Glasgow Restaurant Guide

This “terrifically atmospheric” Glasgow institution in the West End is on top form: its “imaginatively presented” modern Scottish cuisine with “top-quality ingredients”; famous and “very interesting” wine list; malt selection “to die for”; and “knowledgeable staff” earning high ratings across the board. Named with irony by founder Ronnie Clydesdale in 1971, ‘the Chip’ is now run by his son Colin. Meals are served in the main restaurant or more casual upstairs brasserie. Tip tip: “there’s the option of eating upstairs with a more informal menu”.

This “whacky little space” in Finnieston with lots of nooks and crannies, and also perches to eat up at the counter, “consistently delivers fantastic, super-fresh fish and seafood, cooked and served with real passion”. Now in its tenth anniversary year, its legion of fans “absolutely love it” but be warned: it gets “really busy”.

A “brilliant longstanding cafe in Merchant City – you will love the furniture and decor, especially the iconic stained-glass window” (decorated with fish) but also the “great-sized portions” of local food.

With its “freshly cooked food at bargain prices”, this very popular West End institution has long been “a family favourite” for its tapas-sized dishes – and standards show no sign of slipping.

Despite being one of the City’s most famous culinary names (with past-chefs including Andrew Fairlie and Gordon Ramsay), this comfortable dining room deep in the West End attracts limited survey feedback nowadays, but such as there is remains positive. There is a tasting menu option, but the relatively straightforward cuisine lives up to the ‘Bistro’ designation of the operation nowadays. As you might hope of a Hotel du Vin property “the list is extensive and contains numerous unusual and hard-to-come-by vintages”. Top Tip: affordable prix fixe menu.

“High-end no-nonsense food with spot-on service” have earned chefs Peter McKenna and Ivan Stein a range of accolades for their stripped-down Finnieston five-year-old (including, slightly bizarrely, being listed by Conde Nast Traveller as one of the world’s top 10 restaurants). “It looks like it’s going to be trendy and hipstery” (from the exterior, a bit “like a cocktail bar”), “but this is Glasgow, and it’s actually a very pleasing spot a notch above a mere neighbourhood haunt: a sort of Sticky Walnut with its culinary sights set a little higher”. “High end” modern bistro dishes of Scottish-sourced ingredients are served in the “very modest surroundings” of a formerly derelict building.