Smile Café

Update time! I realized that despite having lived virtually upstairs from Smile for 5 months, I’ve never reviewed their food! Shame on me.
While I love the neighboring North Star for a sit in lunch or brunch, you simply cannot beat Smile for their paninis. I’ve never had a cold sandwich there, but have sampled a few of the hot ones, and they are always just top quality! First, the bread… crispy, crunchy crust and a perfectly soft fluffy interior. The flavor of the bread is perfectly balanced with a delicate sweetness. The only way I can properly describe it is that it tastes like the bread you get on the Continent– that same indescribable deliciousness you get from authentic French or Italian bakeries, right here in Glasgow!
I’ve sampled a few of their vegetarian options, which are tasty, and the salami/​smoked cheese/​wild broccoli number is also good, though the ‘broccoli’ is closer in texture to spinach and is marinated in vinegar which isn’t my favorite. The real winner, however, and maybe the best sandwich I’ve ever had, is the Ispani. My boyfriend assured me for months that this was the only sandwich worth getting here, but I was stubborn and went through a host of other delicious options before trying this one. Now I’m a convert! I have to limit myself to one a week or I’d eat it every single day!
The menu says ‘pancetta, mozarella, sundried tomatoes’ but what arrives is a perfectly balanced flavor explosion of prosciutto ham, BIG fat sundried tomatoes, and creamy melty cheese. It’s such a simple combination but when you taste it… OOOFT. It’s just got that wowomgflavorexplosion factor that is so rare! Salty, dreamy, creamy goodness. Every bite is like a mouthgasm.
They also have every flavor of San Pellegrino here, another reason to come back again and again!

I was excited to try the coffee after all the rave reviews, but unfortunately, I was underwhelmed. It wasn’t bad, and it was well-​made, but the coffee had that burnt flavour of dark roasted beans that just isn’t my jam.
We also tried a gluten-​free chocolate almond torte; again, I really wanted to like it but it just sweet and not amazing. The menu didn’t have many gluten free options, just a few salads and some platters served without the bread.
Take cash if you go, they don’t take cards!

Really enjoyed coffee here today! Love the fact you get a nice glass of water with it, my friend had a salad that she couldn’t’ finish because there was so much if it. The variety on the menu is great and the sound of their homemade lasagne was amazing. Great range of pasta and other Italian goodies in stock. I will be back for pasta and more yummy coffee!

I visited for the first time today after hearing good things. This place is excellent!
I ordered a foccacia with ham, roasted peppers and mozzarella which was absolutely delicious. All the ingredients were fresh and plentiful. They obviously use good quality ham which makes a big difference. I’d been looking for a café that sold hazelnut gelato all summer and at last I’ve found it! I had one scoop served in a tall ice cream glass and I was over the moon.
I also had a coffee and my bill was still less than £10 which I think is great in comparison to other cafes in the area. Sad flat paninis have always been my personal bugbear and The Smile Café is the perfect antidote to a certain chain that shall remain nameless (rhymes with Shmosta).
The café is very small and cosy but it had a nice relazed atmosphere. There are lots of Italian groceries for sale and the ceiling was decked out with large boxes of panettone (which is also available to buy by the slice).
I’m already looking forward to my next visit here and I plan on sampling the Italian hot chocolate.

I felt that I needed to write a wee review update of this place because of the amount of times I’ve now been! I tend to pop in here every time I’m in town these days which can’t be good for my wallet but it’s good for my stomach!
I absolutely love this place, and Santino and Rocco are absolutely wonderful guys. I always sit in the café for ages talking about anything from purchasing fridges (today’s conversation!) to carbonara recipes. The food in here is outstanding, the coffee in here is outstanding, and I’m so glad I was introduced to these genuinely lovely guys and this wonderful wee place!

I’d been to this place a month back to scope it out seeing as they advertised real Italian coffee and panini. Great I thought, I’ll give their coffee a go. The fridge looked well stocked and the coffee good, but perhaps a bit on the weak side.
So I popped in again to try a sandwich (or panino as they say in Italy) and a wee coffee. Much to my delight the coffees are now double shot for the same price, result! The panino was also delicious, made with crispy fresh ciabatta bread, imported cheese, and homemade grilled veggies.
Now, for a café in the west end the prices are very reasonable perhaps even cheap. Staff were friendly and there was a nice buzz about the place with cheesy 80s music playing in the background. In all honesty I’d struggle to find a better sandwich or coffee in the city, so for that reason, top marks.