Uncover Hidden Lunch Spots in Glasgow
Glasgow, a vibrant city in Scotland, is not only known for its rich history and stunning architecture but also for its diverse culinary scene. This city offers a plethora of lunch spots that cater to every palate, from traditional Scottish fare to international cuisine. Whether you're a local looking for a new place to try, a tourist wanting to taste the city's gastronomic offerings, or a food enthusiast on the hunt for your next culinary adventure, Glasgow's lunch spots will not disappoint. This article will guide you through some of the best places to enjoy a midday meal in this dynamic city.
Ox and finch
4.7
(2007)
Trendy, high-ceilinged venue with a casual vibe, offering creative, contemporary tapas-style dishes.
Reviews:
Probably some of the best food I’ve had Tapas wise in awhile. The young lady who served us was absolutely fantastic. I mention that we had a dietary requirement. She took away the menu and marked off and cross stuff. Exactly what I could and couldn’t have, which is absolutely fantastic. There was absolutely no chance for any confusion as we’re going to occur Especially with the Shera menu where people just want to eat everybody else’s food. There was not going to be any mistakes. The food comes out as it is cooked. It was all hot, piping, hot, tasty and fresh. I felt like the food was all very reasonably priced between four of us. We spent over £140 which was very good. The chips were to dye for ….best dip ever.
Izzy Kaleem
Delightful find. Really lovely restaurant. The menu is tapas-style and food is brought when ready. It is ideal for sharing. Some cold dishes arrived immediately some of the hot dishes took a wee bit of time. Mixture of tastes and textures is superb. Booking in advance is probably essential especially for a larger group. Reasonably priced for the standard of food.
Martin McAdam
Celebrated my master’s degree there. My friend and I can definitely confirm that this is the best food we ever tried. Explosion of the tastes and something totally different. Things that you think do not go together, well in this restaurant they go perfectly well. Should definitely go there and book in advance. Also it is not expensive and try to try as many plates, I recommend to share the plates. Unfortunately we were so full and couldn’t try dessert, I heard that they are amazing as well.
Lana
Honestly the best food I’ve ever had! We booked here based on the positive reviews we read and managed to get a last minute booking on a Saturday evening. The restaurant is greatly, lovely atmosphere inside. Staff were all great and attended to us throughout to make sure we had everything needed. We were advanced on 6/7 dishes between 2 people which worked out to be plenty. We ordered 7 in total and didn’t leave much (could of happily had 6). Then we had a dessert each because it’d be rude not to! It’s tapas style, so you are served your dishes as and when they are ready. This means a couple may come out at once and then you get a break before the next. I really liked this as you could take your time when eating. Would highly recommend and I’ll definitely be heading back on my next visit to Glasgow 🙌🏼🏴
Liam Williams
We were there for our team dinner and we really enjoyed the Food. They were all small plates and we tried most of them. The rib eye steak Was definitely a must try. It definitely is a must try Restaurant when you are in Glasgow. Thank you for the good Food.
Diwas SHRESTHA
920 Sauchiehall St, Finnieston, Glasgow G3 7TF, UK
Stravaigin
4.5
(1443)
Gourmet concoctions from wild ingredients like grey squirrel, hedgerow herbs and sea urchins.
Reviews:
Probably one of the best places in Glasgow for great local food. A very beautifully made interior of the restaurant puts you in a cozy atmosphere. The service is super friendly and helpful with recommendations. The food itself is just great - delicious, from local ingredients and just an explosion for your taste buds. A reservation is definitely necessary as it is a well-known and good-visited spot in Glasgow.
Tatjana Ilina
This restaurant was highly recommended, we came but didn't book a table, we were seated behind the bar and we understood because it was our mistake, but the waiters bypassed us and ignored us, they always left somewhere, we couldn't even call anyone . When it came time to eat, no one informed us that the food we ordered would be so spicy, the menu did not say so. The mussels were peppered with jalapeño, which was not mentioned on the menu, and the curry prawns were super spicy. When we reported this to the waiter, he said that we should have warned him and he would have brought us yogurt to reduce the burning sensation, this is very funny, we didn’t expect this, we expected everything, but not this response. The atmosphere was very good, but the evening was completely ruined.
Sasha Kolomensky
Great place for a dinner, we seated upstairs which it was quite and perfect for a date with candlelight atmosphere. The menu wasn’t too big so we order 3 small plates and one big plate which was perfect portions for two people. Good pairing of unexpected ingredient but all the dishes tasted very good. I would definitely go back and try other dishes
Alessandra Micieli
We had an early dinner and we loved our server, she recommended some amazing local scotland dishes for us to try. We ordered tonns of food and drinks. We were clearly hungry!! Lol The ambience was quite amazing. The crowd was gr8. Ample of sitting space apart from the bar area. Some families with younger kids were even sitting outside. The artifacts and rustic look stole it for me. All the dishes that we ordered were really tasty..we goobled them all. From Haggis to leeks to burgers, we enjoyed them throughly. What a fun place. Must visit if in glassgow.
It Starts at Home - Sonali Kapoor
Everything about our dinner here was perfect. The atmosphere is welcoming and the space is a really neat, rustic/eclectic vibe that feels chic and also totally down to earth. We loved seeing the dogs dining alongside their humans in the bar area! Our server Max was friendly and had great recommendations. Our drinks were super tasty, and every single thing we ordered food wise was just incredible. The veggie haggis with whiskey cream sauce was superb and the leeks confit with whipped tofu were totally unexpected and divine. The panna cotta was the perfect way to finish the meal. Could not recommend this place more, if we were locals we would eat here all the time!
Rachel Harawood
28 Gibson St, Glasgow G12 8NX, UK
Madras cafe
4.5
(828)
Cosy curry house serving classic North & South Indian fare, along with seafood grills & street food.
Reviews:
Mind-blowing food at Madras Cafe. Went it on a Saturday afternoon. The restaurant was quiet. I’m a fuzzy eater. Was looking for something lite for lunch. The menu looked appealing and was in a dilemma about which dish to take. Thanks to the waiter who helped me when I told him to pick something lite for me. Had a South Indian mixed vegetables dish with lentils and the classic chicken tikka. Both of them were outstanding. Could taste the freshness of vegetables. The chicken had a smokey flavour of coal which I guess was cooked in a clay oven run by coal. The meat here was surprisingly not dry like other places I ate in. Good balance of spices and freshness everywhere. Another thing that surprised me was their washroom 😃. It was clean and shiny which is surprising at places with this price range. Thanks to Madras Cafe for their incredible food and service. Will return and definitely recommend it to my friends.
Mark Scott
Have been to many Indian restaurants but haven’t tasted something better than this. Will return soon for sure and would recommend it to anyone looking for a good Indian curry. Service was exceptional.
Ian hopkins
A great and authentic culinary experience with very friendly staff and southern style Indian food. Staff will guide you through the menu and the best experience. Wines however are a bit sub standard with a generous mark up, I would be happy to pay a little more and have a proper bottle - overalls great experience - best to book on en ends
CM
The best and most authentic Indian curry I had in the town. We were a group of 4 and tried out different starters and mains. All were 10 out of 10. From my more than 30 years of experience with Indian cuisine, I can tell that the food Couldn't be better. The lamb chops starter and the monkfish dish was the star of the show according to my friends. They also have an extended menu for the vegetarian which I found quite helpful and unique as a vegetarian. I had the tawa sabzi which was a mix of maybe 6-8 kinds of vegetables. Could taste freshness in every bite. The amount of oil was controlled to perfection as in my past experience found the curried of most of the places oily. From the waiter, I got to know that they don't use any Ghee or food colour in food which expresses their concern for healthy food. The spices used were fresh and not too much in amount which you can tell as you eat. The service was the best. Couldn't imagine this level of service at this price point. Was my first visit but can guarantee it won't be the last. Would recommend it to people who really know Indian curries.
Fin Stone
The staff (one person) at the restaurant had a very idiotic attitude. After paying the bill I gave my feed back about the so called Veg Biryani which was nowhere near biryani flavor nor the ingredients. They had just put random veggies with no flavor at all (no salt nor spice and who adds ivy gourd in biryani). When told about, the one who is supposed to be the manager there, told we cannot satisfy everyone's taste buds and we change according to the locals. Then why the hell you call it an Indian restaurant if you cannot keep your authenticity. Throughout our dinner duration none came to check how everything was, whereas the same person went around where others were seated with all his teeth visible checking how everything was. Such a disgusting attitude which really spoiled our evening. Never going to visit back again nor suggest the place to anyone. As all other dishes we ordered were good I have given that rating for the food. Learn to treat people equally.
Sagar Pabbarathi
82 Howard St, Glasgow G1 4EE, UK
@lunch glasgow
4.6
(323)
Reviews:
Wanted to see what this place was about after following it's enormous success on social media for many years. It's OK. It's by far not the best but by no way the worst. The burger was brilliant and chips fantastic. I did feel the chilli's were overly excessive on both. Lack of any seating or option to eat in and around the area is v annoying.
Jake Poblocki
Got an epic toastie from here for my lunch! Was so stuffed after it, but it was delicious
Chris Lindsay
Indulgent. Cheesy. Tasty. Perfect. Not the thriftiest lunch you'll ever have but you won't hear much of a complaint from me. Looking forward to returning to try some of the other box meals. Some more vegetarian options would allow me to convince my partner to make the journey a little more often!
Daniel M
Love this place. The food is undoubtedly brash and calorific but it is delicious. The subs from their Express place nextdoor are another level of good. I’ve not had anything like these outside of the US. Nowhere else in the West End that I know of doing this style. Highly recommend.
Bob Shaw
Always a favourite for ordering for the office. Great range, nice staff in person and for deliveries and a well-stocked menu to pick from. Portions are generous and the quality is great. Cheers guys.
Paul Moore
1620 Great Western Rd, Anniesland, Glasgow G13 1HH, UK
La bonne auberge
4.1
(513)
Sophisticated brasserie serving French & Mediterranean cuisine, plus wines & cocktails.
Reviews:
Absolutely AMAZING food, could not even fault it. Cocktails... Well they could have been done better, but you work with what you got. Service lovely. But the food and style were just astounding. Well done to the chefs. Cause the food was bloody fab.
Andrew Fair
Amazingly friendly staff, very tasty food, and quick service. Fairly limited menu, but everything we had was quite tasty. Prices were a bit high, but we received a discount as hotel guests. Worth a stop if you're staying at the connected Holiday Inn.
Drew Vaterlaus
I've visited La Bonne Auberge several times over the past year (so consider that things might have changed since then), dining at lunch, dinner, and in the afternoon. At lunch time, the sirloin steak and pasta dishes I tried were delicious and some of the best I've tried in Glasgow. Conveniently located near the bus station, it made for a tasty pitstop. During my evening visit, the cocktails and food were enjoyable but our main waiter had such a poor attitude, and we felt overlooked by other staff. However, the cuisine was still high quality. Unfortunately, my afternoon experience fell short. The restaurant was noisy and crowded with hotel guests, and we were seated but ignored for 15 minutes by the busy staff until we decided to leave. The dining room also seemed incredibly dirty and unkempt, with pastry crumbs everywhere. So it's been a mixed bag. At its best, La Bonne Auberge provides top-notch dishes and drinks in a convenient location. But inconsistent service and cleanliness make it unreliable.
Federico Concas
The food was awesome as we ate there for 5 nights in a row. The Soup of the day, Haggis croquettes, Sunday roast, Braised beef, Chicken schnitzel, Beer battered haddock, LBA beef burger and their warm sticky toffee pudding was to die for. The negative about this place is that if you get there around 8pm then the staff tell you that they are expecting a large party and then try to deter you from eating there or tell you point blank that they cannot accommodate you even though the restaurant is mostly empty. We were staying at their hotel, so they had no choice but to give us a table, but this occurred every night with different staff. And every night, we noticed that their large party never materialized so I assume they do it on purpose so that they can clean up and go home early rather than have to deal with customer past 8pm.
June McNaught
Mixed bag here really as we had both dinner and breakfast. Dinner service was very slow, despite there seeming to be enough staff on, but the food itself was great. Breakfast the following morning, however, was excellent with a good selection of hot and cold and staff going out their way to ensure everyone was happy. And, despite the slow dinner service, we would still recommend it.
Hamish The Cat
161 W Nile St, Glasgow G1 2RL, UK
The buttery
4.8
(1380)
Old-school, dark wood and tartan decor at spot for creative, upscale Scots menu emphasising seafood.
Reviews:
Excellent food, excellent service, a must try in Glasgow! There’s literally nothing to complain about the food or service here! The scallops are the best I have ever had, cooked to perfection and generous portion as well! The sweetcorn purée goes perfectly with the scallops, you must try this dish!! The five spice duck is super soft and tender, the noodle are a bit salty tho. Highland Venison is delightful as well, the red cabbage in it is so tasty. They do nice cocktails here as well! Even the bread tastes so good here 🤩 The service is absolutely amazing, everyone is so welcoming and friendly, love the decor as well, excellent atmosphere, there’s plenty of seating, highly recommend this place!
YIXIN HE
Old school dining. This place is mind-blowingly good. No sneaky service charges and no two hour dining slot. Refreshing to say the least. Food was superb. Nice portion sizes. Cannot fault this place and cannot wait to return. A pleasant surprise.
ED
Extremely delightful taste and care toward the food and preparation. We had the scallops and the prawns, which were excellent. The chips on the side and the mushrooms were very tasty. The bread was also a highlight. The service and the overall atmosphere were pleasant. Highly recommend!
Yoon Soo Park
Amazing atmosphere and exquisite food. This is probably the best restaurant I've been to, the food that we had was exceptional. The scallops were cooked to perfection and the Scotch Beef I had was the best I've had. Service was also top tier, very accommodating and friendly staff.
Kevin T
it was our first day in Scotland and we went to this restaurant and we were amazed by how the staff is super kind & welcoming and accommodated our choices of food (no alcohol and no pork) the food was so delicious and the complimentary bread was very tasty that i ate 4 pieces 😂 Ambience also was lovely and comfy.. Highly Recommended!! i fall in love w Scotland after meeting the amazing friendly staff .. we even took a picture together!
Crystal Rose
652 Argyle St, Glasgow G3 8UF, UK
Fanny trollopes
4.7
(536)
Buzzy neighbourhood bistro serving seasonal meat and fish in a cosy, candlelit dining room.
Reviews:
AMAZING dinner we had at Fanny Trollopes! All the seafood was so fresh and cooked to perfection - especially the scallops they did an absolutely fantastic job. One thing I really love was how starters came in such a generous portion. Added on edit: All staff were also so so nice and friendly. And that perfected our time there. Really appreciate their hospitality. It was my first time here but I will surely turn into a regular. Highly recommended!!!
Theerada Moonsiri
We had dinner at this lovely place. The waiter was very kind and charismatic, which absolutely contributed to the ambiance in the restaurant. The dishes were of good quality and were "complex"; a lot of well chosen, special and tasty ingredients. The pricing is fair. (The pigeon starter is very tasty, I forgot to make a picture)
Nicole Kok
The venue is small so I would recommend booking. The food is tremendous and the staff are so nice. What’s not to like. Will definitely being coming back for more. The desserts were delicious we had the chocolate fondu, sticky toffee pudding, apple crumble and oh so delicious custard and the cheeseboard. They were all fantastic and to be recommended.
Karen Finnieston
Super tasty food and a fun, quirky venue. Staff were great, very friendly. Starters were lovely and big portions! The scallops with black pudding were a favourite. We ended up having the specials for mains - the smoked pork belly and the fish of the day - which were both delicious. Would recommend for a special occasion or just a nice meal out.
Lauren Grant
Food is 10/10 had the pigeon breast to start and the ox shin special, delicious. Such a nice cosy vibe and love that there's a wee bit of a story in the menu.
Bako Malfoy
1066 Argyle St, Finnieston, Glasgow G3 8LY, UK