Right in the centre of town, this is the type of room where business deals are done over the rise and fall of a napkin. Urban is smart and traditional, a spacious brasserie with attentive staff, just off a dark wood bar with more casual seating.
Head chef David Clunas executes a menu with plenty of classic dishes prepared with a twist. This will be a busy venue for Christmas parties over the festive period and seems to provide an ideal location for a long lunch. Part by design, part by locaton this is a setting for the city’s business set but it’s by no means a stuffy place.
The menu tends to shift with the seasons but you can expect the kitchen to provide interesting dishes involving seafood, game and pasta.
On our last visit, hanging out with one of the Merchant City’s financial go-getters, we opted for a starter of smooth parfait of chicken livers with fig chutney which was a perfectly balanced dish – we demolished it with gusto.
For main course we chose the potato gnocchi with asparagus, courgettes, peas and broad beans. A rich and delicate treat, it was the right choice despite the fact their Scotch beef burger with mature cheddar, cucumber relish and chips was vying for our attention. No dessert this time, but we did enjoy the chunk of tablet that came with our pot of tea.
The laidback afternoon vibe gives way to a more buzzy atmosphere on a Friday or Saturday night when there’s a piano player in the corner for entertainment and the cocktail bar staff are in demand.
Urban Bar & Brasserie
23-25 St Vincent Place
Glasgow G1 2DT
T: 0141 248 5636
E: info@urbanbrasserie.co.uk