Glasgow Restaurants

Glasgow Restaurant Reviews

The key to the latest trend in Glaswegian cuisine is fresh, local, often organic ingredients. In the past few years restaurants have been popping up that emphasize all the fine foods Scotland offers: grass-fed beef, wild seafood, free-range chicken, duck, and goose—not to mention superb fruits and vegetables. A flurry of foreign restaurants also line the streets—from casual late-night crepe stalls and pakora (Indian fried-chickpea cakes) bars to elegant restaurants with worldly menus. And because smoking isn't allowed in any enclosed space, many restaurants have decided to place tables outside under awnings during the warm(ish) summer months. With this type of outdoor dining comes fresher, more Mediterranean-style meals.

Although some celebrity chefs and chain restaurants have left their mark, it's the small, independent, Scottish-theme eateries like Cafezique, No. Sixteen Byres Road, the Sisters, Stravaigin, and the Ubiquitous Chip that are making all the waves. They focus on what's seasonal, and so the food scene is a far cry from the fried potatoes and black puddings of the past. Today's Glasgow is also a city with an appetite, so wherever you go be sure to make a reservation.

Prices

Eating in Glasgow can be casual or lavish, with the same prices and variety as you'll find in Edinburgh. For inexpensive dining, consider the benefit of pretheater menus. Beer and spirits cost much the same as they would in a bar, but wine is relatively expensive in restaurants. Many restaurants allow you to bring your own bottle of wine, charging just a small corkage fee. It's worth the effort.