The city was jumping to the Sound of the Underground as Girls Aloud were in town....

so when The Moll told me to meet her near the SECC, I thought my luck was in.

But it turned out Toots was the only girl allowed for me and instead of joining the pop crowd, we were heading for a new Italian eaterie next to the entertainment hub.

The venue has had a few incarnations and the latest is as La Rotunda, with a new team having taken over the lower section of the north tower of the old Clyde Tunnel building.

We swung into the busy joint to take the winter chills away, but it seemed a bit nippy inside as well with the sulky welcome we received.

The restaurant was packed with what looked like pre-concert diners, and a quick scan of this place left me wondering which pew would be ours.

There is always one poor couple in a restaurant you feel sorry for when they're offered the worst seat – and it seemed it was our turn.

Right on cue, a waiter ushered us to the table of dread. For once The Moll felt silent.

It was tucked away near the till and one look from the little lady meant I would need to do some talking – and fast.

I asked if we could be seated elsewhere and we were taken to a lower level.

I was impressed that they were still offering us the early evening deal past the bewitching hour of 7.30pm, but I am not sure who was getting the favour here.

We ordered a bottle of Pinot Grigio Blush – The Moll's choice, I might add – and sipped our drinks while we looked through the menu.

There certainly seemed a lot to choose from and there was a reasonably priced two-course menu, but, as they say, never judge a book by its cover.

The Moll started wincing, I didn't think I'd done anything wrong – yet.

But she explained a cool breeze was wafting through – but in mid March it was more like an Arctic blast.

The peepers continued to hone in on a few favourites on the menu, so we hurriedly ordered.

I plumped for Italian bread and olives and a cremated ribeye steak.

While Toots had decided on the set menu of chicken liver pate and tortellini with tomato and cream sauce. All sounded quite appetising.

Our starters were swift, almost too swift.

The Moll's pate looked like something from a pre-prepared 1970s buffet and as for my bread, it was certainly fresh on the day – just not the day I went.

I was hoping for better things to come with our mains.

Pasta for the lady arrived and while my steak wasn't quite mooing it was far from well done.

It wasn't the way I had ordered it, and it was sent back to the kitchen.

Now, I have seen The Moll eat almost anything, but it was beginning to look like she was struggling.

"This ain't like Mama used to make," declared Toots, "in fact you could do better Tec."

Things must have been bad as I can even burn water.

The bowl of pasta might have looked plentiful, but not a great deal of imagination had gone in to it.

The dish didn't come up to scratch, and the sauce could have had more flavour.

My steak came back and I got through it, but more because I was hungry by this point.

Staff were coming and going, and I was beginning to lose track of our servers.

Yet another waitress appeared and asked if everything was ok?

We explained it wasn't great. To be fair to her she offered us desserts on the house, and we accepted a coffee instead.

We settled our bill and called it a night.

This place is probably aimed at getting people in and out quickly for the latest big show.

But judging from the performance we received, I don't think we'll be looking for an encore.

LA ROTUNDA, 28 TUNNEL STREET, GLASGOW

TEL: 0141 847 0880

Food 44 Atmosphere 44 Service 44

STARTERS

Chicken liver pate (part of a £14.95 set menu)

Bread and olives £2.95

MAINS

Ribeye steak £16.50

Tortellini (set menu)

DRINKS

Bottle of Pinot Grigio Blush £18

TOTAL £52.40