][1]The 5pm Dining blog would like to say a hearty ‘Benvenuto!’ to Volare, a new Italian restaurant which has opened in Newton Mearns.
Run by the Russo brothers, Volare has replaced Fleming’s on Ayr Road.
Nunzio and Mariano Russo have plenty of experience of Glasgow’s burgeoning Italian market.
Their grandfather owned the Pasta Russo company while the brothers have both La Fiorentina Restaurant at Paisley Road Toll and, since 2013, Mediterraneo Italian Grill & Cocktail Bar on Ingram Street in the Merchant City.
Family meals
Nunzio and Mariano spent their earliest years in Naples and Volare aims to recreate their memories of family meals in Italy.
The wide ranging a la carte menu covers lots of well known Italian starters as well as one or two Scots-Italian favourites such as the haggis Toscano or haggis on toast topped with poached egg and crispy bacon strips.
Naturally, there is a great range of pasta and risotto dishes as well as classic grilled steak, lamb and veal dishes. Fish lovers are well catered for with dishes like the baked sea bass fillets in a rosemary and white wine sauce.
Stone-baked pizza
Perhaps the pride of place goes to the pizza which are cooked hard and fast in a stone pizza oven. Made to an old family recipe, all the bases are stretched by hand and topped with ripe San Marzano tomatoes and fresh fior di latte Mozzarella from Italy.
We’ve got our eye on the pizza diavola which is topped with tomato, Mozzarella, spicy Italian salami and jalapenos.
Volare has a lovely patio area for those brief but glorious summer months when Southsiders can really get a taste of the Med by dining al fresco.