Una Storia

Such a teeny tiny restaurant on such a busy street as Ashton Lane should have no problem filling its tables. For some reason, though, every time I’ve visited Una Storia it has been either empty or very nearly empty. I’m willing to give it the benefit of the doubt — perhaps it’s just a well kept secret — it has been here for years so it must be getting customers in at some point.
My partner and I were after a warming lunch on a drizzly day and their «2 course lunch for £6.95» seemed like a pretty good deal. We wandered upstairs and were welcomed warmly although, unsurprisingly, we were the only people there. The emptiness prompted me to ask if they were actually open but I was reassured that they were and we were handed menus.
There’s more choice than I would have expected for a lunchtime set menu. You can expect Italian classics like minestrone soup, bruschetta, spaghetti bolognese and so on, but also some slightly less expected choices. I’m not sure I’d go for bangers and mash with onion gravy in an Italian but its nice to know that there’s something available for that one friend who got voted against when they wanted a pub lunch and everyone else wanted pasta.
I ordered the mushroom crostini to start while Paul chose the minestrone soup. He said it was good and it was certainly a decent portion and came with garlic bread. I love mushroom anything so maybe take this with a pinch of salt, but my crostini was perfect. The mushrooms were tender and meaty and perfectly seasoned.
To follow this he chose the spaghetti bolognese and I ordered the fishcake. The bolognese was a very generous serving — I think it would have been too much for me for lunch. Paul did not find this a problem. In contrast my meal was maybe on the small side. If I’d been ordering dinner this might have been disappointing but for lunch it was actually ideal. The fishcake was filled with salmon, some kind of white fish, and to my immense delight what appeared to be (and tasted like) baby scallops. It was breaded and lightly fried to be just crisp on the outside and rich and creamy on the inside. The Napoli sauce it was served with didn’t have loads of flavour but really the cake didn’t need the sauce.
Service was great. We wanted an express lunch and that was what we got. I think we were in and out in under 45 minutes. So the only problem is that it’s always empty. I don’t think I understand why this should be. I know there’s a lot to chose from on Ashton Lane but you’d think a 2 course Italian lunch deal would draw a crowd, right? It’s a mystery.

I visit Ashton Lane often so when Clare and I wanted to find somewhere to eat, we decide to give Una Storia a try, mostly because we were both starving and it was RIGHT THERE when we left Brel.
It was early evening so it was very quiet, just us and one other table and… well it’s an odd place. There was no atmosphere to speak of, and it didn’t seem very Italian other than some naff artwork on the walls. The staff seemed friendly but the woman who took our order didn’t really seem to listen to us, although we did end up with what we ordered… it all seemed a little bit disorganised, but perceptions don’t always match reality.
The wine came and was poured for us, again I found it slightly odd that she left a few millimetres of wine at the bottom of the carafe rather than just emptying it so whilst I was hungry I was preparing myself to be disappointed.
I had ordered the Cannelloni and Clare ordered the chicken and garlic risotto. Both dishes arrived promptly and my first impression was slight disappoint at my portion size (quite small) and amazement at the portion of risotto! Why do restaurants do this? Risotto is so filling yet many places seem to think a large bowl is a good thing.
We tucked in and finally a redeeming feature, it was tasty! The rich beef in the cannelloni was wonderful thick, a hint of sweetness from the tomato sauce but still retained a good meaty flavour. I nabbed a few mouthfuls of the risotto (which Clare ended up taking home about half of) and it was great, sticky and full of garlicy goodness!
We finished our meals, paid and left, and as we walked away both of us were still a bit perplexed.
I think I’d go here again, the service wasn’t bad, just a bit odd, as was the décor/​atmosphere, but the food is the redeeming feature. It’s probably not the best Italian in Glasgow (I’m not sure what is) and in future I think I’d head somewhere else. However if I did end up here again at least I know I’ll have a tasty meal, if nothing else.

We had dinner here about 2 months back and I totally forgot all about it — which isn’t a good sign. We decided to pop in for dinner without a booking early on a Saturday night and didn’t get the warmest of welcomes. There was only a few other tables occupied so I’m not entirely sure what the issue was.
We ordered from the pre-​theatre menu which I think was around £12.50 for two courses. I got mozzarella dippers and the chicken/​mushroom risotto. Both dishes were totally fine but nothing exceptional or interesting. The portions were decent for the price and flavours were fine.
There were some issues with the service and I found it difficult to order another drink when I wanted one and generally, I felt pretty unwelcome which is never pleasant. We ended up not bothering with dessert and leaving and overall, I think we were both a little underwhelmed. Perhaps this was an off night for them but I just wasn’t very impressed with the food or service, so I’m not sure I’d rush back.

We decided to try this out after reading all the rave reviews. Unfortunately, we were not all that impressed. We ordered half a liter of the house red to start; I’m not sure what it was, but it just wasn’t all that nice. I had the risotto casa della, which contains chicken, asparagus, and mushrooms; the individual components were all well-​prepared, but the dish overall lacked flavour. It just needed something to give it some oomph. My companion had the tortellini; he said it was okay but that it reminded him of the pasta you can buy in the grocery store. We split the millionaire cheesecake for dessert (I skipped the gluteny biscuit base) and again, it was alright, but wasn’t amazing.
The staff were lovely and friendly and very helpful, and the restaurant itself is small, cozy and charming. Maybe we just didn’t order the right things tonight, but we left feeling a bit underwhelmed about the food.

Lovely little authentic Italian, tucked away on Ashton Lane. This is honestly the smallest restaurant I’ve ever been in, so cute. The atmosphere was great, really intimate and friendly. Booked an amazing deal on 5pm for two courses and a glass of prosecco for £12 per person.
The staff were lovely, very attentive. They seemed to have some regulars in too, which is always a good sign. Ordering was quick and pain free, and dishes arrived super fast.
For starters we ordered the ‘Mozzarella Carrozza’ (mozzarella sticks coated in breadcrumbs deep fried & served with a tomato chilli dip) and the bruschetta (garlic bread topped with sliced tomatoes, fresh mozzarella & served with a pesto). Both starters were lovely and served with fresh salads.
We all ordered the lasagne for our main. Honestly one of the best I’ve tasted. The sauce and cheese ratio was perfect with lovely soft layers of pasta in between. No need for garlic bread or anything to go with it, was super filling.
Decided to go for cocktails rather than have dessert. Will definitely stay for dessert next time. Can’t wait to go back!

The place has a cosy atmosphere, and the manager was really nice. I recommend the place for those who like intimate places! The food was really good. The lasagne I ordered was superb :). The only point I have to make is that the coffee is overpriced (one double expresso costs £2.6!). Overall, highly recommended.

We visited Una Storia because a friend had recommended it and it was every bit as good as they said. Its a small place, which can be empty or very busy depending on the time, but the service is great, the food is very tasty and the prices are reasonable. We actually went back a week later and were just as happy as the first time. I think it might be some of the best italian in the west end. I definitely recommend a visit!

Best italian food so far in glasgow. The taste is so authentic. Super excellent restaurant. Definitely going back here sooner or later. Its expensive but the taste worths the price its a small restaurant on upper floor and inaccessible for disabled people but its really cozy! Make sure to reserve:)

Delicious with great atmosphere! We headed here before a movie across the lane at Grosvenor Cinema. It is so very cozy and comfortable in Una Storia. The manager has a wonderful and kind personality– the food is reasonably priced and delicious
We shared a bottle of Chianti, the antipasti Misto, then I savored the scallops (best I’ve had in Scotland– so big!) and my husband had the chicken parm (which had the best taste and a perfect crispy texture– yum!)
We had to rush after dinner to make our show, but I can’t wait to go back and linger a bit longer next time!

Perfect. Great service, great atmosphere, the perfect size (tiny) & location, music not intrusive… and most importantly, really good food! Specials menu (with excellent advice from an ever-​helpful waiter) and deals too (pre theatre etc.) depending on when you go. The card machine was on the blip so had to go round the corner for cash, but that was fine.
It’s small, so might recommend booking ahead to ensure a seat. Perfectly sized portions — could be described as hearty. Generous with everything and genuinely lovely people.
Will visit again and again.

Get for real Italian food. Small and tight place but has a great atmosphere. The servers are very friendly and on top of it. Great for locals or travelers. I will go back here before I leave town.

Please, if you ever take my advice when it comes to eating Italian food, let it be this: this is really the only place to eat authentic, hearty, delicious Italian food in Glasgow. This is no exaggeration! This place is a small hole in the wall down Ashton Lane and seats only about 20, but get a seat in here and you will not regret it. They have crackin’ pre theatre deals (2 courses for £6.95) and the menu all together is great with amazing choice of foods. The day we stopped in, I ordered the fried mozzarella and my friend ordered minestrone soup. It’s a testament to how good the soup was when the little bit I tried tasted like my friends homemade minestrone. Delicious!!! The cheese was crispy and hot, a perfect start to our main courses. I ordered the veg lasagne and he ordered the arrabiata. The lasagne was perfectly cooked and very tasty and the arrabiata was spot on. On top of that, we ordered garlic bread and wine. It was such a great feeling paying under £20 for a filling meal plus bread and wine. We will be back, hands down!

A little hidden gem in the heart of Glasgow’s West End.
Top notch authentic Italian food with exemplary, friendly service to match.
Highly recommended.