Hutchesons has only been open since June last year. That’s the hardest thing to believe about this stylish cafe bar and brasserie. The vintage design and landmark location gives it the air of a long established favourite that’s been around for generations. The kind of place you expect to spot familiar faces across the dining room.
The building is Hutchesons’ Hall on Ingram Street. It was useful once, before a long decline – a hospital built in the 1800s to replace an older infirmary. The endowment of George and Thomas Hutcheson paid for the endeavour and their statues at the front of the building are the oldest free standing statues in Glasgow. Fun fact.
In more recent years it was a bank, a library and then largely ignored. Restaurateur James Rusk partnered with the National Trust for Scotland to shoehorn a three storey venue into the historic shell.
They’ve done a remarkable job of preserving some of the original features while creating spaces that make sense for dining and carousing. This is no mean feat.
The confidence in the cooking and the easy manner of the accomplished staff also belies Hutchesons status as a new arrival. It’s in evidence whether you are nursing a cocktail with a small plate at the marble topped bar, enjoying brunch in the adjoining ground floor cafe or settling in for a three course feast in the grand brasserie upstairs.
The inviting 158 Cafe Bar comes in two connected parts at the Ingram Street entrance. Both serve separate purposes and cater for different crowds. We enjoy taking the Sunday papers to sit at a corner table and order their posh roll: rump steak, fried egg, sauteed onions & mustard mayo on a brioche bun, served with home fries (£10.95).
Their set lunch and pre-theatre menu runs Monday to Friday 12- 6pm (until 5pm on Saturday) with two courses on offer for £15.95, three courses for £18.95.
Upstairs, the buzzy brasserie attracts a glam crew in a perfect room for long lunches or late dinners paired with indiscreet conversations and bottles in ice buckets.
It’s also a popular place for special occasions (wedding proposals are regularly made here, I’m told). Ask for one of the sought after booths.
The brasserie menu is peppered with excellent produce: think Carlingford oysters, Isle of Mull seared scallops and Ayrshire venison. Despite some of the eye-catching spectaculars being on the more pricey side, it’s possible to eat well here without overextending the bank balance.
Hands-down, the best dessert is the white chocolate cheesecake with salted caramel and dark chocolate tuile (£6.95).
The problem for fashionable new restaurants is that their crowd can drift off to the next bright young thing when it opens its doors. I don’t think they have to worry here. Hutchesons has settled into its role as a destination restaurant in the Merchant City and if they can maintain the high standards they’ll cultivate a loyal following for many years to come.
