What to expect from new Glasgow bar and restaurant BRU

Thankfully then, with just one step into recently opened bar and restaurant BRU, it was easy to imagine the South African barbecue cookouts that inspire their brunches, small plates and traditional desserts.

Pictured: BRU owner Bradley Potteron (Image: newsquest)

This sunny mental picture is in part thanks to a warm welcome from a team led by Bradley Potteron, 43, who is taking on his first solo venture which showcase the cuisine of his homeland after years of working in the best hospitality spots across the country.

He said: “Opening on a week with such extreme weather and the football world cup in full swing was a challenge, but even from when we first started re-painting the place there’s been a lot of local interest.

“People would stop in to ask what we were doing and when we would be opening.

“I think the local community are really excited to see something coming back to this spot.

“They really want to see something succeed here, but it has to be good to last, and that’s what we’re trying to do.”

Many will recognise BRU’s Dumbarton Road address as the former home of the Broken Pony Bar or St Louis Café.

There are certainly big shoes to fill, but a glance at a menu which playfully combines locally sourced ingredients chosen by head chef Scott Barron with the dishes from Brad’s childhood soon shows that the newcomers are on the right track.

Pictured: A South African inspired feast at BRU (Image: newsquest)

Take, for example, the Bunny Chow, a comforting street food dish which traditionally sees a half loaf of bread roll hollowed out and filled with fragrant curried meat.

While the basic concept stays the same, BRU puts a Glaswegian twist on the classic by serving their own homemade sweet potato and chickpea curry in a Morton’s Roll.

Pictured: The boerewors stack with local beef sausage and spicy peppers (Image: newsquest)

If that’s perhaps a step too far into the world of culinary fusion, a clear favourite amongst staff members, is the boerewors stack with sourdough toast, boerewors (beef sausage) and a spicy tomato ‘chakalaka sauce’ all sitting under a perfectly runny fried egg from Corrie Mains farm.

During our visit, just as two more portions of the boerewors stack were whisked past us to a set of hungry diners, chef Michael Reilly (another BRU team member with South African roots) popped his head out of the kitchen with an enthusiastic grin.

Does he enjoy experimenting with such a unique menu, we asked?

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“It’s exciting” he replied, “we get a lot of South African people in here because they recognise the food but also a lot of people who have never tried it before.

“Even getting to show off recipes that have been passed down to me from my grandmother and mother gives me a huge sense of pride.

“It feels like I’ve been passed down the torch.

“People make Glasgow and those people are very diverse, the same is true of our cuisines.”

There’s certainly plenty of that diversity to be found on the short stretch of Dumbarton Road that BRU shares with neighbours including the hugely popular south-east Asian influenced GaGa and West End institution, the Thornwood bar.

It could easily be seen as tough competition for a first-time business owner, but there’s a definite feeling that team BRU’s strong sense of identity and confidence in their cooking will see them hold their own alongside the big boys.

More than that though, Bradley’s vision for a cosy neighbourhood bar where anyone is welcome to pull up a chair, order a pint (with a side of Biltong, for good measure) and stay for a chat is a clear indication of what a valuable asset BRU will be to the area.

Pictured: Melktart (custard tart) and a 'springbok' shot (Image: newsquest)

As he placed a cinnamon-dusted melktart down at the table alongside a luminous green 'springbok' shot, he explained: “We want to get to know people from the community and for them to get to know us.

“A lot has changed from when the place was for the Broken Pony or the St Louis, but even though it looks different it's still a great place to come for a relaxed drink that feels warm and welcome.

“It’s all about good food, good service and making people happy.”

Pictured: Team members at BRU (Image: newsquest)

BRU is located at 734 Dumbarton Road.

For more information click here.