Tomorrow is St Andrew’s Day. And we can’t think of a better reason to highlight five 5pm restaurants that put Scottish produce at the centre of their menus.
We have pulled out five restaurants from Glasgow but there are dozens more we could have chosen.
You can browse Scottish restaurants on 5pm here.
Café Source
We had to lead with Café Source. First, because they source and use lots of Scottish produce. Secondly, because they are located in the basement of the cultural venue and former church, St. Andrew’s in the Square.
The kitchen uses well regarded suppliers such as Ramsay’s of Carluke and Taylor’s of Strathaven, and they display the provenance of many ingredients on their varied menu.
The menus change regularly but the following dishes are typical. Scottish classic Cullen skink is a popular starter. Other diners have found it difficult to pass up the restaurant’s Orkney fudge cheesecake. Some other favourites on the Cafe Source menu include the handmade Ramsay’s haggis beef burger and the warm smoked haddock & leek risotto which is topped with a ‘drappit egg’ and an Arran mustard cream.
Cafe Source is currently running a Big Deal: two course meal with a glass of wine for one for £13.
Ardnamurchan
Ardnamurchan is a contemporary Scottish restaurant on Hope Street, opposite the Theatre Royal. As the name suggests, the West Coast peninsula of Ardnamurchan has inspired the restaurant. Moreover, its owners have close links to the area. Whisky barrels, Harris tweed, exposed stone walls and designer lighting all mean that the decor treads a neat line between rustic and city centre chic.
The chefs at Ardnamurchan make the most of unique Scottish produce such as wild venison from Ardnamurchan Estate; Hebridean blue cheese and seafood landed on Barra. Some dishes, like the Arran haggis with neeps, tatties and a Ben Nevis whisky sauce, are very traditional Scottish.
Others, such as the squid with Szechuan pepper and sriracha mayo take their flavours from further afield. Alongside the venison, Scotch beef, Ayrshire pork and Ardnamurchan lamb, the menus are teeming with the finest seafood. Shetland mussels, langoustines from Uist and Gigha halibut all stand out.
Ardnamuchan has a Big Deal on Prosecco afternoon tea for two at £20. It is valid in January and February 2018. Handy if you are looking for a stocking-filler.
Leiper’s Attic
Recently opened, Leiper’s Attic is a Scottish restaurant in the upstairs space above Cottiers bar, theatre and wedding venue. The Hyndland Street restaurant takes its name from William Leiper. In conjunction with Daniel Cottier, Leiper created the spectacular church building that is today known as Cottier’s. It is an atmospheric space which works well for romantic dinners and family celebrations. If you really want to celebrate, they sell a range of Cuban cigars.
Leiper’s Attic is a showcase for the glories of Scotland’s natural larder. In particular, wild fish, game and beef which is dry-aged in the restaurant’s own special lockers.
The menus are highly seasonal. Sample starters might be the hand-dived scallops with lemon, whisky, baby capers and sea herbs or the beef tartar with roasted bone marrow, wild mushrooms, white onion and soda bread.
Fillet and sirloin steaks, a cote de boeuf cut and whole lemon sole all feature on the grill section. Other main course options might be the wild sea bass, pheasant or a roasted venison loin with butternut squash, kale, celery, wild mushrooms, honey and five spice sauce. Dessert could be a dark chocolate ganache, sticky toffee pudding or a selection of cheeses from IJ Mellis.
Leiper’s Attic is currently offering a Big Deal valid in January and February. £25 will buy a £50 spend on food from the a la carte menu.
Two Fat Ladies at The Buttery
The Buttery is one of Glasgow’s oldest, most enduring and celebrated restaurants, well known for its relaxed atmosphere and unique interior of oak panelling, stained glass and wonderful mahogany and marble bar. Under the hands of the Two Fats team, it has earned plenty of awards and great reviews – not least for the five star quality of the service.
Outstanding Scottish seafood is of course a strong feature on the menu, but there are also plenty of meaty (and meat-free) delights.
Individual dishes may vary depending on season and what is available from suppliers but typical options might be the flash-fried West coast scallops with a cauliflower and parmesan purée and a mild Indian spiced cream.
A different fish choice could be the fillet of Peterhead halibut in a smoked cheese and herb crust with a smoked haddock cream.
Alternatively, you could order the mignons of Perthshire beef fillet served with a mushroom crush, smoked paprika sauce and gherkin cream.
Book in for tomorrow via 5pm Dining and two courses and a drink from the lunch or early evening menu are yours for £16.95 a head.
Number 16
Number 16 on Byres Road is a cosy and well established Scottish restaurant in Glasgow’s West End. It offers high quality food with a friendly service in relaxed surroundings. It would be pushing it to say that it is a hidden gem. However, they tend not to shout about what they do. They just quietly get on with showing the finest Scottish produce in the best light possible.
Number 16 brings fresh ideas to modern Scottish cooking. A starter of hand-dived Loch Fyne scallop might be served with a confit chicken wing, charred baby corn, sweetcorn purée and bacon popcorn.
From the main courses, a haunch of Perthshire venison is accompanied by roast cauliflower, baby parsnips, Cavolo nero and blackberry jus.
You could use 5pm Dining to book in tomorrow and enjoy three courses from the set menu plus a glass of wine for £20.95.