Gone are the days of a lone vegetable lasagna being the only vegetarian dish on the menu.

With the number of vegetarians, as well as flexitarians (those who substantially cut back the amount of meat they eat without fully being vegetarian) rapidly on the raise, most chefs realise the importance of creating inventive, appetising dishes that match, or even exceed their meat counterparts.

Glasgow, being a forward thinking dining city, has always catered well to veggies. In fact two years ago PETA named Glasgow the most Vegan friendly city in the UK.

So there’s no shortage of adventurous vegetarians dishes on the menus of our 5pm restaurants. Here’s our picks of the vegetarian dishes you don’t want to miss in Glasgow.

Vegetarian fish & chips at Arches Cafe Bar

When we visited the kitchen of Arches Cafe Bar, the chef himself told us vegetarian dishes are always given full attention due to the Arches’ volume of vegetarian customers. This is exemplified by their veggie take on fish and chips; instead of beer battered fish they serve beer battered halloumi that tastes sharp, salty and just as good as the real thing, served with hand cut chips, garlic peas and tartare sauce.

20% a la carte discount at Arches Cafe Bar on 5pm.

Mull cheddar souffle from Matilda’s

Matilda’s is a recent addition to Byres Road which has already made a big impact. The restaurant is best known for its saliva inducing patisserie, filled with rows of cakes, pastries and macaroons, but their a la carte menu shouldn’t be ignored either. We love a savoury souffle and a Mull cheddar souffle (served with rocket salad and a warm cherry tomato and red onion chutney) from a restaurant that knows their pastries, shouldn’t be missed.

£11.50 for 2 courses from the market menu from Matilda’s.

Nasi Goreng from Bar Soba

Nasi goreng, literally translating as “fried rice” in Indonesian and Malay, was invented as a way to use up leftover rice in Indonesia before becoming the country’s most famous dish. Containing a mix of rice and veg and topped with a fried egg, nasi goreng often includes meat, but Bar Soba on Byres Road and Mitchell Lane serve a vegetarian option along with a side order of veg tempura and pickles.

£13.95 for 2 courses on pre-theatre menu + glass of wine at Bar Soba on Mitchell Lane and Byres Road.

Mysore Masala Dosa from Dakhin

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Indian cuisine has a host of vegetarian curry options but Dahkin, which serves South Indian food in Glasgow’s Merchant City, raises the bar of inventive vegetarian Indian dishes. The restaurant specialises in dosas which are thin rice and lentil pancakes cooked on a griddle in various thicknesses then packing with ingredients. Dakhin’s mysore masala dosa is coated with a spicy red chutney and wrapped around a savoury filling of potatoes, onions, tomatoes and green peas, tempered with spices and mustard leaves.

50% main course a la carte discount at Dakhin on 5pm.

St Petersburg Blintzes from Cafe Cossachok

We call them pancakes, the French call them crepes and the Russians call them blinis; whatever you call them, those tasty circles of batter are surely one of the most versatile foods in the world and can be served a number of ways, savoury and sweet. The Russians pack them with stodgy and savoury food like potatoes and cabbage and Cafe Cossachok in Glasgow’s Merchant City serves up a veggie version called the St Petersburg Blintzes which is packed with mashed potatoes, fried onions & mushrooms and served with creamy mushroom sauce and salad garnish.

£6.95 for 2 courses on lunch menu at Cafe Cossachok on 5pm.

For loads more vegetarian dishes check 5pm Dining.