Smokey Trotters Kitchen in Glasgow's east end is the restaurant that James McAvoy, yeah the big-time movie guy, called upon to cater for his new production.
The K-Yachae Toastie: you’ll be scratching your head over the flavour. But it’s good. Really good.
Worth the drive then for me? Yes. A very special meal perhaps? Actually? Yes.
Review: Margo, Miller Street, Glasgow: Our verdict on Ox and Finch's new operation.
Outside it’s high tide, mid-afternoon, seagulls flying by as mid-October waves boom. Yet even this late in the season, with The Mod in full glorious swing - kids and choirs, pipers and dancers, buskers on the esplanade, throngs on the pavement, crowds still in the cafes and The Corran Halls full to car-park bursting - Oban looks vibrant and bloody beautiful.
Two Eight Seven on Langside Road, Glasgow, is run by the couple from 287, that smash-hit bakery that used to be on Victoria Road, which suddenly shut. And the bakers went to India didn’t they, or so I heard, to an ashram, or so I was told. Like The Beatles. Yeah. But the Beatles of baking.
Review: Rum Shack, Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow: Tonight, ladies and gentlemen, we are eating in the world’s 22nd coolest neighbourhood. Yes, in the whole damn world. According to a magazine anyway, that claims to know such things.
I remember this place very well incidentally when it was a chip-shop with seats. I used to, occasionally, come and perch over there in the far corner at a tiny half-table. Just for a fish tea whenever the family was away and I couldn’t be bothered cooking. Not a sign of the chippie place remains today amongst this stylish whitewashed brick, marble topped tables and black leather banquettes.
I lift the menu and my eyes cascade dreamily on past tempuras, donburi, sea urchins, pictures of raked and pebbly gardens forming in my mind.
Four Seasons, Stockwell Street, Glasgow. It’s a momentarily confusing place the Four Seasons. The decor is very clean, plain, the odd Vietnamese flourish here and there but not in the way of the tiresome and fake theme restaurants currently popping up at a city centre near you.
