Photo of
March 5, 2009

After a devastating fire smoked Khushi’s out of their Victoria Street home last December, the popular Indian restaurant re-opened recently on West Nicholson Street. While the blaze was terrible and put several businesses out of action, at least temporarily, it was always going to take more than a few flames to seriously slow down Khushi’s. After all, it has been open since 1947 and has had several homes in that time. One more won’t make any difference.

With the restaurant trade currently facing some stiff challenges, it’s reassuring to see some of the old veterans soldier on regardless of recession or indeed any other problem. May of them have a more sprightly spring in their step than their age would indicate.

All the following are 5pm members who have been in business for a good number of decades or operate out of premises which are older than the combined ages of Gordon, Jamie and Nigella.

The Two Fat Ladies team are currently breathing new life into the venerable Buttery in Glasgow while Rogano, a relative youngster at eighty-odd, is still going strong. Just outside Glasgow, R34 at India of Inchinnan is housed in a cracking Art Deco building.

In Edinburgh, Henderson’s was serving vegetarian food long before vegetarians were invented while Howies on Waterloo Place used to be the old Assembly Rooms. Both Rhubarb and the Vintner’s Rooms serve their dishes in buildings going back over two centuries.