The TTH City Guide

[-james-]

There was something similar to this on the old board iirc but it didn't get used much. I find it's always good to have eating/drinking recommendations to hand when in a new city.


A mini guide to Glasgow based on places I've been, as if there wasn't enough posting about Glaswegian eateries in the other thread already:

Mother India is commonly regarded as the best Indian, Little Curry House on Byres road is very good too. Banana Leaf another honerable mention. I usually go with Masala Twist if I'm getting a takeaway.

I'm not a huge fan of Chinese but Dumpling Monkey is pretty good for a takeaway. Opium does great asian fusion/dim sum style stuff but it's fairly pricey.

Elena's on Old Dumbarton Road is the best Spanish food I've had outside of Iberia. It is brilliant.

Mono, The 78 and Stereo are sister cafes and superb for vegan food, we go quite a lot. I really had no idea vegan food could be so satisfying until I tried these.

Nippon Kitchen is better than the Wagamama it's next door to. Pickled Ginger is good, especially the beef broth dish. I've never had brilliant sushi in Glasgow though. I think Ichiban is quite overrated.

Chinaski's is one of my favourite pubs. Stock loads of bourbons and the food is always great. It has one of Glasgow's few beer gardens as well. Tabac in the city centre is owned by the same folk and good as well, great decor. The food used to be superb but it seems to be a different menu every time I'm in these days and it's never as good as it was.

Porter & Rye is my favourite steak place, the starters in particular are all excellent.

Ox & Finch is hyped up everywhere but it deserves it. They do creative, tapas style sharing dishes. Probably the best restaurant in town. Book ahead.

The best pizza I've had was at Sarti on Wellington Street. Paesano is good but a tad overrated I think.

Gamba does great seafood stuff if you're after somewhere fancy.

Inn Deep is probably the best beer garden, right on the river Kelvin. It's always a bit of a stampede on a nice day though. It's owned by Williams Brewery and the beer selection is always great if you're into your poncey IPAs.

The Belle is a great cosy little pub just up from Inn Deep. Features a fireplace and sleeping dogs more often than not.

Roots & Fruits is a deli that serves great food. Daily selection of curries, pies, rolls, salads etc. Can't be beat if you're in a rush. They do the best cooked breakfast in town as well. I only really know the Great Western Road branch, not sure they serve as much in the Argyle St. one.

Variety Bar is the best place for a drink if you're on Sauchiehall Street. Nice & Sleazy is a Glasgow institution and Broadcast is ok too, not too bothered about anywhere else.


Top 5:

Ox & Finch
Chinaski's
Stereo
Variety Bar
Porter & Rye


Indian: Mother India, Little Curry House, Banana Leaf, Masala Twist
Chinese: Dumpling Monkey
Spanish: Elena's
Pizza: Sarti, Paesano
Asian: Opium
Japanese: Nippon Kitchen, Pickled Ginger
Steak: Porter & Rye, The Alston
Seafood: Gamba
Vegan: Mono, The 78, Stereo
Other: Ox & Finch, Roots & Fruits
Pubs: Chinaski's, Tabac, Inn Deep, The Belle, Variety Bar, Nice & Sleazy, Broadcast

[Giggles]

Dublin:

Cesspit. Go somewhere else.

[Magic]

James can you edit OP similar to WDYTOE so it has all the entries?

[-james-]

What, like that?

[Magic]

:face:

No say Spoon does one for Sarajevo or something spoiler it and put it in the OP.

[Offshore Toon]

I'm liking the name Opium for an Asian restaurant.

[-james-]

:face:

No say Spoon does one for Sarajevo or something spoiler it and put it in the OP.

:D

Yes, ok.

[Kikó]

I'll do one for Islington at some point.

[Adamski]

Indian: Mother India, Little Curry House, Banana Leaf, Masala Twist
Chinese: Dumpling Monkey
Spanish: Elena's
Pizza: Sarti, Paesano
Asian: Opium
Japanese: Nippon Kitchen, Pickled Ginger
Steak: Porter & Rye, The Alston
Seafood: Gamba
Vegan: Mono, The 78, Stereo
Other: Ox & Finch, Roots & Fruits
Pubs: Chinaski's, Tabac, Inn Deep, The Belle, Variety Bar, Nice & Sleazy, Broadcast

Pretty comprehensive list but I'll add a few more.

Indian: Koolba. Persian/Indian curry place. Brilliant fish curry.
Chinese: Ho Wong & Lychee Oriental.
Vietnamese: Hanoi Bike shop. Excellent little place, especially the home made tofu.
Spanish: Rioja. Fancy tapas as you'd expect in Finnieston. Never had a bad meal.
Asian: Chompsky does some fantastic Asian food. They have a truck on Kelvin Way which is great and are currently taking over Broadcast kitchen doing Bao and Korean fried chicken.
Julie's Street Kitchen: Malaysian Pop up which used to be based in Gordon Lane and Buchanan Galleries and now have their own place in Shawlands opening up where Cafe Strange Brew are just now.
Mexican: Squid & Whale. Mexican kitchen takeover at Nice & Sleazys pub. Great tacos.
Seafood: Crabshakk is the best in Glasgow for me. Fantastic.
Other: Stravaigan. Asian/Scottish fusion. Nasi Goreng with black pudding scotch egg is an absolute winner.
Cafe Strange Brew: Posted about this in the food thread recently. Always queued out so moving to bigger premises across the road.
Bread Meats Bread: Brilliant burgers.
Where the monkey sleeps: ridiculously good and massive sandwiches.
Drygate: Cracking beer and the food is pretty good too. Good beer garden.
Number 16: tiny little place on Byers road. Relatively high end food.
Six by Nico: opened a few weeks ago and fully booked out. Menu and whole restaurant theme is changing every 6 weeks. Currently it's 'Chippie' with things you would order in Glasgow. Haddock, Steak Pie etc reimagined. Deep fried Mars bar take for dessert is incredible.

OK more than a few more :D Probably loads I've missed. Food scene is exploding here. Ox and Finch the best of them all though.

[Magic]

Bread meets bread is always fucking rammed.

[Adamski]

Yeah no wonder. They've opened another in the west end and I think they've got one on the cards for Edinburgh if it's not already there. That the one you mean actually?

[Giggles]

Where do you all find the time to go to that many places?

[-james-]

I'm really not sure why Glasgow needs so many burger places. Always just end up in Five Guys when on that bit of St. Vincent Street that has five burger places practically next door to each other though lol.

[-james-]

Where do you all find the time to go to that many places?

I like eating. I usually reserve some time for it every day.

[Giggles]

I like eating. I usually reserve some time for it every day.

Yeah but doing nearly every restaurant in a city. Are you loaded or something?

[Offshore Toon]

I'm really not sure why Glasgow needs so many burger places. Always just end up in Five Guys when on that bit of St. Vincent Street that has five burger places practically next door to each other though lol.
Brighton seems to have a thing about burger places as well. Not that there's necessarily loads of them, but everybody argues over which one is best and there's quite a few that are 'famous'.

[Boydy]

I'm really not sure why Glasgow needs so many burger places. Always just end up in Five Guys when on that bit of St. Vincent Street that has five burger places practically next door to each other though lol.

Five Guys isn't even all that good.

[Pen]

You don't need to be loaded to eat out weekly (or even daily depending of course where you eat). Surely most youngish city dwelling adults without kids eat out at least once a week on average. That alone would take you up to 52 restaurant visits a year.

Giggles

[Offshore Toon]

Yeah, if you're working I don't see why you wouldn't eat at a restaurant at least a couple of times a week.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Everywhere has a stupid number of burger places at the moment. I'm sure I've posted before about the seven within twelve units on one side of Wimbledon high street.

Always the brioche buns too :mad:

[Magic]

Yeah no wonder. They've opened another in the west end and I think they've got one on the cards for Edinburgh if it's not already there. That the one you mean actually?

Nah the one on St Vincent st. Where is the one in Edinburgh?

[Magic]

Five Guys isn't even all that good.

Agreed. No burger place is any good. Basic food for basic fuckers.

[Giggles]

You don't need to be loaded to eat out weekly (or even daily depending of course where you eat). Surely most youngish city dwelling adults without kids eat out at least once a week on average. That alone would take you up to 52 restaurant visits a year.

Maybe so. I suppose it's that I just don't like eating out anyway so I can't really understand it, give me a takeaway any day. Dublin is absolute bullshit for eating out anyway though, everywhere disappeared up its own hispter arsehole. It would be far more expensive than over there too.

[Adamski]

Where do you all find the time to go to that many places?

Lunches and weekends.

EDIT: Giggles. Some of them I've went to like 3-4 years ago.

[Adamski]

I'm really not sure why Glasgow needs so many burger places. Always just end up in Five Guys when on that bit of St. Vincent Street that has five burger places practically next door to each other though lol.

Don't like any of them I've been to down there barring Bread Meats Bread. Burger Meats Bun was my absolute fave with Lebowskis close behind. Buddy's and El Perro Negro are brilliant too.

[Adamski]

Nah the one on St Vincent st. Where is the one in Edinburgh?

Had to google but it's on Lothian Road.

[Pen]

Each to their own where they like to eat. For me it depends on the occasion, but eating out is a lot more hassle free if you're with people. I almost never take out anything unless I'm in a real hurry and I'm eating whatever I'm getting on the go.
Giggles again

[Adamski]

On average I'll probably eat out once a week, maybe one lunch and then takeaway once.

[Giggles]

Each to their own where they like to eat. For me it depends on the occasion, but eating out is a lot more hassle free if you're with people. I almost never take out anything unless I'm in a real hurry and I'm eating whatever I'm getting on the go.
Giggles again

You can eat a takeaway in a tracksuit :cool:
No other people either.

[Spammer]

I'll let Leeds Rev do one of Leeds. He looks like he likes his food.

I can recommend a decent Chinese in Beeston. There's also a place called 'The Picture House' at the top end of town that does all you can eat carveries for £4.

[Adamski]

Have you been to The Man Behind The Curtain or James Martins place Hammer?

[Spammer]

Gotta be a no I'm afraid. Chinese take aways in Beeston and pubs that offer £4 carveries is about my level.

[igor_balis]

Rugby - er, spoons. Two of them, though one is closing. Lots of mediocre-decent indian restaurants, a few alright chinese takeaways (the really good one 5 minutes from my house recently shut). We have something called Bacco Lounge which is part of a chain, and by the standards of Rugby it is really decent, but anywhere that actually has stuff you'd think it was shit, confirmed by my mate who lives in Falmouth which also has one.

Plenty of decent pubs, in fairness. Merchants is really good, if a bit middle class rugger bugger for my liking, and the tiny Squirrel is nice, especially for open-mic night on Wednesdays.
Davgooner - thoughts?

[Boydy]

Falmouth actually has stuff?

[igor_balis]

Yeah, has a uni and an offshoot of Exeter uni, so I guess the stoodents bring a certain amount of amenities. I've got two mates who've lived there, and apparently it isn't as exciting as a proper city but a lot better than your average crap town.

[Disco]

And if it's one thing the SW does really well it's crap towns against which to compare it.

[Shindig]

Durham

No guidebook from me. You have everything packed in the same ten yards. Just avoid North Road unless you're after a bus out of there.

[Adamski]

I was thinking about this earlier. Where are all the canal towns with little pubs on the water etc? Is that more like middle England? i.e between Leeds and Birmingham I'm guessing.

[Lewis]

Basically. If it has more ethnics than jobs, there will be canals going into it.

[Offshore Toon]

Everywhere has a stupid number of burger places at the moment. I'm sure I've posted before about the seven within twelve units on one side of Wimbledon high street.

Always the brioche buns too :mad:
The brioche bun thing hasn't reached here yet, but I imagine it will soon if its plagued London.

I do owe a burger place down here for introducing me to peanut butter on burgers. Its incredible, especially with cheese and chilli.

[ScousePig]

Do you live in Beeston Hammer?

I've just spent the weekend in Chester, so I'll add in where we stayed and ate.
Accommodation: Stone Villa Chester - https://stonevillachester.co.uk

Couldn't fault it at all, in fact it was great. The welcoming and hospitality, the food, the room all spot on.

Food:
Delhi Street - https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g186233-d11884880-Reviews-Delhi_Street-Chester_Cheshire_England.html

Again, spot on Indian food and reasonable prices.

Shanghai Restaurant - http://www.shanghaichester.com

Decent food but nothing more, the staff were lovely.

The Faulkner - http://www.thefaulknerchester.co.uk

Pub/restaurant. We didn't end up eating here as it was packed but it looked very nice, and clearly popular.

[Bartholomert]

If you made this into a reasonable format I would contribute with DC / Chapel Hill / Durham / Cologne / Paris / Daytona Beach / Myrtle Beach / Greenville / Clemson

[Spammer]

Do you live in Beeston Hammer?

I've just spent the weekend in Chester, so I'll add in where we stayed and ate.
Accommodation: Stone Villa Chester - https://stonevillachester.co.uk

Couldn't fault it at all, in fact it was great. The welcoming and hospitality, the food, the room all spot on.

Food:
Delhi Street - https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g186233-d11884880-Reviews-Delhi_Street-Chester_Cheshire_England.html

Again, spot on Indian food and reasonable prices.

Shanghai Restaurant - http://www.shanghaichester.com

Decent food but nothing more, the staff were lovely.

The Faulkner - http://www.thefaulknerchester.co.uk

Pub/restaurant. We didn't end up eating here as it was packed but it looked very nice, and clearly popular.

Yeah. Got lots of mates with houses in the area and I love it round there actually, so I'm sticking around too :)

[Magic]

Inverness:



Eating:

Mustard Seed - Cracking little restaurant with a massive open fire in the middle of it. Reasonably priced as well. European food.

Saffron - Indian restaurant. Only got about 6 tables so it's really small and intimate. Proper dece food as well.

Fig & Thistle - A bistro type place. Very expensive for up north but has some really nice ales to wash down your food. #1 according to Trip Advisor

Black Isle Bar - Owned by the Black Isle Brewery, has all their ales on tap. Does some really nice food with a stone fire for pizzas.

Drinking:

Bar One - Absolute cracker. Really expensive for drinks but has a huge selection of the best. Great for cocktails too. So pretentious for such a wank little town. Class

Hootenany - 'traditional' pub here for Scotland. Put it this way Yanks fucking love it. Great live music too. There was a time staff were forced to wear kilts until they brought a sexual harassment case against the owners. :D

Johnny Foxes & The Den - Can be really good, or genuinely the worst place ever. Half and half really so take your chance.

[Spammer]

There's an Indian restraunt near me that does a right deal. Any starter / Any main + 2 sides / ice cream / bottle of wine and a glass of whiskey for £11.95 per head. Only on Sunday's but still.

Whereabouts do you live? There's an Indian in Yeadon that has the exact same deal.

[Spammer]

Morley's alright. Got a few friends from Morley.

Do you know a lesbian called Gemma? She lives in Morley.

[Spammer]

I also know a big bald gay bloke called Paul. Do you know him?

[Adamski]

:D

[Davgooner]

Plenty of decent pubs, in fairness. Merchants is really good, if a bit middle class rugger bugger for my liking, and the tiny Squirrel is nice, especially for open-mic night on Wednesdays.
Davgooner - thoughts?

Don't really drink in Rugby any more, but agree on the Merchants, although that little beer festival is worth a visit. Did I hear that the Saracen's Head is re-opening, or something on that site? Don't know what it's currently called.

That new pub down near the college/Junction 1 seems to be constantly rammed with the biggest bunch of pikeys you've ever seen. Steam Turbine? Haven't seen anything similar since that gaff on Brownsover closed down.

[The Merse]

On the twice yearly stop off I still visit The Merchants. Quigleys too, along with a very occasional nostalgia trip to be Alex to be surrounded by old skool greebo brethren. Not for a couple of years in the case of the latter. Merchants wins hands down in a pub otherwise full of shite.

[Mike]

Not a city but has anyone been to Betws y Coed

[Disco]

The river is nice, I don't remember much else about the place.

[Yevrah]

Cardiff anyone?

[Disco]

The Slug & Lettuce was a good pub 15 years ago but other than staying well clear of the centre on game days that's all I've got these days.

[ScousePig]

Yeah. Got lots of mates with houses in the area and I love it round there actually, so I'm sticking around too :)

I'm in Kirkstall now, and head over your way sometimes when I go to the White Rose.

[Shindig]

The Slug & Lettuce was a good pub 15 years ago but other than staying well clear of the centre on game days that's all I've got these days.

We replaced ours with a cocktail bar. Give it six months and it'll be another coffee shop.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Cardiff anyone?

Would also be interested in this.

[Lewis]

I went to a Slug and Lettuce the other day, and their steak pie was actually really good. They also let me swap the 'seasonal vegetables' for more chips, which some places get a bit pissy about, so they are right up there now.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Our noughties Slug and Lettuce (I live in a town of 23,000) got converted into a similar 'restaurant by day, shit wine bar by night' place under a different name, and now it's a craft beer place which does burgers in brioche buns.

I should write a Surrey version of The Specials 'Ghost Town' about the site.

[Danny]

I'll let Leeds Rev do one of Leeds. He looks like he likes his food.

I can recommend a decent Chinese in Beeston. There's also a place called 'The Picture House' at the top end of town that does all you can eat carveries for £4.

That Smoke BBQ (https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiI5Kr2z_fSAhWCwiYKHfU3A1wQFggbMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsmokebbq.co.uk%2F&usg=AFQjCNGPQAGSGzJfN_fwLkoOACuTXMWxeg&sig2=QOyap70tMxVkXft-YBFi8g&bvm=bv.150729734,d.eWE) place near Stick and Twist in town was good when I was back in October. Other end of the Merrion Centre from Picture House.

I remember when Picture House used to be Edwards. Thats fucking years back now though.

[Spoonsky]

Inverness:
Hootenany - 'traditional' pub here for Scotland. Put it this way Yanks fucking love it. Great live music too. There was a time staff were forced to wear kilts until they brought a sexual harassment case against the owners. :D

Think I've been there.

[-james-]

Went to The Begging Bowl (http://thebeggingbowl.co.uk/) in Peckham last night and it was Fucking. Good. 45 minute wait for a table but we just went to the pub opposite for a couple of drinks.

Had the sea bass, the pork rib soup, the squid and the beef off the dinner menu and I couldn't pick a favourite. The rice was completely unnecessary.

[-james-]

I'll update the OP one day.

[John]

Been to Chaakoo, James?

[-james-]

Nah never been in, any good?

Went to Crossing the Rubicon a while ago and that was superb. They've rejected my orders on deliveroo four times out of five now though so I don't think they like me. Horn Please next on my list of Indians.

[Ian]

Horn Please is very nice. It's right by my work and I was dragged there for lunch with my superiors one day. Mr Singh just along the road is ace too.

[-james-]

Went to St. John next to Farringdon for lunch and as far as I'm concerned it's the best restaurant in the world.

[Giggles]

Where are all these places? I'm not into travelling but I've heard of absolutely none of them.

[Boydy]

The ones James mentioned that are in Peckham and Farringdon are in London. I assume the others are in Glasgow.

[John]

Nah never been in, any good?

Went to Crossing the Rubicon a while ago and that was superb. They've rejected my orders on deliveroo four times out of five now though so I don't think they like me. Horn Please next on my list of Indians.

It's excellent. I've been three times, got a completely different meal each time, and all three are among the best things I've ever eaten in Glasgow. Their fish pakora is absolutely blinding.

[Giggles]

The ones James mentioned that are in Peckham and Farringdon are in London. I assume the others are in Glasgow.

Ah right. They're restaurants or something? I thought they might have been towns on some of the islands between you and France.

[Boydy]

What are restaurants? Peckham and Farringdon? No, they're areas of London.

The Begging Bowl (Peckham) and St John (Farringdon) were the actual restaurants he went to.