Photo of
October 30, 2017
The Gardener
The Gardener: designed with green fingers. Pic: [Facebook][1].

To the West End and Ashton Lane where The Lane Bar has transformed into The Gardener.

Opening to the public this weekend, it promises: ‘Botanically inspired drinks. Supremo bartenders. Fresh artisan coffee. Lite bites & sharing plates. Chilled out soulful beats.’

The decor certainly fits with the name. Trees, shrubs, bushes and other assorted foliage form an integral part of the airy design.

We particularly liked the way that hanging foliage appears to be the hair of a woman’s portrait on one wall.

You can have your coffee almost a dozen different ways at The Gardener or you could explore their range of Suki teas.

Seasonal cocktails

A section of the cocktail list is devoted to seasonal cocktails. As the seasons change and different ingredients become available, the cocktails offered will take this into account.

An example would be the Garden Beets. Featuring Blackwoods botanical vodka, beetroot shrub, grapefruit and rosemary tonic, it is said to have a botanical zestiness. Look out for ‘earthy seasonality balanced with lingering fresh flavours’.

The food menu available at the moment seems to concentrate on breakfast and brunch items plus all day snacks and grazing items. The aim is to offer something flexible rather than tying people to a starter, main course and dessert.

There are steamed buns, flat breads and a small plates section with options such as wild mushroom Scotch egg with cep mayo.

A non-small plates section offers dishes such as the smoked chicken and pecan salad with apple and yoghurt dressing.

Or the panko wasabi-crusted coley and fries.

The Gardener: adventurous menu

A good chunk of it is pretty adventurous. It is the first time I have ever seen loaded BBQ jackfruit nachos with avo and jalapenos on a bar menu.

Those with more traditional tastes may prefer the black pudding sausage roll with apple sauce.

Local sourcing at The Gardener includes Ayrshire ham and bacon; cakes are from Glasgow’s own artisan bakers Seb & Milli and freshly made yoghurt from Katy Rodgers in Stirling.

There are private dining facilities in the Plant Room. This space will also be used for monthly meet the producer events.

5pm Dining wishes The Gardener a bumper crop of customers.