Emma 
Tasty Cakes and brunch at Singl-end in Glasgow
Hidden away in a basement, off the beaten track in Garnethill probably isn’t where you would first look for dishes such as spicy baked eggs or (possibly) the biggest selection of gluten-free cakes in Glasgow. However, it is..!
Located along from Glasgow Art School, Singl-end made a name for itself in 2014 then suddenly closed, re-opening around a year later at the tail end of 2015 with less restaurant-feel and a more casual café and bakehouse vibe. It’s certainly hit the spot with the brunch crowd at the weekend. So we wandered along for a late lunch to see what the fuss was about.
Stepping inside you immediately see tables laden with delicacies – delicious bread and cakes, and you can see straight into the kitchen. If you weren’t starving before you will be now! If you can tear yourself away from the cakes, take a seat at one of the quirky tables and peruse the menu. Everyone is catered for here with meat, vegan and veggie dishes available.
Decor and Atmosphere
We got a huge Berlin café feel here. Bare walls, office-y ceiling, an industrial counter-top, “nostalgic’ glass tables full of postcards, stamps and Polaroid photos with the odd bit of antique furniture here and there (when we visited someone was negotiating the sale of a vintage sewing machine with the owner!). It’s certainly an eclectic mix, noisy with chatter but relaxed enough that no one cares what you look like or are doing.
Well-lit, open and with plenty of seating, Singl-end seems to be able to remain on the quirky and kitsch side without veering into naff.
It’s studenty and afternoon tea-ish but without the w***ky feel that can be found in some places not too far from here.
The Menu
We settled down to check the menu and specials board. Vegan, Gluten-free and Vegetarian options available.
The Food
The all day breakfast menu is spot on, who says you can only have eggs Benedict before 12? You can also have porridge with almond or cows milk, smoothies, a fry-up or as Mr Foodie picked – Spicy baked eggs. He picked the meaty version (£9), liking the sound of the home-made pork and fennel sausage. The dish is also available for veggies(£8.50).
Look at that bowl of deliciousness! Served in a toasty pan, Mrs Foodie was straight in there with a fork to steal some. Not too spicy, but enough for that warming glow. Chunks of sausage surrounded by cannellini beans flavoured with tomato and a couple of perfectly cooked eggs to dip that fresh bread into. We were onto a winner here!
Mrs Foodie picked one of the specials, which was a broccoli, blue cheese and caper galette – a slab of puff pastry filled with garlic, cheese and topped with crispy baked broccoli. With the aromatic side salad, it was full of flavour.
Of course we had to save some room for the cakes, which is harder than it seems as the portions here are generous and filling and every cake looks amazing. We picked from the side-board filled with cakes, and it was a hard choice.
We plumped for the lime curd & courgette cake topped with pistachio and a cherry & chocolate brownie with a lovely gianduja/Nutella moreish-ness. Both cakes were gooey and fresh hitting the spot with accompanying flat white coffees.
The only downside to Singl-end is that it shuts at 5pm every day apart from Saturday (6pm).
The toilets also pass the cleanliness (and funkiness) test…
TL;DR
+ Great selection of very tasty food
+ Bohemian atmosphere that your gran would feel at home in!
+ Amazing cakes and all vegan too!
+ Spotlessly clean toilets
– closes early
Address: Singe-End 265 Renfrew St, Glasgow G3 6TT – 5 min walk to Charing Cross station / 10 mins to Cowcaddens Underground
Telephone: 0141 353 1277
Opening Hours: Mon–Fri 9am–5pm; Sat 10am–6pm; Sun 10am–5pm
