Photo of
December 11, 2012
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Winner of the Aspiring Front of House Manager award, Claire McCulloch, of Restaurant at Blythswood Square, flanked by Willie McCurrach (City of Glasgow College, left) and Willie Jones (Manager Gleneagles, right) 

Last night’s Glasgow Restaurant Awards at the Citz will be remembered for many things. Not least the sight of many of the city’s most well known chefs wiggling onstage to a soundtrack of Sexy and I Know It by LMFAO. Watching Guy Cowan of Guy’s restaurant pouting and shaking his booty is not the sort of thing one forgets easily – no matter how hard you try.

Host Michelle McManus did a lively job of compering the evening while Anthea Jackson and Ryan James of the Glasgow Restaurateurs Association proved a nifty double act as they introduced the awards. Tam Cowan provided a colourful guest spot, almost none of which is repeatable here.

Best restaurants in Glasgow

Glasgow’s Best Restaurant went to Amarone who also took the prize in the Smart but Casual category.

Presenting the winners, Ryan James, chairman of The Glasgow Restaurants Association (GRA), commented: ‘This year’s awards have been highly competitive. Over 17,000 votes were cast by the dining public and the winners fought off some stiff competition to bring home their trophy. These awards demonstrate the culinary diversity that we have in the city and highlight the excellent technical expertise of our industry.

Amarone were voted outright winners this year because of the excellent service the staff give their dinners, the creation of a wonderful atmosphere and, of course, for the high quality of the dishes served.’

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Amarone won the Overall Best Restaurant: Antonio Angione (Head Chef), Andy Watt (Assistant Manager) and Michael Prior (Manager)

Maurice Taylor of the Chandon Group, which runs La Bonne Auberge and Hotel Indigo won the Entrepreneurial Spirit Award.

Number 16 on Byres Road took the 5pm Online Users prize which was decided purely by 5pm users.

Guy Cowan won the Spirit of Glasgow award. Judging by his spectacular dancing, he is certainly a game spirit.

The Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Jim and Gilly Wilson who have worked in several of Glasgow’s landmark restaurants including Rogano and The Buttery over the last four decades.

The winners

The full list of winners is:

Best Restaurant – Amarone

Casual – Art Lovers Café at House for an Art Lover

Smart but Casual – Amarone

Posh Nosh – Brian Maule at Chardon d’Or

Family Restaurant of the Year – La Vita George Square

Best Newcomer – Lychee Oriental

Best Breakfast – Cafe Gandolfi

Best Italian – La Lanterna

Non-European – Sapporo Teppanyaki

Young Chef of the Year – Morvern Gibson of Restaurant at Blythswood Square

5pm Online Users award – Number 16

Outstanding Maitre D’ of the Year – Ali Mohammed at Charcoals

Greenest Restaurant – Cup Tea Lounge

Best Use of Social Media – Arisaig

Kitchen Porter – Peter Hynes of The Pipers’ Tryst

Spirit of Glasgow – Guy Cowan

Entrepreneurial Spirit – Maurice Taylor, Chardon Group

Lifetime Achievement Award – Jim and Gilly Wilson

This year’s awards proved to be bigger than ever, with more than 40 finalists nominated for the 19 award categories. The public cast more than 17,000 votes.