The Lunch Club

A show of hands to begin. Has anyone managed to walk the length of Buchanan Street at least once this term without uttering the words, 'No, thank you'? The masses of unfathomably cheery, clipboard-carrying, charity canvassers multiply daily, seeking out new ways to stop students in their tracks.

Joining them on Glasgow's busiest stretch are fellow salesman in ill-fitting, shiny suits charged with flogging ladies cosmetics, whilst a sea of young faces dish out colourful flyers for discount club nights.

And finally, amongst the Big Issue vendors and recent statue additions, are the bargain-lunch-deal-poster-on-a-stick crowd. A new breed in the city centre, they offer glossy pocket-sized leaflets boasting of incomprehensible amounts of tasty grub for a fiver or less.

Have you ever taken their leaflets and binned them just a few moments later? But are these deals in fact any good? Is the grub really tasty? Is there really loads of it? Is it indeed a fiver?

The Journal took the plunge with Bread + Butter Bar Restauarant's offering – 'The City Canteen' deal. Nestled down Springfield Lane, home also to the likes of Ted Baker and Karbon, this snug venue delivers a selection of buffet-style hot meals with a beer for £6 or a soft drink for a pound cheaper. There were still a couple of lunch stragglers around a little after 2pm, though greater competition for a table can be expected between the hours of midday and 1.30pm.

Picking up a plastic tray and heading to the line, the experience sends minds racing back to the lunch queue at primary school; a buoyant dinner lady even slops your dinner onto the plate for you. Considering the deal is only £6, the choice is excellent. Five dishes, along with two vegetarian options, were on offer during an average visit.

Upon collection of your lunch, the bar is the next destination both to pay and collect the promotional beer. News that the beer listed on offer, Tiger, was no longer available, paving the way for a replacement of Coors Light, culminated in disappointment, though. Grudgingly accepting, I was again reminded of the agonising announcement there was no chocolate milk left at primary school. Plain would have to suffice.

The food itself was excellent – a hardy plate of lasagne and chips with crisp vegetables – to round off excellent value and service from this £6 deal, leaving it top of the list for students around town prudent in their start-of-semester spending.