Tasty Byte

Tasty Byte’s name is a bit deceptive — I thought it was going to be an internet café with ‘Free wifi’ advertised across its walls. However, I could see nothing of the case and now just think it was a cringe worthy name choice by someone trying to be trendy (with devastating effect).
Nevertheless, it was pretty decent for a cheap enough create your own sandwich option, and they seemed to have the usual café selections on offer for breakfast and lunches. It’s nice enough inside — pretty plain but cozy and clean, so you can’t ask for much else. Baguettes and panini’s would have you heading towards the 3 pound mark, but there are a selection of toppings available from th service counter. Breakfast looked good and cheap, and extra fillings were only 40p per topping, so it’s not bad.
I got a plain sandwich with ham and cheese — wasn’t feeling too adventurous and they didn’t really have anything exotic. But the service was really good, the bread was wonderfully soft and I noticed they had a bread oven in their kitchen which shows how fresh the rolls are. Soup was only a couple of pounds, cheap at the price, and tea was very reasonably priced which always wins me over. So while I wouldn’t recommend it for a fancy slap up meal, it’s very functional and would definitely return if I worked in the surrounding offices for a take away.

Distinctly average lunch takeaway/​café type place.
Not really much to say on this one. It’s a bit on the meh side with a further ehh thrown in for good measure… put them together and you have a very mehehhh type place that does your usual lunchy, breakfasty type snacks.
Yes it has a great location and would have to be doing something remarkably awful not to do some level of business, however there is nothing here that makes me say «oh, that place, yeah totally hit that wee joint inf your in that neck of the woods»
I popped in for a wee coffee and yeah it was half decent, the area was clean, bright and the service friendly enough. It just lacks any real character. Maybe though this has more to do with the real appeal of some of the coffee houses/​cafes in the west end rather than a damming indictment of this place.

Hmmmm. «Quality food — excellent service — fantastic experience» claims their website. I can’t comment on the first point but I’m not sure I agree with the latter two.
Formerly the home of Roland Butter, Tasty Byte has newly opened here on Hope Street with the same idea — serving up lunch-​time fare such as sandwiches, baked potatoes and teas and coffees. Excellent, I say as you can never have too many places like this in a business district of a bustling city.
However, when I popped in last week for a nosy at what was on offer I was slightly disappointed. The deals — well advertised on the window — were certainly very appealing but it was all a bit slap-​dash. There was a counter for ordering as well as a fridge with other goodies and then a till point near the door which is probably a good system when it works but all the customers seemed a little confused.
I just ordered a take-​away tea. It took for-​e-​ver — for a tea?! The cup was sticky (possibly from over-​filling) and had milk in it despite milk not being offered (luckily I did want milk). It dripped as I ventured to the till to pay. 80p. I guess I can’t complain at such cheap prices. And the tea tasted good.
One final moan: the counter with sugars is right at the door which means you get bumped or moved as you stir your tea/​coffee/​whatever.
I’d like to think it’s still finding its feet however and since the deals are so good I’ll give it an extra star… for now anyway.