of wine.

Complimentary filtered water was on the go which makes a nice change from having to buy bottled water in restaurants these days.

Everything all sounded so good and my tastebuds were being well and truly tempted.

I was almost salivating with the thought of some of the dishes.

This would be a hard place to choose.

Eventually Toots and I decided to share a starter and ordered that up while we made our minds up on the mains.

And not before long our sharing starter of Pissaladiere.

It took us back to a little city break we enjoyed a few years ago in Nice as I remembered this dish was a speciality.

The thin bread and caramelised onion topping certainly delivered on flavour and went very well with the vino.

When it comes to my food, I like the simple things in life.

The roast chicken seemed like the perfect choice to me, but I was willing to try the fancy gratin potatoes.

Her ladyship however was going all out and chose the mussels and frites.

It ended up being a lovely late summer evening, which meant the place was busy but not jumping.

I supposed with anything new, it can take a while for things to pick up.

There was certainly plenty staff around to help and meant service was pretty swift.

Our main event arrived. My chicken was golden brown and came with crunchy French beans and tasty gratin potatoes.

Succulent chicken was ooh la la and I even polished off the potatoes despite the hint of garlic which I normally steer clear of.

I looked over at Toots and could hardly see her behind the bowl of piping hot mussels.

She was in her element and could only just manage a thumbs up, while digging into the never ending pot.

There was certainly no complaints from her and she even scooped up the tasty sauce as if it was a bowl of soup.

You couldn't argue with the value at £11.95 it seemed to be bargain dish of the day.

We called it quits after coffee and settled the bill.

All that remained was to try and got Toots and her shopping bags home.

Cote Brasserie

41- 43 West Nile Street, Glasgow

G1 2 PT

Telephone 0141 248 1022

Starters

Reblochon Pissaladiere £4.40

Mains

Moules Frites £11.95

Roast Chicken £9.95

Drinks

Poyet white wine £4.80 x 2

Merlo red wine £4.95 x 2

American Decaf Coffee £2.10

Cappuccino £2.35

Total

£56.53