We had to stop into The Smoking Fox simply because we loved the name--and I'm so glad we did!…read more This was where my birthday officially began. The pub was packed with lively people, great conversation, and exactly the kind of atmosphere you hope to find in Glasgow. I ordered a Pornstar Martini made with passion fruit vodka, Passoã, passion fruit purée, pineapple juice, vanilla syrup, and a side of prosecco. It was absolutely delicious. Jon enjoyed an Old Fashioned, and of course we added two more glasses of prosecco to toast the start of another trip around the sun. One of my favorite parts of the night was listening to the delightfully crusty bartenders banter with everyone at the bar. They had the perfect dry humor that made the whole place feel authentic and welcoming. Sometimes the best travel memories come from walking into a place just because the name makes you smile. Cheers to another year!

Ambiance: Very lively in the pub area and a little quiet in…read morethe restaurant area. Service: Outstanding! The staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and made you feel at home. Food: We went for the Sunday Pot Roast and it did not disappoint. The roast was cooked perfectly and I loved that you can get extra sides as needed. Do yourself a favor and make plans to eat here; you will not regret it.

A very unassuming place from the outside, but inside, a stellar family-run business. From ordering…read moreright through paying the bill, I felt like I'd been invited to a friend's home. The food was excellent, too. Went for their Christmas lunch, and the portions were HUGE. And quite affordable too. Since I was visiting alone, they gave me a full three-course meal for £30. Definitely should check out this place for classic Scottish food and made-at-home feel.

excellent menu choice , beautifully served food first class…read moreScottish food. Best bistro I have been to in a very long time excellent service friendly staff ( Staff that actually looked happy at work) Great atmosphere cant wait to return

You can find The Sister restaurant on Kelvingrove Street up the steepest stairs in Glasgow - thank…read moregoodness I wore reasonably low heels :-) As the dining room was absolutely packed I never took any pictures, I don't really like to get in people's face too much with my camera. The vibe tho is grown up, serene and subdued in the best ways, the cream walls were dotted with beautiful abstract art in shades of grey, there was a large fireplace feature, soothing just audible music, fresh red roses on the table (it was valentines!) linen table cloths. It was beautiful and even though it was jumping it felt like a calm and soothing environment. The staff were exactly what you would expect from a restaurant like the Sister - delightful. They were incredibly friendly and welcoming, and the service was fast...probably faster than it normally would be due to the date, having said that I never once felt rushed or harassed - the staff were just sharp and on the ball with clearing plates. The menu at the sisters is like a love letter to Scotland, it was loaded with haggis, black pudding, fish, venison, beef cheeks, clootie dumpling and puff candy. It was like head chef Jackie O'Donnell had stepped into my childhood and brought all those foods into the 21st century. I could very easily have chosen any dish on offer from each course, it's an utterly lush menu. In the end I decided to try the haggis, neeps and tatties to start, I never took pictures of the menu so I forget the exact description of the dish. My first thought upon seeing my dish was wow! There was a puddle of glossy gravy, in the middle was a large haggis cake topped with neeps and a fritter....yes a freakin FRITTER!! I was beside myself as I am sure by now you know how I feel about fritters. The food was utterly gorgeous and without fault, the haggis was tasty and slightly spicy, the neeps were light and creamy, and the fritter was crisp and perfect. Gorgeous! For my main I finally decided on the Chicken breast with Stornoway black pudding, creamed leeks & a red wine jus with a side of Rooster tatties & market vegetables to share. Again visually it was so beautiful to look at. Taste wise it was amazing, the chicken was moist and tender, the creamed leeks still had bite and were seasoned to perfection, the big wedge of black pudding was soft and crumbly, the mash was silky and the red wine jus was lush and decedent. The side was also a triumph - the roasted potatoes were crispy golden nuggets of joy and the veg was incredibly tasty, I even liked the broccoli (I hate broccoli) but I loved however they cooked it. After all that food dessert was touch and go for a while, but there was no way I could leave without trying the Puff candy meringue with honeycomb, ice cream & hot butterscotch sauce. Now lets not kid ourselves this dish it basically a plate of sugar in various forms.....but boy what a plate of sugar it was. The puff candy meringue was light and delicate, the honeycomb was crunchy and sweet and the butterscotch sauce was thick and creamy. This dessert is as good as desserts get. It was a stunning gift from the sugar gods! All in all a pretty exceptional meal and up there with the best I have eaten in Glasgow without question. This is a must try restaurant for me and I will definitely visit again very soon.

We ate here on our second night in Glasgow. We had the baba ghanoush (sp?) as a starter. We had the…read morebutternut squash and asparagus risotto and the duck breast mains. Both were amazing. Would highly recommend Sisters. Make reservations.

We visited the Ubiquitous Chip on the very last night of out 12-nights visit to Scotland...we…read morewanted something definitively Scottish, with excellent food and drink options, and not too stuffy for an upscale spot to eat. That's exactly what we got. We walked to the Chip after visiting the relatively nearby Kelvingrove Museum. It's in a not-too-touristy area with tons of nearby restaurant options and hidden in a little alley (or "close") off Byres Road. There are multiple "venues" within Ubiquitous Chip - 2 bars (The Corner and The Wee...) We ended up at the Wee ahead of our reservation time, and the bartender guided us well with a dram after asking for something he thought was great that we'd have a more difficult time getting back in the States. (Ledaig). Both bars were pretty packed, so we wandered back and forth between the 2 until a spot finally opened at the Wee Pub. Our reservation was for the main dining room (not the Brasserie). There was a lot for us to enjoy as vegetarians. We rolled our own tasting menu with a plate of Scottish cheeses (typically a dessert item on Scottish menus, but we stand by the legitimacy of cheese for dinner). All 5 cheeses were vegetarian (ie no rennet) and served with a nice chutney and 2 different types of in-house-made crackers. It was delightful. We also had the BBQ Carrots dish...it's two carrot chunks, soft-cooked, charred on the outside, served on a delicious bed of sauces with a lovely Indian curry vibe. We got a salad with honey mustard dressing, fennel and shaved celery...it was very fresh and a nice counterpoint to the cheese and carrots. We also got potatoes, which were topped with creme fresh and light herbs. The potatoes were a little dry and light on flavor, but dipped in the creme and also in the leftover sauce from the carrots dish, they did the job. Service was stellar and friendly. Dining in the main restaurant makes you feel like you're outside. There are live plants everywhere, and a ceiling made up of windows like a greenhouse. You can see the brasserie, the more casual restaurant, on the second level (though, honestly, the main restaurant didn't feel unnecessarily stuffy like some fine dining restaurants. This was the perfect place for us to have a final meal in Scotland with plenty of food, drink and friendly service that left the perfect taste in our mouths.

Very cool setting. This place has several different rooms including bars, dining, etc. We dined…read moreat the upstairs garden and missed the opportunity to go to the rooftop because it had closed. The upstairs may look simple in some photos but it has a skylight throughout and you can view the greenery of the main dining floor below. Such a unique setting. If we had energy, we would have gone to the bars. The food included traditional Scottish eats along with modern items like tacos (which we skipped because we come from the land of great Mexican food.) Fav was the trio of traditional "spreads". One was meat, one was carrot, one was potato. You could never guess by description or photo but it was great since I was looking for traditional Irish food. It was farther from our hotel but worth the recommendation by our concierge. A bottle of rose for us was 30 pounds. Easy. Service was only okay for us. Food and atmosphere stood out.

This place is a lovely mystery, tucked out of the way off the beaten track. As with any such…read morerestaurant, they have to make sure there's a lot to shout about so that you'll get your friends to come along and try it. Shandon Belles does not disappoint! The menus are always fantastic, and they like to keep it all seasonal so the produce is as fresh and local as possible. There is a good variety of dishes for the munching, but there is usually only one vegetarian option available as a main course so if you have a veggie amongst your number, make sure to check the menu before you drag them in. I had the pleasure of attending a Christmas Lunch with my colleagues at this fine establishment. Everything was absolutely delicious. What I particularly like is that they have veg in bowls for passing around the group, rather than just dish them out regardless of people's preferences. You can have as much or as little as possible. Oh, and all their desserts are amazing, and they have different specials every week. The cheesecake is particularly good (and I shouldn't have it because of my lovely allergies), and they make their own tablet to go with the coffee! The waiting staff are ever attentive, filling your glass with the table wine whenever they spot an empty glass. They're always smiley and up for a chat as well! It's refreshing to see staff that seem to be enjoying the company of the customers. It certainly helps to foster a homely vibe to this charming wee place. Don't be shy, give it a try! It won't stay off your radar for long. ^^

Now, I've been here once before & was taken back on how random the location of the place is!…read more Tucked away behind the Church/Cathedral near Anderston and Finnieston, on the old Argyle Street, beneath The Two Fat Ladies @ The Buttery. Was my friends birthday meal here & 8 of us neatly packed in around one table on a busy Friday evening. Set menu at £16 for two courses and £18 for three (from memory!) They also have specials on, which tonight was a Pork Loin with mustard mash and a rosemary and thyme jus. (Can tell Fiona went for this!) Service was as I recalled & excellent the whole night. We pretty much spent 3 hours in there & the last table out... At no time did we feel anything was an issue for the staff. I had the chilli and tortilla chips for starters & pleasantly surprised at the chips being made in house. Absolutely lifted the dish for me to another level. Cottage Pie for mains & it was roasting! Could have done with room to move the meat around underneath, as some bits were a little oily, but it just needed mixed. Absolutely delicious delicate flavours mind. My only criticism of the meal experience, was the house wine they supply. Simply put at £10/12 a bottle - frankly rotten stuff. We ended up ordering from the buttery wine list to £41 for a bottle of pinot noir, to get something you could drink without tasting the chemicals! At £10/12, you can do a lot better on the wine front - no excuse there I'm afraid. Whole meal itself was a delight & more a dining experience with the quirks of old style plates/cutlery like in the pig and the butterfly restaurants. Will be back here to eat no doubt again & so should you! You Gotta Eat Here - For Sure!! :-D

Ox & Finch is one of three Michelin Bib Gourmand eateries in Glasgow from Scoop Restaurants Group,…read morethe food Ingredient-forward with a focus on letting proteins and Seasonal produce shine for themselves. A lively spot in Finniestion, an abundance of Pubs on the same block just South of Kelvingrove Park already growing busy at 18h00, guests are offered seats at high-tops or leather banquettes with the later bathed in light by windows. Open daily from 12h00 to 22h00, the menu prone to seasonal change and best described as "Tapas style" plus a few proper Entrees, Beverages cover a global map of Wine and Beer plus Cocktails including several forms of Spritz. Well priced and properly portioned, a good diner easily able to manage three or four choices, Ox & Finch's Cod Cheeks seem something of a signature and are well-worth ordering as Fish, Pork and Blood Sausage join together on Bread like some sort of Catalonian fever-dream. Efficient if not pleasant in terms of service, a variety of youngsters delivering plates in a timely fashion, volume rises as the night goes on thanks to high ceilings, but not so much as to drown out the bold flavors of Beef cooked like Pot Roast beneath Mushroom Gravy or tender Pork Loin kissed with Miso and Sage. Unable to choose just one Dessert, a downfall of dining solo, Chef Craig Nelson and Jonathan MacDonald prove equally well-suited for sweets as they are for savories with both the Financier and Trifle finding sweet yet fresh balance while incorporating varying textures and temperatures.

We enjoyed an absolutely wonderful meal at Ox and Finch. Walking in to the restaurant there is lots…read moreof wood and it feels like a neighborhood place. Located at a corner, there are also a large number of tables outside. On an evening with agreeable weather, they were all occupied. The menu is designed as a sharing menu with a wide variety of choices-vege, fish and meat. And the size of the offerrings range from snack to a dish that is large enough for one person to enjoy as a full meal. We chose the trout, crab salad, spiced cauliflower (really good), sea bream (delish), and crispy haddock (nice). I chose the salt baked beatroot for my dessert-flavorful and not too sweet. My wife had the chocolate cremeux that she really loved. Our server was such a friendly person and her way of communicating definitely added good feelings to our experience. It was graduation time for the University of Glasgow and we saw many families with their students. For me, that's a really good sign. I highly recommend this restaurant.

Taking its name from a Scottish word that means "to roam or wander about without a specific…read moredestination" Stravaigin serves a unique menu of globally inspired food and Scottish classics, including what many consider to be Glasgow's best haggis. Michelin recommended but neither starred nor bib gourmand, over twenty years of experience informing a Cafe, Bar and Cellar where locals gather amidst heavily wooded décor, lunch on Monday offers quiet respite from the streets with light music overhead. Friendly but fairly aloof in terms of service, the young waitress spending much of this slow service flirting with a bartender, Stravaigin's menu offers a good bit of customization whether one opts to partake a just a Burger, in courses or using small-plates as a sort of Tapas. Not neglecting Whisky across a Cocktail list, Elevenses a smoky Citrus masterpiece, the "wee" portion of Haggis is perfect for one with four-bites of liberally spiced Offal alongside equal size quenelles of Potatoes and Rutabaga. Spanning south for fried Bitterballen, straight out of Germany with smoked Ham, Fish Fritters get a bit muddled by the aggressive heat and creamy dressing while Carrots are unevenly cooked but pleasant in a mix of Nuts, Beets and unnecessary Tofu. Uncertain why any menu would offer both Flan and Creme Caramel for Dessert, though locals seem to prefer Cheese regardless, an Italian riff in the former was small and smooth but frankly unmemorable in either a negative or positive way.

Too expensive. Although the presentation was cute, my lamb chops were average. The sides, a small…read morepotato croquette and a piece of a stalk of rhubarb were totally inadequate for rounding out a meal. The place was loud. The table was inadequate for 5 people. It took 10 minutes from ordering our meal to arrival (which made me suspect that they "prep" their food extensively). This happens in a lot of restaurants and it's a holdover from Covid where food "pre-prep" was necessary to help keep the business above water. Covid is over. Yet restaurants kept this practice to maximize their profitability. And if you eat out a lot, you probably run into this many times. It's pretentious in a place that's supposed to serve you fresh cooked gourmet meals. I will say that the service was very good.

Glasgow, when will you learn? If a building like St Andrews in the Square existed anywhere else in…read moreEurope, it would feature on postcards, be highlighted on guided tours and sign-posted from across the city. Tourists would flock and photograph it from every angle, creating albums on Facebook entitled "Me at St Andrews in the Square" to a sea of thumbs ups from friends who like it. Instead, this lovingly-restored 18th century church is inconspicuously located in among modern east end flats and virtually impossible to stumble across unless you are specifically looking for it. And what a pity, because when it's lit at night, it provides one of the most spectacular photo opportunities in the city. Those who do know this building, know it's one of the greatest classical churches in Europe with a truly sumptuous interior. Now used as a performing arts centre, St Andrews in the Square can also be hired as a spectacular setting for ceilidhs, concerts, weddings and receptions. Just go. I promise you will not be disappointed.

Despite living in Glasgow my entire life, I had no idea this place existed until a few weeks ago…read more This is incredible considering it is one of the most stunning buildings in the city. It seems to live in a sort of parallel universe, stuck in the middle of blocks of flats. I visited the cafe a few Sunday ago and, despite the sophisticated art deco style interior and impressive menu, the place was dead. I think this is because most people don't realise it's there.

Aye it's a top restaurant ££ when you're up for a celebration. Hip back alley niche in West…read moreGlasgow (where the local dole types and tiny grannies and springing university students all roam)... At the Bothy (and do get a reservation) there are good tables and bad. If you aren't up for a fishy smelling corner near the swinging bathroom door, you might request an outside table that at its best on summer nights can remind you of eating in Napa Valley or Santa Barbara. Crisp service. Interesting Euro wines. Beautiful food. Grand building from a long ago Scotland.

Had a great night at the Bothy restaurant for my daughter's graduation meal. The food, Service and…read moreambiance was excellent. Great Scottish food and drink at a good price. If your in the area and want a taste of scotland I highly recommend

Nice steak and chips special on Monday and Tues evenings. Steak was seasoned ok and chips were…read moretasty and crisp. I got the shoestring size versus the steak size. Also had the ceasar salad which was really tasty and lots of Parmesan cheese slices as well. Washed it down with a nice house red.

4.5 stars rounded up…read more Cast Iron Grill welcomed us warmly to Glasgow; we had our first meal in town here, & because my expectations for a hotel restaurant were tempered, I was surprised by how good of a time I had at dinner. They aren't reinventing the wheel, their dishes are just plain tasty. Our starters -- Marinated Olives (£4) & Chicken Skewers with lime & coconut yoghurt (£7) -- prepped our palates for richer courses to follow. Our side of Onion Rings (£5) was coated in a light, airy beer batter. To add to the festival of fried foods, I chose Fish & Chips (£19) as my main which had the same beer battered coating. Flakey cod paired well with the tangy tartar sauce. I only wish it was served with more traditional mushy peas instead of the one-noted crushed peas. BF also enjoyed his order; Filet (£37) was tender, flavorful, & well seasoned. For dessert, I had one of many Sticky Toffee Puddings (£7) ordered on our trip through Ireland & Scotland, as well as a Chocolate & Strawberry Eclair (£8) which I thought was the most creative dish of our meal. Modern ambiance & friendly service, though I think the staff were overwhelmed with catering to a larger party. May have to bring your patience, but at least the food is worth the wait.