With the summer now in full swing, there is no better time than now to grab a bite to eat around many of the diverse and delicious restaurants around the city.
Unfortunately, for some residents their favourite place for a bite has gone for good, so we asked Glaswegians what restaurants they wish they could bring back from the past. Here are some of the most popular responses…
1. Rogano - 11 Exchange Place
A staple of the city centre for 85 years, Rogano was one of the longest-surviving restaurants in Glasgow when it closed for business in 2020 due to Covid lockdown.
Renowned for their seafood dishes, the good news for readers is that on their website it discusses a hopeful return to welcoming customers back, although details on when it will return are not known.
2. Dino’s – 35-41 Sauchiehall Street
Short for Dino Ferrari, Dino’s was originally located on Buchanan Street before relocating to Sauchiehall Street. It specialised in hearty, Italian cooking with a real family focus.
Arguably the most commented on restaurant by our commenters, there’s no denying it has been missed since it closed its doors in 2014, to be replaced by a Halifax branch.
3. Berni Inn – 181-191 Hope Street
Opened by brothers Frank and Aldo Berni, this restaurant is the first chain restaurant on our list, with over 140 locations by 1970. The chain was notorious for their steak selection and Tudor-like interior.
The company was bought over by Whitbread in 1995 who converted all outlets into their own Beefeater restaurants, which includes the Brewer’s Fayre brand as well.
4. Black Sheep Bistro – 10 Clarendon Street
Describing themselves as “unfussy food with emphasis on hearty welcoming dishes”, Black Sheep Bistro did not survive the prolonged absence of the hospitality industry due to Covid.
While only open for 10 years, the restaurant located in North Glasgow has clearly left an impression on Glaswegians from across the city, with it being described as a “hidden gem” by many.
5. Pancho Villas – 26 Bell Street
Named after the famous Mexican revolutionary, Pancho Villas promised authentic homemade Mexican-style dishes as well as margaritas, tequila, and more.
Also including a branch on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, the outlet closed its doors in 2016, with the Merchant City space now occupied by Scottish restaurant Mharsanta.
6. Khublai Khans – 26 Candleriggs
Known as Glasgow’s most exotic dining location when it was open, Khublai Khans buffet included an array of exotic meats such as kangaroo, crocodile and even zebra!
Located just round the corner from number five on our list Pancho Villas, the restaurant was refurbished in 2017 into Romans Pizzeria before permanently closing the location in 2020 due to Covid.
7. Café Mao – 84 Brunswick Street
Another dining experience located in Merchant City; Mao’s décor was stylised around the infamous communist Chinese chairman.
Yet despite this strange choice of inspiration, the eatery was praised by many for its Thai fusion style of food before closing its doors in 2009.
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8. Rawalpindi – 321 Sauchiehall Street
In a prime location for dining within the city centre, Rawalpindi promised a mix of modern Tandoori food with the feel of a traditional curry house, and for many, it obviously succeeded.
Named after a city in Pakistan, the curry house closed to the public in 2014, before reopening as popular burger location Steak Cattle & Roll.
9. Sannino’s Pizzeria – 61 Bath Street
Sanninos’s was an Italian-style pizzeria that featured a relaxing atmosphere and vibrant décor since its opening in 1978. Closing in the early 2010s, one guest wrote in a review “portions are huge so go if you are starving only” and it seems many other commenters agreed with the sheer size of the massive portions once provided.
10. Danish Food Centre – St Vincent Street
A decidedly unique café for Glasgow, with other locations in the UK such as in Manchester and London, this eatery offered many dishes such as Denmark’s national dish, stegt flæsk (crispy pork with potatoes).
As well as the restaurant, the centre also offered Glaswegians opportunities to purchase Danish art and foodstuffs to take home and worked as a great advertisement for the Danish way of life.
11. Dragon-I – 311 Hope Street
Located across the road from the Theatre Royal, this establishment enjoyed prolonged success as a Chinese-Malaysian place to dine before a performance with its pre-theatre menu.
With its terracotta decoration and exotic dishes due to its fusion style, Dragon-I ended up another victim of the hospitality sector’s closure due to Covid-19.
12. La Riviera – 3 Benalder Street
La Riviera was an Italian style restaurant located in Partick very close to the Kelvinhall subway station, making it easily reachable for many Glaswegians.
It dramatically shut down after a brick wall included in its terrace area collapsed onto the road in August 2016, leading to the evacuation of many flats and other businesses including The Dolphin Bar.
This was far from the only dining establishments mentioned by readers, with others including Crème de la Crème, Café Cossachok, Spaghetti Shop, Esca & Koh I-Noor.
Although these places may have sadly disappeared, there is still a massive selection of restaurants in Glasgow, with TripAdvisor showing over 1,500 active restaurants in the Glasgow area!
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