Cafe Cossachok

Cossachok proudly proclaims itself to be "Scotland's first and only authentic Russian restaurant." And my, what a standard to set! Indoors, an explosion of vibrant colour and a hotch-potch of patterns and traditional Russian trinkets is offset by floor-length picture windows which gaze directly onto the hustle of Glasgow's premier shopping district. The menu is wonderfully, tangibly authentic, bursting with concoctions The Skinny would only pronounce quietly - and reluctantly - ranging from the vaguely familiar (blinis with smetana, jam and honey) to the fantastically obscure (chakhokhbili).
Once you've got your chops round Cossachok's cuisine, why not linger for one of their regular live music performances, or absorb some visual culture in their small but perfectly formed gallery space?