THE Christmas tunes are in full swing when we arrive at Missoula after parking the Buick downtown in Renfield Street.

It's jammed packed with merry office gals in party hats enjoying their annual festive blowout. It's a prime location for workers and with Christmas meal deals starting at £9.95 a head, it's easy to see why they are pulling the punters in.

If we were hoping for an intimate tete-a-tete, however, this is not the venue, I can barely hear the Moll speak and she ain't known for her hushed tones. However, small mercies, I consider to myself with a wry grin.

We find our reserved table smack bang in the middle of the restaurant part of the pub venue.

I'm keen to find out what the quality of food is like, for a quick pub bite in the city centre. The prices aren't bargain basement cheap but they have a 50% off deal every Monday.

Things don't get off to a great start though and we are faced with a bit of a wait before anyone comes near us. It's very near half an hour passing before staff come near our table. They are rushed off their feet attending to the demands of festive revellers so I'll let this one go.

The Moll isn't known for her patience though. She's drumming her New York Red polished talons so loudly on the table I can hear the noise through Noddy Holder's shrieks.

Finally, a friendly young blade comes over and takes our drinks order. Blondie plumps for a passionfruit daiquiri. She's reminiscing about our summer holiday to Marbella.

Minutes later he's back with a tray but it's a strawberry daiquiri instead.

It's not off to a great start but the starters soon put a smile back on Blondie's kisser.

Her head has been turned by the avocado, tomato and mozzarella salad. She declares it, "quite nice and fresh" and just the right size of portion for a starter.

It comes with a tomato salsa dressing but she feels a drizzle of balsamic dressing would probably be better.

I've gone for the breaded mushrooms, served with a garlic mayonnaise dip. They are light and very flavoursome and it's a very generous portion. Things are looking up.

The Moll's plumped for a veggie burger for her main. She read in the Woman's Journal that meat should be a treat and not a daily indulgence. She believe everything she reads that one, leaving the investigating to the Tec.

It's made with sweet potato mozzarella cheese and mixed peppers in garlic and coriander and coated in mixed-nut breadcrumbs.

The crispy coating floats her boat but complains it's a bit bland and could do with spicy beans or something to give it a kick. However her fries were just as she likes them, hot and crispy and skinny.

I've ordered up the hand-batter fillet of cod, served with chips, mushy peas and tartar sauce. It's pretty good, I can't find fault and a generous size too and well worth just shy of a tenner.

There's a tiny window of room for dessert and there is a plentiful choice. I've a hunch that the blackcurrant and Prosecco meringue roulade is going to be interesting and I'm right. It's a lovely combination, light, fresh and sweet with a hint of the fizzy stuff.

Blondie opts for the salted caramel chocolate bar with ice cream and declares it the evening's high point. I have to summon the waiter to lift her plate, she's threatening to lick it clean. We settle up and head to a quiet cocktail bar, leaving the party-goers to it.

Missoula, 110-114 W George St, www.missoulabars.co.uk

Food - 3

Service - 2

Atmosphere - 3

Starters

Mozzarella, tomato and avocado - £4.09

Breaded mushrooms - £3.79

Mains

Veggie burger - £8.29

Fish and chips - £9.49

Desserts

Blackcurrant and Prosecco meringue roulade - £3.99

Salted caramel chocolate bar - £3.99

Drinks

Strawberry daiquiri - £7.35

Glass of Malbec - £6.50

Total - £47.49