MONEY was tighter than the Moll’s new  pleather  skirt. 

And the mood wasn’t improved much by the election result.

It was time to switch off the gogglebox and vacate Tech Towers.

Thankfully, we discovered a night on the tiles isn’t always out of the question if the dimes are in short supply.The Slug And Lettuce offers a 50% discount on food and drink on Monday nights.

Toots’ talents don’t lie in the kitchen and after a weekend of her home-cooked efforts, I was ready to eat a scabby stallion.

I de-iced the Buick, bundled Blondie into the front seat and we headed for the St Vincent Street venue, which has launched a brand new menu adding to an already plentiful range of options.

Tofu superfood salads, noodle boxes and burritos now sit alongside the standard pub favourites of scampi and chips, burgers and lasagne.

Extra points for adding a ‘healthier’ kids menu for the ankle-biters who are also given a bag of veg sticks and colouring in book to keep them occupied while the parents do some damage to the drinks menu.

We are quickly shown to a cosy booth by a friendly gal, who delivers me a French Martini, while the Moll powders her nose.

The bar offers half price cocktails, all day every day as well as Fizz Friday, when bottles of Prosecco are available for £12.

At these prices I’ll be leaving the motor in town overnight and checking us into a five-star hotel.

The venue has a bit of a boudoir vibe, perfect for after-work assignations and I make a note to return with my best contact and a blank cheque.

After much deliberation, I opt for the Kimchi oriental steam buns with Korean-style pickled vegetables, baby spinach and a spiced lemon dressing.

They are flavoursome and delicious, the buns as light as a feather.

The Moll is seduced by the soft tacos which come with grilled halloumi and roasted beets and roots with jalapeños, served in soft corn tacos and dressed with a spiced lemon dressing.

“It’s quite spicy,” she exclaims, going red in the face. Thankfully, she likes her meals as hot as her men and devours every mouthful.

She says the butternut squash was a little too firm and could have done with a little more time in the oven but declares the portion size just right for a starter.

After ordering up a couple of glasses of red, our mains arrive. The service is super-fast and friendly.

I’ve ordered the smoked haddock and Coley fishcakes with potatoes and Applewood-smoked cheddar in oat and parsley breadcrumbs. The dish comes with a superfood salad but I’ve ordered some skinny fries to balance out the goodness.

It’s a lovely and very filling meal, well worth a tenner and an absolute bargain with a half-price deal.
After a spicy start to proceedings, Blondie decides to keep it traditional with a minced beef and pork lasagne, also served with a superfood salad. 

“It’s got plenty of meaty filling,” she swoons, with just the right amount of tomato and béchamel sauce. Best of all, she says, it’s piping hot. Too many restaurants can’t seem to fulfil this basic requirement for an enjoyable dining experience.

We are fit to burst but manage to squeeze in a mixed dessert plate to share, which includes praline flavoured profiteroles and a boozy Mojito jelly, leaving with enough spare change left to book into a motel.


Starters

Tacos £4.99 
Steam buns £4.99

Mains
Lasagne £8.29
Fishcakes £10.29

Desserts
Mixed dessert plate £4.49 


Drinks 
French Martini £4.50 
Passionfruit Daquiri £4.50 
Glass of Malbec  £5
Glass of Valpolicella £5.30 


Total.......... £33.58
(half price food 
and cocktails)

150 St Vincent Street, Glasgow, www.slugandlettuce.co.uk