725 Great Western Rd, Glasgow, G12 8QX
Harden's survey result
Summary
With its “assured cooking and service combined to perfection”, this culinary superstar certainly merits its name (which translates, aptly, as “to eat well”), and is entering its fifth year of operation as one of the more renowned destinations in Scotland, with chef Lorna McNee overseeing the “wonderful” Scottish tasting menus. Yes, it’s not cheap (particularly if you plump for the chef’s table, or plunder the Macallan whisky-fuelled after-drinks trolley), but if you want the Cail Bruich touch for less, they also now run two other West End siblings: seafood sibling Shucks (est. 2022), and relaxed brunch spot/all-day diner Epicures.
Summary
“Worth the effort to get a table in this excellent star of Glasgow’s culinary scene” – this nowadays renowned fixture in the city’s dining line-up opened in 2008 in the West End, but emerged as a foodie hotspot in 2019 with the appointment of chef Lorna McGee; and it is acclaimed in our survey as “clearly the best fine dining in town”, with a tasting menu that’s “imaginative, seasonal and based on Scottish ingredients where possible”; all backed up by staff who are “enthusiastic and knowledgeable”. On the downside, “this has taken to being rather pricey for the city, but to complain over-much would be churlish as quality is brilliant and the welcome too”. Top Menu Tip – “we particularly enjoyed a scallop starter with hazelnut and caviar”.
Summary
“The passion and intelligence in linking the food and wine is impressive” at this increasingly renowned destination in the West End. Founded in 2008 (and entering our guide in 2018), it won Glasgow’s first Michelin star for 18 years in 2021 shortly after the appointment as chef of Lorna McGee (an Andrew Fairlie protégée). All reports acknowledge its “exceptional” cuisine, served from an eight-course tasting menu, and feel it’s “fully deserving of its awards”. “It’s becoming more pricey”, though, to the extent some fans “fear it’s now becoming inaccessible even for those very special occasions”.
Summary
Lorna McGee, a protégée of the late, great Andrew Fairlie, helped secure a Michelin star – Glasgow’s first for 18 years – within months of her appointment as head chef last year, taking over from co-owner Chris Charalambous. The recognition was “truly deserved” (and already two years overdue): “the food is superb” and “you’re treated like royalty” at this understated West End outfit – “I always liked Cail Bruich food-wise, but it’s genuinely even better under its new head chef”. “Shared the Chef’s Table and Lorna inspected every plate that left the kitchen personally, to make sure everything was just perfect”. “Fish and seafood figure prominently in the dishes, reflecting our Scottish waters”.
For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Cail Bruich?
Owner's description
Our stylish restaurant & bar - in the heart of Glasgow’s vibrant West End - offers casual, modern Scottish dining and select drinks.
We passionately craft our menus with an appreciation of the finest ingredients and produce, all available from Scotland's outstanding natural larder.
Cail Bruich, 725 Great Western Road, Glasgow, G12 8QX.
Holder of 3 AA Rosettes.
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £22.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £2.00 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Service | 10.00% |
Restaurant details
725 Great Western Rd, Glasgow, G12 8QX
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | 11:30 am‑2:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 11:30 am‑2:30 pm |
| Thursday | 11:30 am‑2:30 pm |
| Friday | 9:30 am‑11:30 pm |
| Saturday | 9:30 am‑11:30 pm |
| Sunday | CLOSED |
