The team behind the Hinba Group has officially opened Tusco, the newly rebranded and fully refurbished restaurant at 88 Dumbarton Road, marking a fresh chapter for the popular West End venue.
Tusco, a new Italian-inspired concept,opened its doors today, Wednesday 4 March, following a well‑received soft‑launch weekend that allowed the team to fine‑tune the new menu and experience ahead of welcoming the wider public.
Formerly Eighty‑Eight – and before that the much‑loved Two Fat Ladies – the space has been transformed with a refreshed look and a new identity, built around Tusco’s playful namesake, inspired by a Spanish phrase meaning “just do as you please.”
While the name nods to relaxed, informal hospitality, the concept itself has evolved, with a clearer culinary direction focused on Italian‑inspired dishes, fresh pasta, and vibrant sharing plates, all built on the same commitment to quality ingredients and great cooking.
Owner Fergus McCoss, founder of the Hinba Group, said: “Tusco marks an evolution in what we want to offer. The food is now firmly Italian‑inspired, with a focus on pasta, bold flavours and the kind of dishes that encourage sharing.
Credit: Marco Cornelli
“The soft launch went brilliantly; we learned a few things, tweaked a couple of dishes, and now we’re fully ready to go. People want flexibility when they eat out; they want to build their own experience.
“Tusco is designed for that, relaxed, welcoming and easy-going, where the name tells you everything: just do as you please.”
To complement the new menu, Tusco will also open a dedicated cocktail bar serving bar-snacks from Thursday to Saturday, offering a mix of classic serves and house creations designed to pair with the food or to enjoy on their own as part of a night out in the West End.
The space itself has been significantly updated, with new décor, improved facilities and an atmosphere that matches the restaurant’s informal bistro feel. The existing team remains in place.
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Next door at Hinba (86 Dumbarton Road), it’s business as usual for coffee lovers, though Hinba will soon serve weekend brunch, and now transforms into a cocktail bar with bar-snacks from Tusco in the evenings, offering another relaxed option within the Hinba Group’s growing family of venues.
Tusco joins the group’s expanding hospitality portfolio, which includes Hinba Specialty Coffee, Ziques and The Bakery Hinba, alongside its Oban-based roastery.
