We couldn’t wait to check out Tapa Organic in Dennistoun, after all the rave reviews. It’s primarily an organic bakery, but it has a little cafe section and a sideline in vegan cakes and treats. 

Dennistoun is very close to Glasgow city centre, but equally a world away. The high street is bursting with pawn shops and hairdressers, and the graceful golden tenements that dominate Glasgow are struggling to cope with years of under-investment in this eastern part of the city. It’s a characterful area that sits right on the fence between charming/bohemian and run-down.

We came for cakes and that may explain our mild disappointment at Tapa. The breads have garnered gold stars and gushing recommendations. We wanted cake and coffee.

The vegan offering was better than most cafes though slightly smaller than expected, and our choices were ginger cake, chocolate cake and cupcakes.

Let’s wax lyrical about the ginger cake first. The lady studiously attempting to focus on her Daily Record at the table next door couldn’t help but be distracted by our oohs and aahs as we savoured the delicious, super-gingery and fluffy slice of cake. We picked it wrapped from a fridge near the counter, so don't be hunting in the display cabinet!

We have to admit, we are suckers for chocolate cake - and when Tapa went above and beyond and turned it in to a vegan chocolate Victoria sandwich cake - we couldn't say no! Although a little on the dry side, the combination of chocolate, jam and sweet icing really ticked our boxes. But be warned, the sugar crash from the overly sweet icing might have you crying on your way to the gym! We would have preferred some vegan cream in this sandwich.

Next up was a pistachio-iced cupcake. This was a more standard offering, and we expect more from the humble cupcake. There is a tendency to over-compensate for a bland sponge centre by glooping on a layer of thick, sweet icing. You’ll be rushing and crashing after scoffing one of these cupcakes. But you may still have a cake craving.

The cafe area in Tapa is certainly small and, dare we say it, an add-on. This is a bakery, with some cafe tables, rather than a cafe bakery. Get your Tapa products at one of many stockists, but we would not make Tapa a destination in itself.