Osteria Merchant City is a cosy Italian restaurant at 17 John Street in central Glasgow. Its easygoing motto that there is no rush reflects the tavern style atmosphere, encouraging diners to settle in over bread, olives and a drink before the main meal.
The menu spans familiar Italian cooking, including pasta, pizza, risotto, seafood and meat dishes. Fresh ingredients and a mix of classic and more modern combinations make the selection useful for both a quick lunch and a longer dinner.
Set and à la carte menus provide different ways to order, while Italian wine, beer and cocktails complement the food. Desserts and coffee round out the experience, and vegan and gluten free choices broaden the range for mixed groups.
The Merchant City location is convenient for nearby galleries, shops and transport hubs, making Osteria suitable for casual meals, dates and celebrations. Diners with allergies should ask staff about current recipes and kitchen handling before ordering.
Address: 17 John Street, Merchant City, Glasgow G1 1HP, Scotland
Osteria Merchant City Menu
Starters
Minestrone
Classic Italian soup served with bread.
Zuppa del Giorno
Soup of the day served with bread.
Scottish Mussels
Mussels, white wine, tomato and chilli, served with garlic bread.
Arancini
Traditional deep fried Italian rice balls coated in breadcrumbs made with our bolognese sauce, stuffed with cheese. Served with spicy tomato dip.
Polpetta dell’Osteria
Osteria’s homemade meatballs served in classic tomato sauce, served with garlic bread.
Paté Rustico
Delicious homemade chicken liver pate served with toasted italian bread and red onion chutney.
Garlic King Prawns
Garlic, lemon and chilli with white wine, served with garlic bread.
Calamari Fritti
Deep fried squid garnished with salad and basil mayonnaise.
Mozzarella Fritta
Sticks of mozzarella cheese coated in golden breadcrumbs, served with spicy tomato dip.
Insalata Caprese
Fresh mozzarella, fresh tomatoes and basil drizzled with olive oil.
Funghi Fritti
Mushrooms coated in crispy golden breadcrumbs, stuffed with cheese, served with garlic mayonnaise.
Bruschetta & Focaccia
Garlic Bread
Toasted bread smothered with garlic butter.
Garlic Bread & Mozzarella
Toasted bread smothered with garlic butter, topped with mozzarella cheese.
Bruschetta Classica
Marinated diced tomatoes, fresh basil and extra virgin olive oil.
Bruschetta Onion & Goat Cheese
Toasted Italian bread topped with goats cheese, caramelised onions and rocket.
Focaccia Garlic
Focaccia bread with garlic butter.
Focaccia Garlic & Cheese
Focaccia bread with garlic butter and cheese.
Focaccia Rosmarino
Focaccia bread with rosemary and sea salt.
Insalata
Insalata Caprino
Crostino with goats cheese resting on mixed leaves.
Insalata dell’Osteria
Diced roasted chicken breast on mixed leaves tossed with our own Caesar dressing.
Mains
Salmon alla Cajun
Delicious pan fried fillet of salmon in a spicy Cajun sauce. Served with your choice of side order.
Seabass al Limone
Fantastic pan seared fillets of seabass with white wine, butter and tarragon sauce. Served with your choice of side order.
Pollo Milanese
Our traditional breaded chicken breast served on classic penne arrabbiata.
Pollo dell’Osteria
Superb pan fried chicken breast coated in breadcrumbs, baked with a cheese sauce and mushrooms, topped with Parma ham. Served with your choice of side order.
Pollo al Funghi
Amazing chicken breast with a creamy mushroom sauce. Served with your choice of side order.
Pasta
Spaghetti Pomodoro
Spaghetti with a tomato and fresh basil sauce.
Penne Arrabbiata
Penne pasta in a spicy tomato sauce.
Spaghetti Bolognese
Spaghetti served with our family sauce recipe.
Lasagne di Mamma
Authentic meat lasagne pasta with prime Scottish beef. (gluten free not available)
Macaroni Cheese
Osteria’s own macaroni cheese recipe.
Parmigiana di Melanzane
Traditional Italian dish baked in the oven with layers of aubergine, tomato sauce, parmesan and fresh basil served with garlic bread.
Ravioli Ricotta e Spinaci
Delicate ravioli filled with spinach and ricotta sauce served in the traditional parmesan sauce.
Spaghetti Carbonara
Spaghetti served with a sauce of eggs, cream, bacon and parmesan cheese.
Mezze dell’Osteria
Mezze maniche (shortened rigatoni) with chicken, mushrooms, garlic and spinach in a creamy sauce, finished with parmesan.
Spaghetti con Polpette
Osteria’s unique homemade meatballs served with spaghetti in a classic Italian Napoli sauce.
Spaghetti ai Frutti di Mare
Spaghetti served with a mix of fresh Scottish fish and seafood in a white wine or tomato sauce and chilli.
Mezze Rigatoni Perugina
Mezze maniche (shortened rigatoni) with bacon, mushrooms, tomato and cream.
Penne All’Amatriciana
Penne pasta with bacon, red onion, white wine and tomato sauce.
Spaghetti A.O.P. & Prawns
Spaghetti and king prawns, with tomato sauce, garlic, extra virgin olive oil and chilli.
Risotto
Risotto Mediterraneo
Delicate risotto with mixed vegetable in a tomato sauce.
Risotto Funghi e Salsiccia
Tasty risotto with Italian mince sausage and porcini mushrooms.
Risotto Pescatora
Superb risotto with mixed fresh Scottish fish and seafood in a white wine or tomato sauce and chilli.
Risotto al Pollo
Chicken, onion and broccoli tossed with risotto rice and cream, finished with parmesan.
Osteria’s Burgers
All our burgers are served with chips.
Burger
100% Beef burger, topped with fresh tomato and lettuce.
Pollo Milanese Burger
Breaded chicken breast, topped with fresh tomato and lettuce.
Contorni on the Side
Sides all £3.95 each.
Insalata Mista
Mixed salad.
Patatine Fritte
Chips.
Patate Arrosto
Roasted potatoes.
Funghi al’Aglio
Garlic mushrooms.
Rice
Pizza – Bianche
Cacio e Pepe
Mascarpone, black pepper, mozzarella cheese, parmesan and spinach.
Don Balosa
Mozzarella cheese, sliced tomato and basil pesto.
Tartufo
Mozzarella cheese, Parma ham, mushrooms, garlic potatoes, rocket salad and truffle oil.
Pizza – Rosse with Tomato Sauce
Margherita
Tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese and fresh basil.
Boscaiola
Tomato sauce, mozzarella, Italian sausage and porcini wild mushrooms.
Patacca
Tomato sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, chicken and Italian sausage.
Bufala
Tomato sauce, buffalo mozzarella cheese, parmesan and sun dried tomatoes.
Hawaii
Tomato sauce, mozzarella, ham and pineapple.
Norcina
Tomato sauce, Italian sausage, mozzarella and basil.
Osteria
Tomato sauce, mozzarella, ham, mushrooms and rocket.
Ortolana
Tomato sauce, mozzarella, mushrooms, aubergine and courgette.
Parma
Tomato sauce, buffalo mozzarella, Parma ham.
Pollo Piccante
Chicken, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, chilli, mushrooms and garlic potatoes.
Il Divo
Tomato sauce, mozzarella and pepperoni.
Set Menu – Starters
2 Course £18.95. Add a Dessert for only £4. 2 & 3 Course Served Sun – Thu 12pm – 10pm / Fri & Sat 12pm – 4.30pm. Set Menu cannot be shared. NOT AVAILABLE OUTSIDE.
Soup of the Day
Chef’s soup of the day.
Minestrone
Classic Italian soup served with bread.
Bruschetta Classica or Garlic Bread
Marinated tomatoes, fresh basil and extra virgin olive oil.
Arancini all’Italia
Deep fried Italian rice balls, coated with breadcrumbs, made with our bolognese sauce. Served with spicy tomato dip.
Mozzarella Fritta
Sticks of mozzarella cheese coated in golden breadcrumbs, served with spicy tomato dip.
Funghi Fritti
Mushrooms coated in crispy golden breadcrumbs, stuffed with cheese, served with garlic mayonnaise.
Polpetta dell’Osteria
Osteria’s homemade meatballs served in classic tomato sauce, served with garlic bread. (Only £0.95 extra)
Paté Rustico
Delicious homemade chicken liver pate served with toasted italian bread and red onion chutney.
Scottish Mussels
Mussels, white wine or tomato & chilli, served with garlic bread. (Only £1.45 extra)
Calamari Fritti
Deep fried squid garnished with rocket salad and basil mayonnaise. (Only £1.45 extra)
Garlic King Prawns
Garlic, lemon and chilli with white wine, served with garlic bread. (Only £1.45 extra)
Set Menu – Mains
2 Course £18.95. Add a Dessert for only £4. 2 & 3 Course Served Sun – Thu 12pm – 10pm / Fri & Sat 12pm – 4.30pm. Set Menu cannot be shared. NOT AVAILABLE OUTSIDE.
Mezze Rigatoni Pomodoro
Mezze rigatoni (shortened rigatoni) with Grandma’s recipe of Napoli sauce.
Mezze Rigatoni Perugina
Mezze rigatoni pasta with bacon, mushrooms, tomato and cream.
Spaghetti Bolognese
Spaghetti served with Bolognese sauce.
Spaghetti Carbonara
Spaghetti served with a sauce of eggs, parmesan cheese and bacon.
Penne Arrabbiata
Penne pasta in spicy tomato sauce.
Macaroni Cheese
Traditional macaroni cheese.
Lasagne di Mamma
Authentic meat lasagne made with egg pasta and Scottish beef.
Parmigiana Melanzane
Vegetable lasagne of battered aubergine, tomato sauce and parmesan.
Risotto Mediterraneo
Risotto with mixed vegetables.
Risotto Salsiccia e Funghi
Risotto with minced Italian sausage and porcini mushrooms.
Insalata Caprino
Crostino with goats cheese resting on mixed leaves.
Insalata dell’Osteria
Diced roasted chicken breast on mixed leaves tossed with our own Caesar dressing.
Pollo Milanese
Pan fried chicken breast coated in breadcrumbs, served with pasta arrabbiata. (Choose any other pasta only £2 extra)
Pollo & Funghi
Chicken in a creamy special mushroom sauce and sage, served with rice. (Change rice to chips only £1.50 extra)
Osteria Burger
Beef patty with lettuce, tomato and red onions, served with chips. (Add cheese for only £1.50 extra)
Pollo Milanese Burger
Deep fried chicken coated in breadcrumbs, topped with fresh tomato, lettuce and red onions, served with chips. (Add cheese for only £1.50 extra)
Salmon & Cajun Sauce
Pan-seared salmon fillet with a spicy Cajun sauce, served with rice. (Only £2 extra) (Change rice to chips only £1.50 extra)
Seabass al Limone
Pan-seared fillet of seabass with white, butter and tarragon sauce, served with rice. (Only £2 extra) (Change rice to chips only £1.50 extra)
Set Menu – Pizza
2 Course £18.95. Add a Dessert for only £4. 2 & 3 Course Served Sun – Thu 12pm – 10pm / Fri & Sat 12pm – 4.30pm. Set Menu cannot be shared. NOT AVAILABLE OUTSIDE.
Cacio e Pepe
Mascarpone, black pepper, mozzarella cheese, pecorino cheese, parmesan and spinach.
Don Balosa
Mozzarella cheese, sliced tomato, basil and pecorino cheese.
Tartufo
Mozzarella cheese, Parma ham, mushrooms, garlic potatoes, rocket salad and truffle oil.
Hawaii
Tomato sauce, mozzarella, ham and pineapple.
Boscoiola
Tomato sauce, mozzarella, Italian sausage and porcini wild mushrooms.
Pataca
Tomato sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, chicken and Italian sausage.
Bufala
Tomato sauce, buffalo mozzarella cheese, parmesan and sun dried tomatoes.
Margherita
Tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese and fresh basil.
Norcina
Tomato sauce,Italian sausage, mozzarella and basil.
Osteria
Tomato sauce, mozzarella, ham, mushrooms and rocket.
Ortolana
Tomato sauce, mozzarella, mushrooms, aubergine and courgette.
Pollo Piccante
Tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, chicken, chilli, mushrooms and garlic potatoes.
Il Divo
Tomato sauce, mozzarella and pepperoni.
Set Menu – Dessert
Dessert £4 extra. Add ice cream for only £1 extra where noted.
Osteria’s Cheesecake
Ask your server for today’s flavour. (Add ice cream for only £1 extra)
Tiramisu della Mamma
One of Italy’s most popular desserts is a rich treat blending the bold flavours of cocoa and espresso with savoury mascarpone cheese. (Add ice cream for only £1 extra)
Affogato alla Vaniglia
Espresso Kimbo, vanilla ice cream.
Ice Cream (2 scoops)
Vanilla, Strawberry, Belgian Chocolate, Toffee.
Set Menu – Sundaes
Sundaes £6 extra.
Toffee Tablet
2 scoops of vanilla ice cream, 1 scoop toffee ice cream, rich toffee sauce, tablet chunks, whipped cream, Rossini chocolate curls and topped with more tablet chunks.
Raspberry Snowball Delight
2 scoops of vanilla ice cream, 1 scoop strawberry ice cream, fruity raspberry sauce, fresh raspberries, snowball, whipped cream Rossini chocolate curls and topped with a fresh raspberry.
Banana Split
2 scoops of vanilla ice cream, 1 scoop Belgian chocolate ice cream, rich chocolate sauce, fresh banana, whipped cream and Rossini chocolate curls.
Strawberry Delight
2 scoops of vanilla ice cream, 1 scoop strawberry ice cream, fresh strawberries drowned in strawberry sauce, topped with whipped cream and fresh strawberry decoration.
Chocolate Fudge Brownies
2 scoops of vanilla ice cream, 1 scoop Belgian chocolate ice cream, loaded with rich chocolate fudge sauce, chocolate fudge brownies, whipped cream, Rossini chocolate curls and more chocolate fudge brownies!