Introducing the most-talked-about, must-visit restaurants in Glasgow. The list below features places ranked according to one important, ever-fluctuating and ultimately subjective quality: Who has the most buzz?
New openings. Old favourites. Quirky dishes. Emerging food trends. Rising star chefs. Cool vibes. Whatever the reasons, these are the 14 most interesting places to eat in Glasgow right now.
#1 The Drugstore Social (New Entry)
Studiously fashionable. A poster boy for a new wave of cocktail bars. The Drugstore Social received a huge accolade recently when it was included in Conde Nast Traveller magazine’s countdown of this year’s hottest new bars in the world. It’s not a list that Glasgow often figures on. They were number five, hailed for drink innovation that included unfamiliar botanical ingredients: think sea buckthorn, grapefruit shrub, meadowsweet.
Food is also trendy and interesting. Crispy flatbreads with venison chorizo, blue murder, aubergine, wild thyme and rose harissa (£6.95). Loch Lomond wild garlic gnocchi, lemon, pinenuts and parmesan (£9.95). Save room for toasted oatmeal and lichen ice cream (£4.95). Get involved in September.
#2 Alchemilla (New Entry)
The menu rotates but is invariably colourful, healthy, packed with fresh flavours and quirky. Look out for anything involving parpadelle as that’s a real treat. Even the simple things can be a delight here. Is it possible to get excited by a tomato salad or a plate of bortolli beans? It is. It really is. Alchemilla is a critic’s favourite and was recently added to the new edition of the Good Food Guide.
#3 A’Challtainn (Last Month: #2)
A’Challtainn work hard to keep your attention. Not content with serving some of the finest fish dishes in the city, you’ll find a rolling roster of market events, movie screenings, performances, and pop-up dining experiences. They received an enthusiastic review from Glasgowist and a best newcomer nod from The List Eating and Drinking Guide. Magnificent 7, the new pizza joint keeping A’Challtain company at Barras Art and Design off Bain Street has seven pizzas on sale for £7 each, seven days a week. Another excuse to look east.
#4 Six by Nico (#1)
Chef Nico Simeone continues with his bold concept of introducing a new menu every six weeks. Six by Nico is a success, generating a constant stream of images on Instagram, confirming that this is one of the hottest tables in town. Their latest menu, Illusion, plays with food perception and runs from Tuesday 29th August until Sunday 8th October. You can find more details here.
#5 Pot Luck (#7)
A relatively new arrival on Nithsdale Road, Pot Luck has thrilled Glasgow food bloggers. Small but perfectly formed, this neighbourhood hangout specialises in comfort food that’s both pretty and tasty. Their brunch has made a big impression and gained the most attention. Towers of fluffy pancakes. Select from a roster that includes ingredients like scrambled eggs, asparagus, hash browns, bacon, black pudding, pistachio, peach and avocado. Join the breakfast club this month.
#6 TriBeCa Glasgow Metro (New Entry)
A taste of New York on Bell Street. The latest addition to the Merchant City’s food scene has put American diner favourites front and centre. Already a fixture on Dumbarton Road and in Giffnock and Woodlands, you may already be familiar with what they have to offer. We like their Harlem steak burger topped with chorizo, manchego cheese, prosciutto ham, red pepper aioli and served with chimichurri (£10.75) or General Tso’s Chicken (£11.95) – a popular Chinese-American dish that is rarely spotted on Glasgow menus.
#7 Paesano Pizza (#3)
The lunchtime queues testify to the popularity of Glasgow’s premier purveyor of pizza. The Miller Street location recently gained a sister restaurant in Paesano Pizza West End on Great Western Road. Some food fans are still recovering from the excitement. We order the Italian cooked ham pizza with portobello mushrooms, mozzarella, fresh thyme on a lathering of sweet tomato sauce. Read our full review here.
#8 Singl-end Cafe (New Entry)
Actors Peter Mullan and Bill Nighy have both visited in recent weeks. Not at the same time. The real star here is the food. Quirky, wholesome and saturated with good vibes, this cafe and bakehouse is a local favourite. Tucked away in a quiet corner of Garnethill, make sure you visit in September. Order the baked eggs with pork and fennel sausage, cannellini beans tomato and chilli (£10). Or eat cake and drink lots of tea.
#9 Kimchi Cult (New Entry)
Recommended by the New York Times this week and always a bit of a trend-setter, Kimchi Cult offers punk riffs on Korean classics. Just off Byres Road, they liked steamed bao buns before they were cool. Strong vegan and vegetarian options if that’s your thing. Expect fermented veg, pickles and marinated meat. We’re approaching the time of year when a warming bowl of bibimbap with bulgogi brisket really hits the spot.
#10 Hutchesons City Grill (#9)
Hutchesons had a makeover this summer and gained a renewed sense of purpose. Opened as a glamorous bar and restaurant by owners James and Louise Rusk, the venue was the culmination of an ambitious transformation for one of the Merchant City’s most distinctive buildings. Upstairs, Hutchesons City Grill’s new menu focuses on steaks, including a wider range of cuts. Downstairs, the 158 Club Lounge, has a revamped cocktails list and DJs after work on a Friday.
#11 The Gannet (New Entry)
For one night a month, starting on the 13th September, a small group of diners can enjoy a seasonal menu with wine pairings at The Gannet. The first theme is Harvest from the Sea. A true celebration of Scottish cooking, The Gannet revamped their kitchen earlier in the year and continue to excel. Some of the best dishes in the city.
#12 Something 2 (10)
Something 2 at the Glad Cafe adds an extra dimension to one of the coolest venues in town. Part of a cadre of new arrivals on the southside, the kitchen’s self-professed mission is to save you from the crushing monotony of eggs Benedict in the morning. Replace with eggs and bread topped by a wonderful procession of taste combinations. We like The Calabria, two fried eggs with n’duja sausage, shallots and parsley gremolata on ciabatta. Later, look for inventive and surprising sandwich options. They also do a belter of a cheese toastie.
#13 Bar Soba (14)
Bar Soba attract a cool crowd with DJs, South-East Asian Street dishes and cocktails. They have three locations in Glasgow – Mitchell Lane, Albion Street and Byres Road. The team have been busy coming up with inventive new drinks – try The Refresher, made with vanilla and lemon vodkas churned through crushed ice with lemon juice and sugar syrup. The food continues to be the main focus with stand-out dishes like General Tso’s chicken, crispy Shanghai pork and Thai red duck leg curry.
#14 Battlefield Rest (New Entry)
Battlefield Rest has the buzz this month. This Southside gem has won a top environmental award for its scheme to manage bee hives on the roof of the restaurant, where the owner, Marco Giannasi, collects honey to sell to customers. Battlefield Rest is one of three projects in the UK to earn a Green Apple award, which will be presented at Westminster Hall in London. Apart from that, it continues to serve up tasty Italian dishes in a wonderfully kitsch, welcoming and quintessentially Glaswegian local restaurant. Go visit.
What’s your favourite place to eat right now? Tweet @HelloGlasgowist or email hello@glasgowist.com