SIPPING a stiff whisky, I was content with an afternoon in.

But the Moll had other ideas and persuaded me she needed a lunchtime treat.

"Let's hit the West End", she said, and led me down to possibly the most secluded joint in the West End, The Bothy.

Hidden in Ruthven Lane - just off Byres Road - we arrived on a balmy summer afternoon, just in time to sample the delights of the lunch menu.

The restaurant is cosy, without being cramped and the ambience of the place didn't suffer from a lack of patrons.

Indeed the large couches, funky wallpaper and friendly service only added to the cosy atmosphere.

Dressed in her finery, The Moll looked slightly out of place among the casual West End dinners.

She glanced disapprovingly at the mismatched wooden chairs, as our friendly waitress showed us to our table. "Hmm," she grumbled.

I sensed trouble brewing. We needed a drink and we needed it fast.

First up was an Innis & Gunn Beer and large glass of Sauvignon Blanc to clear the city dust from our throats.

The Moll's rumbling tum waits for no man, so we began to scan the scran. Thankfully, within moments, our waitress returned and we ordered.

The menu is was straight to the point, featuring as it does the usual pub grub - battered fish and chips, BLT, steak sandwich, steaks and a full breakfast.

While not extensive - and that's not necessarily a bad thing - the menu is eclectic and appealing.

The choices provided a mouthwatering array of traditional Scottish dishes and there was more than enough to tempt us both.

For a starter, the Moll played it safe and chose thick-cut crusty bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

After her first bite, she perked up and Toots tucked into her dish like there was no tomorrow.

Across the table, fast disappearing down my throat, was a smoked pancetta, poached egg, and Stornoway black pudding salad. It was bursting with delicious, piping hot black pudding and contained a punchy aftertaste.

It was little nippy - a bit like The Moll herself.

Great start and it only got better. We didn't even have to wait too long before the mains arrived.

Our very friendly waitress whipped the plates away and returned with our main dishes - Steak And Mushroom Pie for The Moll, and The Bothy Burger for yours truly.

The steak was so well cooked and succulent, without being overly done or chewy, and Toots said the smell and flavours from the pie were amazing.

"This is superb," The Moll cried. "I could eat another plate of that."

According to her highness the steak was among the most flavoursome she'd ever tasted.

Her loud munching let the rest of the diners know how much she loved it. Toots was also impressed with the fries and crisp seasonal veg.

The Bothy Burger - a mix of steak and haggis- hit the value-for-money sweet spot and was the meatiest meal I'd had in a while.

The juicy burger was succulent and balanced perfectly with the soft foccacia bun.

A special mention also to the "skin-on" chips, which were ordered chosen over mashed potato, as I'd heard they were exceptional.

And they were. As was the entire meal. The portions couldn't be faulted - all plates were piled high with nosh.

Pleasantly full, we decided to steer clear of the dessert menu.

Instead, we ordered another beer and glass of wine, which finished off the food beautifully.

"There isn't always room for dessert, Tec, but there's always room for another wine", Toots said with a grin.

All in all, our trip to The Bothy was a complete success.

The laid-back atmosphere and friendly staff mean that we'll pop into this braw bothy again soon.