The Twisted Wheel bar and music venue on Glasgow’s Queen Street shut in August but its replacement, Max’s Kansas City opens its doors to the public today.
While the previous venture liked to shake its polo shirts to the sounds of Northern Soul, the new joint takes its cue from the NYC dive bar and gig venue that was at the sleazy heart of the Big Apple’s boho music scene. A hangout for everyone from Andy Warhol to Bowie via Lou Reed, it could even boast that Debbie Harry worked there as a waitress before finding fame in Blondie.
The clientele may not be quite so star-studded in Glasgow’s version of Max’s Kansas City, although given the city’s track record in producing great bands, it’s not unthinkable that the new Bowie, Reed or Blondie might drop in for a burger while waiting to be discovered.
The food looks to the States for inspiration. Typical dishes include the steak, onion and Philly cheese on rye, chilli dogs and southern fried chicken. Less typical are the Thai crispy beef salad and the Massaman curry. Naturally, the desserts menu includes the choice of New York Cheesecake.