Empires may crumble and glaciers may melt but the popularity of Italian food will never wane.

If you live in Glasgow and you like Italian food then you have no shortage of options.

And your range of options is about to get wider as Leonardo's gears up for a launch on the corner of Paisley Road West and Crookston Road.

Built in the 1930s, the site was most recently a solicitors' office but has lain vacant for more than a decade.

A family-run business, the new restaurant has its roots in the Leonardo's restaurant which has been feeding the good people of Hamilton for the last ten years.

Italian classics

The menus for the new place are not online as this blog is being written but it will include a 'handpicked selection of favourite dishes from Leonardo’s of Hamilton' as well as  'some new sensational Southside classics'.

Team faves apparently include the linguine langostine e gamberoni - linguine with fresh langoustines and juicy prawns (main pic taken Leonardo's Facebook) - plus the pollo saltimbocca made with chicken, Parma ham and buffalo mozzarella.

Naturally, there are plenty of veggie options alongside gluten-free pasta.

If the menus at Leonardo's in Hamilton are any indicator then the Southside branch will feature lots of pasta and pizza plus seafood, chicken, beef and veal options like the pan-fried veal escalopes with a mushroom cream sauce.

An firm opening date has yet to be announced but there does appear to be booking from Friday 22nd November.

And another new Italian

The next few weeks look busy for Glasgow's pasta fans.

As well as the imminent launch of Leonardo's on Paisley Road West, Sugo looks set to open officially on Mitchell Street on Monday 2nd December.

When it starts welcoming customers, Sugo will be the sister restaurant to Glasgow's two Paesano restaurants.

While the Paesano units specialise in pizza, Sugo will focus on regional pasta dishes.